Along with her husband’s coaching, Grant says she was inspired by other women whose artistry helps guide her toward discovering her songwriting voice – peers such as Sara Groves, Leigh Nash and Nichole Nordeman.

We Build

Grant says a woman’s artistry at its best “reflects that she’s empowered, that she’s a woman of substance and has something to say.” That’s a fitting description for today's top female acts. Several tend to focus their efforts on presenting an encouraging message to the Christian church.

Nichole Nordeman is a two-time GMA “Female Vocalist of the Year” widely recognized as a songwriter’s songwriter. With the poetry and precision of a surgeon’s scalpel, her lyrics cut to the crux of both human brokenness and divine hope.

Speaking to the state of female artistry in Christian music, Nordeman reflects, “I have been obsessed recently with Sara Groves’ 'Add to the Beauty' album. It feels very much to me like an example of what the strong but broken heart of a woman can offer in a culture where we seem mostly to be giving credibility – and airplay – to ‘God is Great! God is Great! Praise His Name! He Reigns! He Rules!’ etc. Sara’s songs don’t deny any of God’s goodness. To the contrary, instead of heaping on the superlatives, she just starts peeling layers away ... one song at a time ... until I’m sitting at the red light weeping because I, too, want to add to the beauty, or build the kingdom one chunk of stone and messy bit of mortar at a time, or love someone who is impossible, just because it’s right to.”

Continuing in this vein, Nordeman adds, “This is what women bring to the table of Christian music. Or should. This is what motivates me now. First, that we look for the redemptive work of Christ’s love – always and in everything and everyone – and that we write and sing about that. Second, that we make a pact with ourselves not to perpetuate the mis-marketing of God – singing and saying empty and theologically shaky things because that might be easier and people might buy more records. And, thirdly, that the music we offer to the world and to the church is not just for the sake of stirring everyone up emotionally, but that it calls us to action – whether that action is serving anonymously in our community or taking a public stand against sex trafficking like Natalie [Grant] or exposing the suffering in Rwanda like Sara [Groves]. Once our music points to the redemption of the love of Christ on a broken planet, it has to ask, ‘What now?’ Otherwise, we’ve brought nothing.”

Taking a public stand has literally defined the career of Rebecca St. James. Late last year her "If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something" (Forefront) signaled a newfound sense of freedom, joy and energy for doing what the Grammy-winning artist does better than anyone – rallying the Christian church to be and do its best.