One of the greatest gifts God gives His Church is faithful songwriters.
Every hymn, every chorus, and every congregational song begins the same way, with someone who is captivated by the truth of God’s Word and feels compelled to put that truth into a song the Church can sing.
One of the initiatives of the Southern Baptist Church Music Collective is to encourage and highlight those songwriters serving in our churches. This year, during the 2026 SBCMC Songwriting Competition in Jacksonville, we had the privilege of hearing original songs from gifted writers across the Southern Baptist Convention.
One of those winners was Josh Cehulik, Worship Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Ashland, Ohio
In this conversation, Josh shares the story behind his winning song, “Christ My Resting Place.”
What makes this interview so encouraging isn’t simply the song itself, it’s Josh’s heart for the Church.
He talks about why congregational singing matters, how new songs should serve the local church rather than the songwriter, and why writing music is ultimately an act of discipleship.
One of my favorite moments comes as Josh explains how Christ My Resting Place was inspired by St. Patrick’s Prayer of Protection. Sitting alone at an old piano in a seminary chapel, the melody seemed to arrive almost unexpectedly. Over time, that simple refrain grew into a hymn centered on the finished work of Christ and the rest we find in Him.
His hope for the song is beautifully simple:
“Christ has finished the work. He’s our resting place—not only for this life, but for the life to come.”
As our conversation continued, Josh shared wisdom that every aspiring songwriter needs to hear.
He encouraged young writers to become students of the craft, to welcome constructive feedback with humility, and perhaps most importantly, to write songs because they love God and love His Church—not because they’re chasing recognition.
That perspective perfectly captures the vision behind the SBCMC Songwriting Initiative.
We aren’t simply looking for the next popular worship song.
We’re praying God continues to raise up faithful songwriters who will give the Church rich, biblical songs that help congregations sing the truth for generations to come.
If you’re a songwriter—or if you’ve ever wondered how a song moves from a quiet moment with the Lord to the gathered worship of God’s people—I think you’ll enjoy this conversation.
I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch, listen, and be encouraged.
Then be sure to explore Josh’s winning song, “Christ My Resting Place,” and share it with others.
The SBCMC Songwriting Initiative exists to encourage, connect, and equip songwriters across the Southern Baptist Convention.
Whether you’ve written one song or one hundred, we’d love for you to become part of the conversation inside the SBCMC Community, where songwriters can share ideas, ask questions, receive feedback, and encourage one another as we continue writing songs for the Church.
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