The term, “Contemporary Christian Music” has received much attention. People within the Christian music business have for years attempted to fit varied needs of the listening public with musical tastes as diverse as the colors in God’s rainbow without sacrificing the Biblical message; hence, Contemporary Christian Music was officially born. One man in particular pioneered that field way back when, when Biblical principles set to contemporary music was an as-yet unheard of concept.

My first exposure to Dallas Holm was on a worship tape bought at a discount supermarket. The tape was full of gentle praise music from many artists. Though it was good, in general it didn’t have any edge. However, Dallas Holm, one of the artists, did. His song, “I Saw The Light,” was reverent and spiritual, as were the others, but his voice had a steely presence that demanded notice.

I immediately contacted Dallas’ management for an interview. I learned from his press kit that he had been nominated for a Grammy and had received numerous Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. I discovered that he started in the Christian music business with David Wilkerson in the late sixties, and that this alliance with Wilkerson led his career in a direction which had only recently changed upon release of his latest album, Chain of Grace.

When the concert date arrived, I found myself in a second row pew in a large Assembly of God church armed with only this information and some anxiety. By the time the worship performance began, there wasn’t a seat left. Dallas was not alone for this performance; his friends, Tim Sheppard and Phil Johnson—forming the group, Holm, Sheppard, and Johnson—accompanied him.

When he and his partners came on stage, Dallas Holm looked too young to be called a “pioneer.” As the performance progressed, I was repeatedly struck by how these men, Dallas in particular, had succeeded in embracing the commerciality of the highly-competitive music business without compromising Jesus’ message. This indicated how he’d stayed afloat and true to his faith in a business which often readily discards new talent.

He pulled no punches when discussing faith. He talked about how, as a collective church, daily we compromise our faith. He was adamant about how we must stand up for Jesus in everyday life and just as adamant about how many of us become meek and fail when called upon to do so. And he chastised the collective church for not tithing in a cheerful and giving manner.

His altar call was the most powerful I’ve ever experienced. The Spirit was in attendance as an overwhelming crowd came forward to either give their lives to Jesus for the first time, or to renew their faith. The affect of that was still in my heart as the performance ended and I awaited the interview. Soon, Dallas was leading me down a long hallway to a back room.

He was visibly tired; still, he gave generously of his time. We talked of many things, and two points made specific impressions. First, his words, voice inflections, and music reflected a dedication to the salvation of individuals. Every artist has a professional personality and Dallas’ is that of a man whose main desire in life is to evangelize the world for Jesus through his music.

Then, I was struck by his concern for younger artists now entering the business which is, as he said, definitely a business. When he began, there was little concern over promotions, record sales, hype, specific styling. “Contemporary Christian Music” was yet to be heard of as a specific term. The job then was to simply sing for the Lord. Now that it has become a business, Dallas’ concern was that younger artists not lose sight of “simply singing for the Lord” amidst the business of singing for the Lord.

 He wants to move his career toward working with these new talents. As he put it, “When I was in my thirties, I asked myself, ‘Will I be able to do this [perform] when I’m in my forties?’ And now that I’m in my forties, I ask, ‘Will I be able to do this when I’m in my fifties?’”

With the powerfully-pure voice God gave Dallas Holm, and his heart for service preserved over the last twenty-five years in the business, it seems he’ll have no problem continuing his ministry until the Lord calls him home. His persona fits the term ... he is certainly contemporary as he fills the needs of his listeners in up-to-date fashions, and he keeps faithful in continuing to spread Christ’s message to all who will listen.