“Jesus brings what would be enemies together. And you’re not going to believe that… until you’re there.”
— Aaron Shust
I first met Aaron Shust nearly 20 years ago when his debut single “My Savior My God” was about to become a nationwide hit. I was a clean-shaven talk show host. Aaron was just as baby-faced—slinging a guitar and carrying a quiet fire for Scripture. Christian music pegged him to be our John Mayer. He was a bit of a CCM heartthrob with a heart of gold.
Now, two decades later, we’re both bearded dads with a deep love for the land of Israel. And when we reconnected, it wasn’t just to reminisce. It was to talk about Authority—Aaron’s newest worship single—and how his time in the Holy Land has radically shaped not just his songwriting, but his soul.
“Every time I would go to these different sites,” he told me, “I’m thinking as a worship leader. I’m thinking in the back of my mind, I’ve got my guitar with me.”
That worship instinct led directly to Authority, a cinematic, Scripture-rooted song born in the town of Capernaum—the same village where Jesus taught in the synagogue and healed Peter’s mother-in-law. “I had my Bible open… I want to know what happened here,” he said. “And as I walk into the city of Capernaum… it says, ‘Jesus walked into Capernaum.’ I’m like, that’s cool. I just did that. And Jesus went to the synagogue. I’m like, oh, that’s cool. That’s where I’m standing right now.”
What really struck him in that moment was a title shouted by the demon Jesus cast out: “We know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
“That phrase wrecked me,” Aaron said. “It’s not something we usually sing, but it’s powerful. It’s weighty. It’s the demons that called Him that—and they were right.”
The song builds from that moment, with Scripture woven into every line. “The whole city gathered at the door,” Aaron noted. “That’s what the passage says. I wanted to paint the scene with sound.”
You can now hear Authority performed in an intimate setting—Aaron recorded an exclusive version just for the CCM Magazine audience, now streaming on our YouTube channel. It’s rich with heart, grit, and that unmistakable reverence he carries in all he does.
As he’s grown in his faith and artistry, Aaron says his motivation has changed. “I want to write songs that are full of Scripture,” he said. “So that when I do perform them, even if they’re completely unfamiliar, they can be enriching.”
That shift—from platform-building to soul-feeding—is something he talks about with clarity and conviction. “Is my goal to gain more followers,” he asked, “or is it to feed my sheep?”
One of the most powerful ways he’s doing that now is through his connection to the land of Israel.
“I knew that there was this people called the Chosen people that came from Abraham on through Isaac and Jacob,” Aaron said. “But I don’t think I considered that the story is continuing today—until I was there.”
Aaron’s first visit to Israel was in 2016. Since then, his relationship with the land and its people has only deepened. “I’ve sat at the feet of a lot of Jewish followers of Jesus,” he said. “And I’m seeing different facets of that diamond.”
He’s also seen firsthand how worship can bridge divides. “Jesus brings what would be enemies together,” Aaron said. “And you’re not going to believe that… until you’re there.”
That kind of unity is what drives his upcoming trips to Israel, which he’ll be leading through LandOfZion.org. Two new journeys are scheduled:
In our full CCM Spotlight conversation, Aaron also opened up about his family and his youngest son, Michael, who was born with Down syndrome and major heart complications. His raw honesty and deep faith shine through as he recounts a moment that reshaped how he views the Father’s love:
“Michael crawled up into my lap, let out a big sigh, and just said one word: ‘Better.’ And in that moment, I just started to cry. Because that’s how I want to come to my Heavenly Father.”
You can watch that full conversation, including Aaron’s reflections on parenting, worship, Israel, and more, right now:
Now, with Authority, Aaron Shust isn’t aiming for charts—he’s aiming for hearts.
“I realized not every song is going to be ‘How Great Is Our God,’” he told me. “And that’s okay. I’m here to feed the ones I’ve been given.”
Twenty years in, Aaron is still crafting worship that lifts your eyes and anchors your soul—songs rooted deeper than ever in the Word, the land, and the presence of the One who still speaks with that universal authority.
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