Thirty years after Avalon introduced one of Christian music's most beloved anthems, "Testify to Love" is finding new life-and a deeper meaning-for a new generation.
Appearing on Jen Hatmaker's popular For the Love podcast, original Avalon member Michael Passons joined former bandmate Melissa Greene and country music star Ty Herndon for an emotional conversation about the re-release of the iconic song, the personal journeys that shaped its return, and the power of love, acceptance, and reconciliation.
Originally released in 1997, "Testify to Love" became a defining song of the Contemporary Christian Music era, spending weeks at No. 1 and serving as a soundtrack for countless churchgoers throughout the late 1990s. Yet behind the song's message of unconditional love was a painful story that remained largely untold for years.
Passons, a founding member of Avalon, revealed that he was removed from the group in 2003 after concerns about his sexuality surfaced within the Christian music industry. During the podcast, he recalled the devastating impact of losing not only his position in the group but also the community and identity he had built around it.
"I lost my community, my family, my career, all within a couple of seconds," Passons said. "That's a lot to process."
The singer described years of wrestling with his faith, identity, and place within Christian culture. He shared that throughout his time with Avalon, he lived with the constant fear that his sexuality would eventually become public knowledge and jeopardize everything he had worked for.
Despite the pain, Passons said the experience ultimately led him toward authenticity and healing. Looking back, he now views that difficult chapter not as an ending but as the beginning of a new journey.
"What I thought I was running away from was actually what I was running toward," he reflected. "It led me to where I'm supposed to be today."
Greene, who joined Avalon in 2002, also spoke candidly about her own theological evolution. She admitted that at the time of Passons' departure, her understanding of faith left little room for affirming LGBTQ individuals. However, years of ministry, personal relationships, and exposure to different perspectives gradually transformed her outlook.
"The people I loved and the fullness of their humanity butted up against my theological positions," Greene explained. "I had to ask myself whether I would continue building fences or allow my understanding of God and humanity to grow."
Her journey eventually led her into pastoral ministry, where she became part of a church that embraced full LGBTQ inclusion. Today, she views the renewed collaboration with Passons as both a personal and spiritual milestone.
Meanwhile, Herndon brought his own perspective to the conversation. The country singer, who has long spoken openly about his faith, recovery, and sexuality, helped facilitate the new recording of "Testify to Love." He described the project as an opportunity for Passons to reclaim a song that had always been closely tied to his story.
Herndon noted that when he first heard Passons and Greene perform the song together at a concert celebrating love and acceptance, he immediately sensed something special. That performance eventually inspired the decision to create a new recording featuring the two singers.
The result has resonated deeply with listeners. According to the podcast, the re-recorded version of "Testify to Love" has surged to No. 1, introducing the classic anthem to new audiences while offering healing to many who grew up with the original recording.
Jen Hatmaker observed that the song's message feels especially relevant today. What once served as a general declaration of Christian love has become, for many listeners, a testimony to inclusion, dignity, and belonging.
Throughout the discussion, all three artists emphasized the importance of authenticity, compassion, and creating spaces where people can fully be themselves without fear of rejection.
For longtime fans of Avalon, the renewed success of "Testify to Love" represents more than nostalgia. It marks a remarkable full-circle moment-one in which an artist once excluded from the story is now helping write its next chapter.
As Passons continues to share his testimony through music and public appearances, he hopes his journey will encourage others who have felt marginalized or displaced.
"If I am quieter, who feels better and why?" he reflected during the conversation. "If I am louder, who feels better and why? The answer is why I choose to live loud today."
Three decades after its original release, "Testify to Love" remains a powerful reminder that the most enduring stories are often those of grace, restoration, and hope.
