Best-selling author and founder of Ransomed Heart Ministries John Eldredge and Saddleback Church Pastor of Worship Rick Muchow have been added as speakers for GMA Music in the Rockies, the music community’s premier talent competition and training experience for Christian artists, songwriters, and worship leaders, taking place in the picturesque Rocky Mountain town of Estes Park, Colo. from August 3-9, 2008.

Eldredge, who first gained notoriety with his wildly popular book Wild at Heart, will be the key note Worship and Inspiration speaker for GMA Music in the Rockies. Eldredge is the founder and director of Ransomed Heart Ministries in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a fellowship devoted to helping people discover the heart of God. In addition to being one of the most in-demand speakers in the country, Eldredge is the author of several bestsellers that have sold more than eight million copies, including Epic, Waking the Dead, Wild at Heart, and The Way of the Wild Heart. He is also coauthor of Captivating with his wife, Stasi.

Muchow will also speak during one of the GMA Music in the Rockies’ week Worship and Inspiration sessions as well as teaching a class on “The Worship Service Makeover.” As Pastor of Worship for Purpose-Driven Life author and Pastor Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, Muchow manages the music ministry for five weekend services which average more than 15,000 church members. Muchow has authored The Worship Answer Book and launched EncouragingMusic.com, a website that provides musical resources to worshipers and church music ministries around the world.

More event details and registration information for GMA Music in the Rockies are available at www.musicintherockies.com.

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ABOUT GMA’S MUSIC IN THE ROCKIES:
In addition to the concert-goers, the Rocky Mountain resort town of Estes Park will be the gathering place that week for aspiring songwriters, artists and musicians, who will come from all over the world to be guided and nurtured by seasoned mainstream and Christian music industry leaders and spiritual leaders for GMA Music in the Rockies, the music community’s premier talent competition and training experience for Christian artists, songwriters, and worship Leaders. This year’s Music in the Rockies experience will be led by influential music professionals whose credits read like a who’s who of the music business – Hannah Montana, Casting Crowns, Amy Grant, Carrie Underwood, Paramore’s Hayley Williams, CeCe Winans, Keith Urban and many more from August 3-9, 2008.

At the heart of GMA’s Music in the Rockies are the unsurpassed variety of training and career development classes taught by artists and other industry professionals. This year’s event will emphasize being a creative Christian in the music industry and how to make an impact in ministry or in mainstream entertainment. Topics cover everything from pitching songs to singing in pitch and include creative workshops for songwriting and practical training in song publishing, legal matters and performance booking.

Many Music in the Rockies registrants will compete in the GMA Academy National Competition, where singers and songwriters will be judged by panels of top industry A&R, record label and publishing executives. The newly redesigned talent competition features prizes from Walt Disney World, American Bible Society, Centricity Music and Compassion International.
The legacy of artists that have been discovered or birthed from the Music in the Rockies and GMA Academy experience include Colorado born Stacie Orrico and Rachael Lampa.

Additionally, Chris Tomlin, Michael W. Smith, Matthew West, BarlowGirl, Babbie Mason, Point of Grace and others are also among the many artists who trace their musical heritage to Estes Park.

About GMA:
Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the gospel/Christian music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music of all styles including pop, rock, praise & worship, black gospel, R&B, hip hop, southern gospel, country, and more. The GMA community consists of 4,000 members including agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers, songwriters and other industry visionaries. The GMA produces the GMA Dove Awards, GMA Music Week, GMA Music in the Rockies, and the GMA Academy. For more information, please visit www.gospelmusic.org.