Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

JFH 25: Top 25 Albums From 1996 to 2020

On August 13th, 1996, The Jesus Freak Hideout began. Ever since that day, the JFH has been bringing the latest in Christian music to you every day. In honor of 25 years of the site in 2021, we're taking a look back over two-and-a-half decades of music. A few of the JFH team rolled up their proverbial sleeves and deliberated over a top album pick for each year from 1996 to 2020. Check out the countdown, starting with 1996, below...



BACK   1996   NEXT


Newsboys
Take Me To Your Leader

Release Date: February 20, 1996


Is this the pinnacle of CCM? I think an argument could be made for just that. While my personal favorite album of all-time also released this year, it wasn't hard to vote for this album as the best of 1996. The Pete Furler/Steve Taylor combo was on point and this album produced some of the biggest songs of my youth. And while there is definitely some 90s CCM cheese here, this album holds up with some really rocking tunes. That and "Lost the Plot" is likely the best Newsboys song ever written.
        - Michael Weaver



The best Newsboys album of any era---yeah, I said it. "Lost the Plot" is worth the entire price of the album alone. Add in the jangly title track, the dancy "Reality" and the youth group staple "Breakfast" and you have an overall great album of the 90s.
        - Josh Balogh



I second Josh's sentiment. This was the Newsboys at the height of their career. It's pop, it's rock, it's accessible yet artistic and even poetic. It's a truly memorable album that still rocks and leaves an impact 25 years later. (And I have to say picking a favorite album of 1996 is super difficult. With other contenders like Audio Adrenaline's bloOm, Common Children's Skywire, PFR's Them, Poor Old Lu's A Picture of the Eighth Wonder, Skillet's debut, and even Eric Champion's Transformation, it certainly says something that Take Me To Your Leader takes the cake!)
        - John DiBiase



Visit JFH's Newsboys page for more information about them.




JFH 25: Top 25 Albums From 1996 to 2020

1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020


 

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This Wednesday, October 22, 2025
SINGLES
Phil Wickham Fear Has No Power - Single [Fair Trade]

This Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan Resurrection Power - EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure (2025 Remaster) [Resuscitation]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
God Behind Bars Music Live From Angola Prison Vol. 1 [Provident]
Hulvey HE WILL RETURN - EP [Reach]
Brandon Lake Amazon Music Songline [Provident]
Latter Day Exploits Within Consumed (Expanded Edition) [Charon Collective]
VaShawn Mitchell SOUNDCHECK [Fair Trade]
MORIAH Nice Life - EP [F2]
Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
The Band JAREN Poetic - Single [Hit and Run]
Joe L Barnes Grief, Joy, Gratitude - Single [Provident]
Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
Leanna Crawford Beginning Of Your Grace - Single [Provident]
darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
EJ Swavv & Jericko Love Like This - Single [Syntax]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
goodwill. REST - Single [Syntax]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Mat Kearney Good Old Days - Single (independent)
Kelo Car Freestyle - Single [Syntax]
Vic Lucas I Need You (ft. IsaiahLaRoi) - Single [Syntax]
Jamie Macdonald You Can't Take My Song - Single [Capitol CMG]
Myles Maestro No Place - Single [Syntax]
Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
Mountains in the Sea Breakthrough - Single [DREAM]
Razzie & Glenn Ray Second Chances - Single [Syntax]
Seph Schlueter Already On The Way (feat. Benjamin William Hastings) - Single [Provident]
Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
tonyxtrotter, Yung Drew, Wayne Klassik HOLY HOLY HOLY - Single [Syntax]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)
Unseen Faith Cold Resolve - Single [Rottweiler Records]
Kim Zamolo Your Ways Are Higher - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]

Next Friday, October 31, 2025
ALBUMS
Hope Deferred Darkness Remains [The Charon Collective]
MORIAH Nice Life - EP [F2]
Testimony of Apocalypse Agony in the Garden [Roxx Records]

SINGLES
Dreamers My Heart His Home - Single [DREAM]
Roxanne Grace Try Again - Single [DREAM]
Lock & Chi Do To Me - Single (independent)
John Long Simple Pursuit - Single (independent)
Warren Zeiders How Great Thou Art - Single [Warner]


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