Adding Gospel to Your Playlist: Souls A'Fire Vocalist Joshua Andrade Says Stronger Faith Comes from Diversity of Worship

ORU's Joshua Andrade comes from a family of singers. With parents and a sister who can all sing, music is in his DNA, but it's also a talent he's been developing for years. Since the 7th grade, he's been leading congregations in worship.

Coming to ORU, it's no surprise that Joshua became deeply involved in ORU's active music community. As a senior, he's currently a member of ORU Worship, and he's also a worship leader for the campus Prayer Movement. There's a third group Joshua's part of-ORU's neo-Gospel band Souls A'Fire-but when Joshua arrived on campus, he says Gospel music wasn't part of the plan.

"I grew up with Gospel music," Joshua said. "It's something that's been a part of my entire life. However, when I came to ORU, I wanted to perform CCM [Contemporary Christian music], not Gospel music. I wanted to diversify and learn different styles of worship. But as a freshman, the head of Souls asked me if I would consider joining the group. Initially, I told him 'no.' He asked me to pray on it-I did-and God eventually told me to join."

ORU Worship

Finding Spiritual Growth in Discomfort

For over 50 years, Souls A'Fire has been making, performing, and recording Gospel music on the ORU campus. As a historic part of the University's music community, Joshua says that Souls is import to campus life because the group creates a "diversity of worship." This diversity, according to Joshua, is a form of learning that allows students to experience different expressions of faith and different aspects of God.

"A genre of music," Joshua said, "carries the spirit that it was birthed in. Gospel music is linked to slavery; it was birthed out of people who couldn't openly worship God. Their only choice was to worship Him in private. There's a specific testimony within different kinds of music, and for Gospel music, it's a testimony from generations ago. Because of this, there's a spirit of breakthrough and deliverance that's intrinsic to the arrangement of Gospel songs."

If you weren't raised listening to Gospel music, Joshua says it should still be part of your worship experience, even if it means getting uncomfortable. This advice is less about musical choice and more about strengthening your faith. According to Joshua, to be a growing Christian, you sometimes have to be an uncomfortable Christian.

"If someone told me," Joshua said, "that they're uncomfortable listening to Gospel music, I'd urge them to get comfortable with discomfort. ORU is such a welcoming place for the Holy Spirit to move, but when He moves, He might ask you to do things that you didn't expect or plan for. Here, God will deal with your heart, and that might change things around for you. In the middle of learning to be uncomfortable, students discover where God needs them most."

50 Years of ORU Family

For Joshua, Souls A'Fire began with a "no," but by finally saying "yes," he discovered his closest family. This, he says, is one of the biggest points to pitch: that for over 50 years, Souls has been connecting ORU students and developing a legacy that links one generation to the next. This family context is central to Souls A'Fire; Joshua describes it as "innate" and "ingrained" and "part of the way we work."

"There's this understanding," Joshua said, "that we need to develop family and community within Souls. I actually see our music as a metaphor for the close friendships I've developed. When I sing with my friends, I can match their tone; I can sound like them. And when that happens, we come together as one voice. When you share the Gospel genre with different singers, you develop a family and a camaraderie while doing it. When it comes to Souls, that's been the most impactful part for me."

Joshua and his friends, including members of ORU Worship and Souls A'Fire

UNIVERSITY BRIEF

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 16 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor's level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 160 nations from 2019 to 2024 to be whole leaders for the whole world.

The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2025). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest-ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche has recognized ORU as one of the top 25 most diverse colleges in America, the # 1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and the # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest. Heritage.org classified ORU as a great option for families prioritizing freedom, opportunity, and civil society.

ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:

• #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
• #2 in Most International Students
• #3 in Best Value
• #6 in Best College for Veterans
• #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West

For more information, visit www.oru.edu.