Biography
With a promising young career in secular music that eventually yielded a national Top 10 hit, A.W.E.'s founding member, Michael Warner, had an encounter with God which would forever alter his musical course and his life.
On the verge of accomplishing everything he dreamed of since writing his first song at age 12, he sensed God was asking him to lay it all down to devote his musical gifts and talents exclusively to the glory of God. While driving and praying about this life-altering decision, he saw a billboard that simply read, for what does it benefit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul Mk. 8:36 and a ministry was born.
This eventually led to his direct call to serve as Music Director of High Point Church in Larksville, PA, where A.W.E. was founded. As a relatively small fellowship of about 250 members, something felt particularly right about 2008's edition of the church's regular Praise Band. Along with co-founder and lead singer Natasha Manassy, Warner approached the band regarding his vision of advancing the next frontier of modern church worship music. Remarkably, the other band members shared a similar vision and unity of heart.
Through a season of intense personal trials that nearly defeated this ministry before it began, A.W.E.'s call was solidified during a low point in October 2008, when God used a traveling minister and a neighboring church to confirm and renew their vision, and to sow seed money into the production of their first CD.
The name A.W.E. is an acronym for Authentic Worship Experience, which represents the hearts cry of A.W.E.'s members before God that all might worship Him in spirit and in truth.
But it's NOT all about music alone. The group has developed a parallel ministry that conducts worship team seminars, as well as consulting and assisting worship teams of small-to-mid sized churches which may be struggling with conflict, excellence, work ethic, or style transitions - churches for whom there are very few hands-on resources.
A.W.E.'s music style and philosophy is to produce hard-hitting, passionate songs of testimony and worship, in a style that connects with the modern musical palate guitar-driven, but with melodies and lyrics that are singable.
Instrumentation
Natasha Manassy - Lead Vocals;
Michael Warner - Bass Guitar, Vocals;
Denise Warner - Keyboards, Vocals;
Cathryn Warner - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Violin, Vocals;
Jason Dalla Verde - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar;
Dan Close - Drums