Dordt Worship Releases Original Christmas Song
Dordt University Releases Uplifting Christmas Anthem “O Come All Ye Faithful (Hallelujah)”
Sioux Center, IA – Just in time for the holiday season, Dordt University has released a stirring rendition of the classic Christmas carol “O Come All Ye Faithful.” The new version, titled “O Come All Ye Faithful (Hallelujah),” features a powerful original chorus penned by Dordt’s Director of Campus Worship, Ray Badudu.
The song, performed by sophomore Julianna Gitlin, captures the spirit of Christmas with its soaring vocals and heartfelt lyrics. Recorded live in Dordt’s BJ Haan Auditorium, the track showcases Gitlin’s extraordinary vocal range and the university’s commitment to fostering artistic talent.
“I noticed that most of the vocabulary in the choruses is an invitation to praise,so I treated it as a pre-chorus and wrote a chorus that would resolve in the action of praise itself,” explains Badudu. “‘Hallelujah’ was the first word that came to mind.”
Badudu’s original chorus,”Hallelujah,we bring our offering.Hallelujah to Christ our Lord and King,” adds a layer of depth and meaning to the traditional carol.
“The rest of the chorus is inspired by the three wise men bringing their gifts to Jesus,” he adds. “As we congregationally sing songs of worship, our gift to the Lord is an offering of praise.”
Produced by Alex Priore, Director of Production Arts at Dordt, “O Come All Ye Faithful (Hallelujah)” is available now on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
About Dordt University
Dordt university is a comprehensive Christian university located in Sioux Center, Iowa. Committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Dordt has been recognized as a top university by U.S. News and World Report, The Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.
Dordt University’s “Hallelujah” Rendition of “O Come All Ye Faithful”
Sioux Center, IA – Dordt University is ushering in the Christmas season with a heartfelt rendition of the classic carol “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Titled “O Come All Ye Faithful (Hallelujah),” the song features a powerful original chorus penned by Dordt’s Director of Campus Worship, Ray Badudu, and a soaring vocal performance by sophomore Julianna Gitlin.
Recorded live in Dordt’s BJ Haan auditorium, the track captures the essence of Christmas with Gitlin’s remarkable vocal range and the university’s dedication to cultivating artistic excellence.
Badudu’s inspiration for the original chorus stemmed from the existing lyrics. “I noticed that most of the vocabulary in the choruses is an invitation to praise,” he explains. “So I treated it as a pre-chorus and wrote a chorus that woudl resolve in the action of praise itself. ‘Hallelujah’ was the first word that came to mind.”
The added chorus, “Hallelujah, we bring our offering. Hallelujah to Christ our Lord and King,” adds a layer of depth and meaning to the conventional carol.
“The rest of the chorus is inspired by the three wise men bringing their gifts to Jesus,” Badudu adds. “As we congregationally sing songs of worship, our gift to the Lord is an offering of praise.”
Produced by Alex Priore, Director of Production Arts at Dordt, “O Come All Ye Faithful (Hallelujah)” is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and youtube.