"Come to Jesus" was never a song that we set out to write. Normally when we go into writing sessions for a new album, the songs you end up hearing have gone through a process that takes over a year (sometimes longer) of lyrical writing, chord progressions, hooks, instrumentations, melody, etc. This song process was much different.
Prior to the writing sessions for Willet Snow On Christmas?, we were on tour in Ohio leading worship for a youth camp. One evening, we were asked to come back on stage and play music as the speaker gave an invitation for students to trust Jesus as their Savior. As we began to play, the speaker turned to us and asked us to lead them in a song. We hadn't prepared to sing a song, and didn't have the lyrics for the video monitors, so I turned to the rest of the band, gave them the key of the song, and said "follow me". We began to play and sign the simple words of "Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus, there is life in the blood of the Lamb." This song was played for over 15 minutes as students gave their lives to Jesus that night!
Following the event, we got off stage, and none of us could remember how the song went! We kept trying to remember the melody and write out the chords, but we couldn't remember it. So, we figured that the song was just meant for that specific moment, and we were OK with that.
Fast forward a few months, and we are in our studio for the writing sessions of the Christmas album. We needed one more song, and began to discuss whether we wanted to write a new one, or cover a traditional Christmas song. As we were discussing it, I was strumming some on my guitar, and all of a sudden, the melody of "Come to Jesus" came back. We quickly recorded a demo on my phone, wrote out the chords, and then played through the song as a band.
Some people have asked us why we included this on a Christmas album as it doesn't really talk much about the holiday. Our answer continues to be - "This song makes this entire album a "Christmas" album because its about JESUS." We have been playing this song each night on the Christmas Tour, and have received a tremendous response.
Merry Christmas!
- Jeremy