Christian commentator and podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey is speaking out against the newly rereleased version of Avalon's iconic worship anthem "Testify to Love," after the song was reintroduced as an LGBTQ+-affirming statement by former Avalon members Michael Passons and Melissa Greene alongside country artist Ty Herndon.
During the opening segment of her May 18 episode of Relatable, Stuckey addressed the growing attention surrounding the rerecording, telling listeners that the song would be deeply familiar to many Christians who grew up in evangelical churches during the height of Contemporary Christian Music in the 1990s and early 2000s.
"But here's some bad news," Stuckey said before criticizing the new direction attached to the beloved Avalon classic. She argued that the song is now being reframed retroactively as an anthem connected to queer love and LGBTQ+ affirmation.
Originally released on Avalon's 1997 album A Maze of Grace, "Testify to Love" became one of the defining worship ballads of its era, known for its message about demonstrating God's love through everyday actions. Nearly three decades later, the song has returned to the spotlight through a new recording featuring Avalon founding member Michael Passons, former Avalon singer Melissa Greene, and openly gay country artist Ty Herndon.
The rerelease carries particular emotional significance for Passons, who has publicly claimed he was removed from Avalon in 2003 because he was gay. Greene, who joined Avalon in 2002, has since become one of Passons' closest friends and an outspoken LGBTQ+-affirming Christian voice.
According to the report, Greene previously served as an associate pastor at GracePointe Church, a congregation that publicly affirmed the LGBTQ+ community in 2015 and describes itself as embracing a progressive Christian theology centered on rejecting "theological constructs of shame."
The project gained even more attention after Greene promoted the rerelease on social media, writing that the three artists came away from filming the music video believing that "LOVE is for everyone."
Passons also shared an emotional message with fans on Instagram, saying he hoped listeners would "feel something new" when hearing him sing the song now. Addressing those who may struggle with the song's new context, he added, "I still believe love, real love, is free of judgment, bias, or prejudice."
The rerecording has sparked strong reactions across Christian music and church communities. Supporters have celebrated the release as a redemptive and healing moment for artists who once felt marginalized within CCM culture, while critics argue that the song's original theological and evangelical meaning is being reshaped in ways they believe conflict with historic Christian teaching.
The conversation has also reignited broader discussions about the evolving relationship between Contemporary Christian Music, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and the legacy of artists whose careers were shaped during an era when public conversations around sexuality in Christian entertainment were far more restricted.
For many longtime CCM listeners, the debate surrounding "Testify to Love" represents more than just a song rerelease. It highlights the continuing cultural and theological tensions reshaping Christian media, worship music, and the future identity of faith-based entertainment.
