Justin Gambino is inviting listeners into a deeply personal season of reflection and worship with the release of his first-ever worship project, Garden of the Lord, arriving July 17. The six-track EP marks a new chapter for the award-winning singer-songwriter, offering songs born not from the stage, but from intimate moments spent in God's presence.
Produced by Gambino alongside longtime collaborator Walter Halliwell, Garden of the Lord features five original worship songs and an instrumental piece appropriately titled "The Invitation." Together, the collection serves as a musical journey through healing, renewal, and spiritual restoration.
At the heart of the project is the image of God as the Master Gardener-patiently cultivating growth, restoring what has been neglected, and bringing new life to dormant places. That theme resonates throughout the EP, particularly on "Depend on You (All I Need)," a moving song written during a difficult season of infertility experienced by Gambino and his wife. The project also includes the modern hymn "Let Me Not Forget," co-written with Halliwell and acclaimed songwriter Tony Wood, as well as the title track, "Garden of the Lord," a worshipful expression of gratitude inspired by the peace and renewal found in God's care.
"The inspiration for this project came from my testimony," Gambino shares. "As I began telling my story publicly-one that had been buried for so long-I felt as though I was walking through a neglected garden. Looking back on my life became an invitation from the Lord to walk with me through the garden of my heart and tend to the places that had gone dormant over the years."
Although the songs were originally written for his own private worship time, Gambino says he eventually felt led to share them with others.
"I held onto these songs for a while feeling they were just meant for me in my secret place with Him, but God ultimately led me to record and share them," he explains. "My hope is that this music will allow others to enter into their own secret place with the Lord."
The message behind Garden of the Lord is especially powerful considering Gambino's remarkable personal journey. At 18 years old, he was arrested for theft and faced a crossroads that would dramatically alter the course of his life. Choosing military service and community service instead of incarceration, he spent eight years serving in the U.S. Navy. During a deployment in Iraq, he was unexpectedly asked to lead worship, reigniting a passion for music that had been planted in childhood.
Yet the challenges continued after his military service. Struggling with PTSD, anger, depression, and alcohol abuse, Gambino found himself at one of the lowest points of his life. It was there, in a desperate moment on the floor of his apartment, that he cried out to God for help. That encounter became the beginning of a profound story of redemption that continues to shape both his life and ministry today.
In a fitting full-circle moment, Gambino now hosts the Brazoria County Revival each year on the courthouse steps where he once received his sentence as a teenager-a living testimony to the transforming power of grace.
Known for inspiring songs such as "Just Like Jesus," "Courage," and "Fighting On My Behalf," Gambino has spent more than a decade building a devoted audience through his authentic storytelling and energetic live performances. His impact was recognized in 2024 when he was named Artist of the Year Christian/Gospel/Inspirational Male at the Josie Music Awards.
With Garden of the Lord, Gambino offers perhaps his most vulnerable and worship-centered collection to date. Rather than simply presenting songs, he extends an invitation-one that encourages listeners to slow down, walk with God through the hidden places of their hearts, and discover the healing that can only come from the Master Gardener.
For further information, visit justingambino.com or turningpointpr.com. Follow Gambino on Facebook and Instagram.
