Rachel DeLong ~ Artist of the Week 5/29/26

Featuring her brand‑new album “Confessions of a Church Kid”

There’s something powerful about an artist who tells the truth without flinching — not the polished version, not the church‑friendly version, but the real story of growing up in faith, wrestling with identity, and learning to follow Jesus in a world that doesn’t always make room for honesty. That’s why Rachel DeLong is our Artist of the Week. She writes like someone who has lived the tension between wanting to belong and wanting to be authentic, between the expectations of being a “church kid” and the deeper desire to know God for herself. Her new album, Confessions of a Church Kid, is out now, and it captures that journey with boldness, vulnerability, and a faith that refuses to settle for shallow answers.

Rachel’s story is rooted in New England, where she grew up as a pop‑rock CCM singer, songwriter, and worship leader shaped by emotional honesty and deep faith. She’s not new to the stage — she’s performed across the country, including five consecutive years at SoulFest, along with HillFest, ConnectFest, OneFest, RiverRock, and HopeFest. Her band won the 2021 River Rock Music Festival Battle of the Bands, helping establish her as one of the rising independent voices in Christian music. She has shared the stage with Riley Clemmons, Mike Donehey, Jason Gray, Rhett Walker, Leanna Crawford, Austin French, and Stars Go Dim. Her ministry is marked by vulnerability, discipleship, and a desire to help young believers understand their worth in Christ — not because someone told them who they should be, but because they’ve encountered Jesus for themselves.

And while the full album is now available, three songs have already risen to the top — not because they were pushed, but because they resonated. They’re the tracks people heard first, connected with instantly, and kept coming back to. They’re the doorway into the rest of the album, the songs that show exactly why Rachel DeLong is becoming one of the most relatable new voices in Christian music.

“Dopamine” hits with a raw honesty that feels painfully familiar. Rachel sings about the pull of temporary highs — the scrolling, the distractions, the emotional quick fixes we all reach for when life feels heavy. It’s relatable because every believer knows what it’s like to chase something that promises relief but leaves the soul emptier than before. Scripture exposes this cycle in Jeremiah 2:13: “My people have forsaken Me, the spring of living water, and dug their own cisterns… that cannot hold water.” The verse lands like truth we’ve all lived. “Dopamine” becomes a reminder that the things we run to for escape can’t sustain us — but Jesus can.

“Holy Ghosted” carries a different kind of ache — the feeling of praying into silence, wondering if God is still near, still listening, still moving. Rachel doesn’t hide from that tension; she names it. And that honesty is what makes the song so comforting. Every believer has walked through seasons where heaven feels quiet. Scripture gives language to that experience in Lamentations 3:28–29: “Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him… let him bury his face in the dust — there may yet be hope.” It’s a reminder that silence is not abandonment. Sometimes God uses the quiet to deepen our trust and draw us closer than we realize. “Holy Ghosted” becomes a companion for anyone who has ever wondered if God still hears them — and a reminder that He does.

“Neighbor” brings conviction wrapped in compassion. Rachel challenges us to love the people around us — not just the easy ones, not just the ones who think like us, but the ones God places in our path. It’s relatable because loving people well is hard, especially in a world that encourages division and self‑protection. Scripture anchors this truth in Romans 12:10: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” It’s a call to live out the kind of love that reflects Jesus — sacrificial, patient, and rooted in grace. “Neighbor” reminds us that faith isn’t just vertical; it’s horizontal. Loving God means loving people.

Rachel DeLong is our Artist of the Week because she represents what so many believers are feeling right now — the desire to be honest about our struggles, to grow beyond the labels we were given, and to follow Jesus with authenticity. Her music doesn’t shy away from the hard questions. It leans into them. It invites listeners to wrestle, reflect, and ultimately find hope in the God who meets us right where we are. She is an up‑and‑coming artist with the heart of a worship leader, the honesty of a storyteller, and the courage to say what many of us feel but don’t always know how to express.

With Confessions of a Church Kid now available, this is the perfect moment to dive into her story, explore the full album, and let these songs speak into your own walk with Jesus. Her music is a reminder that God works through our questions, our imperfections, and our confessions — and that He is shaping us into people who reflect His love more clearly every day.

You can purchase her new album here on Amazon.