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Grammy-winning artist Michael Brandon Lake is challenging Christian artists to leave their comfort zones, engage culture boldly, and take the message of Jesus beyond church walls.

A Grammy winner who’s taking Christ into the culture has slammed Contemporary Christian Music’s comfortable Christianity.

Michael Brandon Lake, six times a Grammy winner, 15 times nominated, told the K-LOVE Fan Awards in May,

“There’s a reason why the secular space is looking at ours, and they’re taking note.”

Lake explained that “God is raising up new Davids.”

He is doing “something really beautiful within the United States.”

Shining Christ’s Light in Darker Places

Appearing to draw from Matthew 5:14-16’s “let your light shine before men so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven,” Lake added,

“So don’t buy the lie; and even though there’s craziness going on out there, the darker that it gets, the brighter your light is going to shine.”

“If the rooms you’re in are really bright,” he asserted, “find a new room.”

“If you carry the Light of Christ inside of you, go find a room that’s a little darker, because the world needs you.”

“They need your story.”

Lake, whose reach won out big last year thanks to a collaboration with Jelly Roll that launched the song Hard Fought Hallelujah into the mainstream, made the remarks while receiving one of two Artist awards.

Why Mainstream Audiences Are Listening

During his acceptance speech at the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) event, the 36-year-old said people are hungry for truth.

“I’m having a lot of conversations with a lot of artists in a lot of very influential places.”

“You would never believe how hungry people are for the truth.”

“And there are so many that are this close.”

Drawing on John 17:14-16, and Romans 12:2’s theme of being in the world, not of it, Lake declared:

“So, artists, may I dare you to get outside of your comfort zone?”

“Go across the street. Go across the country.”

“Listen,” Lake concluded, “I’m going to be that guy who stays in the church, but I will never stop moving towards the lost!”

“That’s what I’m about. That’s what I’m doing, that’s what you’re going to see.”

Jelly Roll’s Call to Put Faith Into Action

Lake’s pointed reminder about Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:16-20 to “go and make disciples of all nations” resonated strongly with a humble plea from Jelly Roll (JR) at the 2025 Dove Awards.

Interrupting Lake, JR, real name Jason Bradley DeFord, first signalled a sense of unworthiness, stating,

“I’m not sure how much I even belonged speaking up here right now, but it’s just, I’m nervous.”

Quipping about his criminal history, a key motivation in his cry for redemption, Roll added, “I ain’t been this nervous since I went to criminal court, ya’ll.”

“This is a real thing for me, sweaty palms and all.”

“I was listening to [Lake], and I was thinking about Matthew when he talks about “the least.” When he said, “when I was thirsty, you gave me water.”

“When I was in jail, you came and visited me.”

“And I realised,” JR said, “that I’m standing here because people took time with the least.”

Making his point clear, the country music newcomer added,

“The world is hearing about Jesus like they haven’t in decades, right now.”

“There is a revival happening in the United States of America, where you can’t go on a corner and not hear about Jesus.”

“While we are hearing about Jesus,” JR exclaimed, “I encourage you to put faith on your feet, and feet on your faith.”

“Walk out of this building and go do for the least.”

A Revival Message Resonating Beyond the Church

To this, Jelly Roll implored,

“They’ve heard of Jesus, now show them Jesus!”

“Go feed the poor, go visit the ones in jail, go show them who Jesus was, and we’re done talking; it’s time to show.”

“I thank God that I could see the forest for the trees! God bless y’all.”

At the time, Lake, one of the main writers for Hard Fought Hallelujah, explained that the song began life on the phone. It didn’t stay there.

Hard Fought, he said, “ministered to us, and changed our lives. It’s crazy to see what this song has done.”

“I’m coming to understand,” Lake remarked, “that when you’ve got God on your side, there’s no such thing as a long shot.”

Approaching Jelly Roll for a collaboration was easier than he anticipated.

Reflecting on how that came together, Lake said, JR had heard the song already and told him, “I’ve been praying for a song like this.”

The rest is history.