John Long on Loss, Surrender, and the Faith Behind “All To Him I Owe”

Singer, songwriter, producer, and worship leader John Long brings acoustic folk, personal storytelling, and congregational worship together in music shaped by loss, faith, and family. Having lost his mother at six, Long speaks candidly about learning to cling to Jesus through unanswered questions-and later discovering what it means to find satisfaction in Christ when ministry opportunities disappear. In this interview, the husband and father of two shares the story behind "All To Him I Owe," his collaboration with Tapestry Worship, and previews "love deep," a forthcoming song inspired by his marriage.

Listen to "All To Him I Owe" by John Long and Tapestry Worship on Apple Music.

Q: For readers discovering John Long for the first time, how would you introduce yourself, and what experiences have most shaped the person behind the music?

A: My name is John Long. I have been in music since I was 12 years old and now I am doing it in pretty much every form whether it be writing, producing, leading worship, or session tracking. More importantly I am a husband and a father of 2 amazing kids. I am so grateful for where God has placed me and the opportunities He has given me. I lost my mother at age 6 and it absolutely shaped who I am today and I learned to cling to Jesus through really rough seasons. He carried me through moments that I had no answers and I truly owe it all to Him.

Q: How did you first sense God calling you to music and worship ministry, and was there a particular moment when you decided to pursue that calling?

A: I first fell in love with creating music in general around age 12. I actually went and saw the movie August Rush and somehow that jump started this fire in me to pursue acoustic guitar and singing. I got really into acoustic guitar performers like Trace Bundy, Dave Matthews, anyone from Candyrat Records and the obvious ones like John Mayer and Marcus Mumford. I didn't really make the connection that music would shift into ministry until I was in high school. I was asked to join the worship team as a freshman and worship leading followed suit. Our church was in the midst of a global revival at the time and we were having services live on Daystar every week so I started playing on the main worship team during this season at age 15. I was radically touched by God during this revival season and this is when I told God I would give Him my passion for music.

Q: Your music brings together acoustic folk, personal storytelling, and congregational worship. What do you hope that combination contributes to Christian music, and how have you learned to develop your own voice?

A: These styles are really a culmination of my life in general. Having walked through hard trials early, I always took these deep life questioning feelings into music. For me creating music has always been a really deep process because of what it helped me get through. I remember when I was 17, nights I couldn't sleep after losing a family member, I would stay up listening to worship music that kept my heart anchored to Jesus and follow it by listening to heart wrenching melodies of Bon Iver, Mumford and Sons and others. As I got older, I stayed anchored in Jesus while also developing my own style and sound as an artist. My strategy is just to remain authentic and true to who I was created to be. Authenticity and humility are fragile in today's world so I aim to guard my heart in hope's that these characteristics are what people resonate with.

Q: Your latest single, "All To Him I Owe," with Tapestry Worship, centers on Christ's sacrifice and our response of surrender. What sparked the song, and how did recording it live help communicate its message?

A: Tapestry Worship is a great group. So honored I was able to partner with them on this track. I wrote this song as sort of a modern hymn. I wanted to preserve the simplicity of the gospel and tell the story of Christ descriptively while also being theologically sound. The cross always draws me back to the place of surrender to Jesus. I wanted the words to really just reflect that. I truly have all I need when I have Him.

This song was recorded live at Haven Studio in Kansas City with close friends of mine that I have done worship with for years. Playing it live in the studio with my friends really helped capture this modern hymn in the way I envisioned it from the start.

Q: Looking ahead to "love deep" and your future releases, what new stories or musical directions are you exploring, and are those songs leading toward an EP or album?

A: I am excited about "love deep", the upcoming single. This one dives more into my role as a husband and father and what that covenant really means. This will lean more into the storytelling side of my music. I really wrote this for my wife and she cried so, in my book, that's as much of a reward I will ever need. It is a folk leaning track that I would say falls into the same context as Gregory Alan Isakov.

I would love to do an album down the road. I have a ton of ideas for new music. I would love to keep the folk songs rolling but I also have some more live worship ideas I am mulling over. These ideas may end up being one thing but we'll see. I am definitely not slowing down anytime soon.

Q: When writing, recording, and leading worship become part of your work, how do you nurture your own relationship with Jesus, and what has he been teaching you about worship beyond the stage?

A: Writing songs and leading worship are byproducts of walking with Jesus. About 2 and a half years ago I was let go from my previous worship position at the church I grew up in. I was suddenly in a season where I was working a corporate job everyday and it honestly felt like my ministry season of life could have very well been over. I believe the Lord was teaching me something in this season that lasted 2 years. If no one ever heard any of the songs I write again or I never stand on a stage and lead worship again, would my heart be satisfied if I just had Jesus and a quiet life? I wrestled this. I felt like I was sacrificing a gift that He gave me which felt backwards. I believe it was the same test of faith as Abraham and Isaac. I am nothing without God. Nothing I have or do will satisfy my heart like Him. The moment this became a reality in my heart, the "ram in the bush" came and the Lord started blessing my music and my ministry career beyond what I thought was possible in that moment.