Worship Pastor Aaron Wardle Releases New Album
But, put in context of a faith perspective built from an awe of the power of God's mysterious dynamics, it not only makes sense, it resonates with the core of who we are in Christ. Which is exactly Aaron Wardle's intention.
Chances are, you don't know him.
If you saw him on the street, you wouldn't come clamoring for an autograph and photo. But, were you to meet him on the sidewalks of the campuses where he teaches, shepherds and leads worship, you'd probably realize that you're looking at a man who gets it.
"I have been struck by the beautiful, majestic and yet deconstructive love and power of God," Aaron shares. "
He often tears down to build up. It's kind of like when a child is in harms way; a father will do whatever it takes to get them to safety…"
Whatever it takes… sounds a lot like the faith it takes to comprehend the cross.
"I wanted to infuse honesty into the journey with Christ," he continues.
"That life with Christ is not perpetual mountaintops. That faith includes doubt, joy has sorrow and abundant life is not void of suffering."
That infusion is boldly and beautifully on display on Aaron's fourth album, Ruin Me, which was created to be "intentional and honest; something that says things with words, but also with sounds and silence."
Perhaps no one could do such a thing quite as well. Given his own vacillation between sound and silence—running back and forth from classrooms to the platform, Wardle's own musical journey and expression has been a consistent background in his life, but more stop and go in the forefront.
For 11 years he has served as a pastor, worship leader and Assistant Dean of Religious Life at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio, where he focused mainly on supervising and organizing fellowship such as "the Well" and small groups, teaching Exploring the Bible and worship music courses, all the while making music on the side that translates his unique appreciation and understanding of the depths of true relationship with God.
But times, they are a changin'…
Now, Aaron is opening a new chapter that will propel his message and his music up and out.
Oddly enough, his journey beyond a student fellowship overseer and visionary supervisor is taking him right back home. This summer he's packing up his wife and two girls to move to California to serve as lead worship pastor at Risen King, which was founded about 20 years ago by none other than his father.
Don't expect the new title to distract him from his primary mission, though—namely, to make God's presence and spirit known; to you, me, everyone.
"I am very motivated/inspired by people who have the courage to be authentic to who [they are] and how they have been created," he says.
"There is an energy that comes when I get around someone who has experienced enough of life to show some scars, but still has the audacity to dream. I love to hear stories of unlikely people doing incredible things. I think it is why I love scripture and the history of the church so much—ordinary people encountering the Divine and the extraordinary happens."
And so, a professor who moved to Ohio at the Spirit's beckoning suddenly becomes an unlikely theologian.
From track one, his album walks listeners along the winding path of faith, paved with adoration, declaration, petition and lament.
Wardle worked closely with friends Andrew Ditlevson and Jon Hunn and producer Scott Williams, to craft the lyrically fluent tracks that take negative imagery—think natural disasters and brokenness—into beautiful expressions of desperation and surrender.
With his rustic style that shifts between electric riffs and full-out rock and warm, soothing acoustic, Wardle's sounds run after the heart of God, demonstrating a journey and lifestyle that is pursuing Christ and leaves the listener thinking…
Ruin me… he might be on to something…
Without question, he is.
For more information about Aaron Wardle and his music, visit his website at www.aaronwardle.com, follow him on Twitter, or look him up on Facebook.
To purchase his latest CD, Ruin Me, check out iTunes or cdbaby.com.
Emily Hoernschemeyer
