More than 25 years after becoming one of contemporary Christian music's most beloved songs, "Testify to Love" is at the center of a renewed conversation about faith, inclusion, and the enduring message of God's love.
The discussion follows the recent rerelease of the song by former Avalon members Michael Passons and Melissa Greene alongside country artist Ty Herndon. The new version, which has been embraced by many within the LGBTQ+ community, has sparked both celebration and controversy across Christian music circles.
Now, two of the song's original writers have publicly weighed in on the debate.
Responding to a social media post by Melissa Greene, songwriter Paul Field stated that "Testify to Love" was "always meant to be about inclusivity." Field further affirmed Greene's interpretation of the song, commenting, "You've got the real meaning."
Fellow songwriter Henk Pool echoed those sentiments, writing that he and his co-writers hope the song "will continue to find people that need to hear that God's love is for all of us."
The comments come amid criticism from some conservative Christian voices who have challenged the idea that the song was originally intended to carry an affirming message. However, the statements from Field and Pool represent the strongest public support yet from members of the songwriting team for the interpretation being celebrated by the rerelease's artists and supporters.
Originally written by Henk Pool Jr., Robert T. Riekerk, Ralph van Manen, and Paul Field, "Testify to Love" was first recorded by Dutch singer Ralph van Manen before becoming a massive hit for Avalon in 1997. The song spent months atop Christian radio charts and became the longest-running Christian radio single of the 1990s, helping establish Avalon as one of the premier groups in contemporary Christian music.
The rerelease carries particular significance for Michael Passons, a founding member of Avalon who publicly came out as gay in 2020 and has spoken openly about his departure from the group years earlier. Melissa Greene, who joined Avalon after Passons left, has also reflected on her evolving understanding of the situation and her friendship with Passons.
In a recent essay, Greene wrote that the new recording allows the song to "mean what it always said," describing it as a declaration of "love without exception."
The project has received support from several prominent Christian artists, including Amy Grant, Point of Grace, Nichole Nordeman, and Rachel Lampa. According to Passons, Grant personally reached out after hearing the recording and expressed how deeply moved she was by the song's new presentation.
Commercially, the single has also resonated with listeners. Ty Herndon recently celebrated the song reaching No. 1 on the iTunes Christian chart, while the track climbed to No. 3 on Billboard's Christian Digital Song Sales chart.
As conversations surrounding faith, identity, and belonging continue within Christian communities, the renewed success of "Testify to Love" demonstrates the lasting influence of a song whose central message remains focused on the transformative power of God's love.
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