Jeff Deyo: Surrender

Since the breakup of the original Sonicflood, Jeff Deyo has certainly come into his own as a worship leader. And his new live album, Surrender, shows us exactly how far he has come over the last six years. It was during his time with Sonicflood that Deyo found his calling as a worship leader, and the Lord has guided him and helped him grow in that capacity. Surrender is a chronicle of that growth.

This album was recorded in 2005 at the Parachute Festival in New Zealand. Deyo and his backup band rock out the early part of the album, opening their set with "Lose Myself" from Saturate, followed by "We Are Hungry" and "Let It Flow." Jeff and his band do a excellent job of marrying stellar musicianship with passionate lyrics. Deyo also does a great job of getting the audience into the show and encouraging them to participate. After "Let It Flow," Deyo and comnpany slow things down a bit as the concert becomes more of a setting for worship. Jeff introduces a couple of new original songs: "Jesus, I Surrender" and "Nothing Less than All of Me." Some other highlights include "Be Lifted Up," "You Are Good," "Keep My Heart" and an extended version of "More Love, More Power," coupled with "I Can't Get Enough." Although this is largely a worship-oriented set, Deyo realizes there are both unsaved and saved people in the audience. He takes a moment to speak to those who don't know Christ, extending the invitation for them to accept Jesus as their savior. The best song is saved for last as the set closes with "Bless the Lord." Like "More Love...," this song gets an extended workout, and closes with an acapella rendition of the chorus from the audience.

I've heard a lot of great live worship albums over the last several years, but I don't believe I've heard any of them capture the passion and spontaneity of live worship the way this albums does. Jeff Deyo has stepped up and become one of the most respected worship leaders in Christendom today. From his days with Sonicflood to today, he has truly grown as a leader of worship, and I look forward to seeing where God leads him from here.