Servant (band)

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Servant was a Christian rock group that grew out of the counter-culture Jesus Movement of the sixties and seventies. The band was founded by evangelist Jim Palosaari in Victoria, British Columbia in 1976 and performed to audiences throughout North America, Europe and Australia for over 12 years. Originally named “Higher Ground”, Servant was known for challenging the Christian church to repent and turn back to social justice and caring for the poor. The band was also known to incorporate comedy and short skits in their sets on stage. Servant was the first Christian rock group to use laser lights, flame tubes, fireworks, fog machines, in addition to an extensive light show and quadrasonic sound.

Servant toured extensively, recorded 6 studio albums, and became one of the most influential Christian rock groups. Petra, who would later become one of the largest names in Christian rock, and a Grammy Award winner, opened for them on tour in late 1981 and early 1982 just as Petra's breakthrough album, Never Say Die was being released. Servant songs that ranked in the Top 40 Contemporary Christian Music Charts included "Come Jesus Come", "Holding on to You", "Thank God", "We are the Light", and "Surrender."

Formative Years: Servant found its origins in 1973 from “Lonesome Stone”, a Christian rock musical touring Europe that Palosaari billed as a multi-media production of the Jesus generation portrayed in music, film and drama to rival the likes of the musical Godspell. As Lonesome Stone disbanded in 1974, many members of the group joined together to form a Christian community known as the Milwaukee Jesus People. This short-lived community formed the basis of what eventually became Jesus People USA in Chicago, and the Highway Missionary Society based out of Grants Pass, Oregon. By 1980, Servant was an outreach of the Highway Missionary Society, which was later named The Servant Community in Cincinnati, Ohio.