Feeding Hungry Hearts
Gloria Gaither Shares Her Songwriting Talent
Written By: Ashley Witkowski ‘14
Renowned Christian songwriter Gloria Gaither knows a thing or two about good worship music. In fact, Gloria and her husband, Bill—IWU’s 2010 Society of World Changers inductees—have written more than 700 songs and garnered an inspiring number of Grammy and Dove Awards.
Passionate about pouring back into others who are pursing Christian songwriting as a career, Gloria has hosted the annual Gaither Songwriting Intensive at the Gaither Studios and Family Resource Center (GFR) for the past several years. Upon the Gaither’s decision to close the GFR, which was only 18 miles from Indiana Wesleyan University’s campus, Gloria turned to IWU not only to host the ninth annual Songwriting Intensive on June 6-9, 2019, but to assume its continuation.
This has historically been a rather difficult need to fill for students—to bring professionals and their legacy insights and knowledge into the structured learning environment.
“We created the Intensive to put people with a passion for songs together,” said Gloria. “We wanted a global exposure to all the ways you could write a song.”
“We created the Intensive to put people with a passion for songs together.”
With over 40 participants from around the world, this year’s Songwriting Intensive featured stimulating classes in small- group settings on the IWU-Marion campus. Attendees had the opportunity to collaborate with Gloria as well as other distinguished Christian artists, including Cindy Morgan, Nichole Nordeman, Michael Kelly Blanchard and Buddy Greene.
“Building relationships with various artists in the field of songwriting is a hallmark of what this event is,” said Todd Syswerda, professor of Music and head of the Songwriting major at IWU (himself a composer). “We are honored that Gloria has entrusted us to continue its legacy.”
In addition to collaborating with IWU for the Songwriting Intensive, Gloria played a key role in developing the curriculum for the University’s Songwriting program. Officially added to the IWU course catalogue in 2016, the Songwriting major allows students to hone their artistic skills and develop the tools necessary to create songs that influence society at large.
“Great art has changed culture,” said Gloria, “and you can change culture with a song.”
When asked to break down her own writing process, she explained that it is far more than simply putting pen to paper.
“Songs come out of need,” said Gloria. “Sometimes Bill and I are in a moment and think, ‘There ought to be a song that says....’ or, ‘Where’s the song for that?’”
During those moments, the couple jots down the idea in what they call their “hook book”—essentially a running list of concepts they hope to incorporate into a song someday. The process has ultimately led to classics such as “The Longer I Serve Him,” “Because He Lives” and “Sinner Saved by Grace.”
FOR SONGWRITERS ASPIRING TO FOLLOW IN HER FOOTSTEPS, GLORIA INDICATES THERE ARE TWO PREREQUISITES TO BEING A SUCCESSFUL SONGWRITER:
Good writers must see and feel the stories of those around them.
Good writers must be readers.
“Read the things you love, but also the things you don’t usually pick up,” said Gloria. “Be an omnivorous reader. Whether it’s a poem by Robert Frost or a novel by John Steinbeck, all of them are motivated by story.”
To some, the process may sound intimidating. But, according to Gloria, once a songwriter adopts those two habits and has an understanding of basic literary concepts—such as meter, rhyme and metaphor—, a song can take form rather quickly.
“This is why a songwriting class is important,” said Gloria. “I have the tools in my pocket already. A lifetime of tools.”
Through programs such as IWU’s Songwriting major, students are developing their very own tool kits. Gloria’s vision is that students will use their tools to write worship songs, but— more specifically—write worship songs that will shape culture.
“Art is an incredibly powerful tool,” said Gloria. “I believe that artists are created by God to ask ‘why?’ And if we silence them in our culture, we will be a bunch of robots.”
This is also why Gloria stands behind Christian higher education opportunities for students.
“Christian higher education—any good education—is about how to do life,” said Gloria. “We need to keep training people to be yeast, salt and light to this world.”
Gloria, alongside Bill, has certainly led by example throughout her career. Despite the couple’s success, Gloria knows they are simply vessels to be used by God to bring hearts to Him.
“To think that you are adequate to meet the spiritual hunger of people is insane— and impossible,” said Gloria. “My continual prayer has been ‘Here are my three slices of bread and a fish or two. You need to feed the hungry hearts, Lord.’”
