New Christian Music Album Storybook, Vol. 2 Explores Faith, Justice, and the Stories That Shape Communities

Christians for Social Action and Common Hymnal release five original songs inviting Christians to listen more closely to the experiences of others.

ST. DAVIDS, PA, UNITED STATES, October 27, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Christians have long used music to remember, worship, lament, and pass stories of faith from one generation to the next. A new album from Christians for Social Action (CSA) and Common Hymnal draws on that tradition, bringing the experiences of five organizations working for justice and restoration into original songs.

Storybook, Vol. 2, now available on major streaming platforms and YouTube, explores memory, belonging, identity, and the Christian responsibility to listen to and learn from others.

The album features songs inspired by Truth's Table Foundation, Virago Rising, Eloheh, the Center for Restorative Justice, and Liberated Together. Each song grew out of conversations between Common Hymnal artists and communities whose work reflects different aspects of faith and justice.

“We are surrounded by stories all the time, but we don’t always stop to ask whose stories are shaping us,” said Nikki Toyama-Szeto, executive director of Christians for Social Action. “Part of loving our neighbors is learning to pay attention to their histories, their experiences, and what they might be able to show us about the world that we couldn’t see on our own.”

Throughout Scripture, God's people are repeatedly called to remember: their history, God's faithfulness, the suffering of others, and the responsibilities that come with belonging to a community. Storybook, Vol. 2 draws on that biblical practice, exploring what happens when certain stories are overlooked or forgotten.

The five songs approach these questions through different experiences. “We Are the Echo” honors women whose faith and courage shaped future generations. “Hands Full of Hope” celebrates the strength and solidarity of Black women. “Remember” confronts painful histories that cannot simply be set aside. “You Will See Me” gives voice to women seeking to be fully recognized, while “Time & Place” explores identity, pain, and belonging.

“Songs have always helped communities remember,” said Malcolm du Plessis, founder of Common Hymnal. “They carry stories from one generation to another. They give us a way to hold grief and hope, history and possibility, without pretending that any of those things are simple.”

The album emerged from the second cohort of CSA's Storytellers Collective, a national initiative connecting artists with organizations working in justice, restoration, and community life. Rather than asking musicians to write songs about social issues from a distance, the project begins with relationships. Common Hymnal artists spend time listening to the people and organizations whose experiences will shape the music.

“For us, listening is where storytelling starts,” said Avril Speaks, director of the Storytellers Collective. “We aren’t looking for a clean or inspiring version of someone’s story. We want to make room for what is actually there — the joy and the pain, the questions, the history, and the things people are still figuring out.”

The first Storybook album, released in March 2026, explored gospel hope through seven original songs. This second collection asks Christians to consider whose experiences are shaping their understanding of the world and what it means to love neighbors whose stories may be different from their own.

“We hope these songs help people hear stories they might not otherwise encounter,” said Toyama-Szeto. “And maybe, in listening to someone else’s story, we begin to understand our neighbors, and even our own stories, a little differently.”

The album is available on all streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube.


About Christians for Social Action
Christians for Social Action is a Christian nonprofit founded in 1973 that equips people to pursue justice through storytelling, resources, dialogue, and partnerships.

About Common Hymnal
Common Hymnal is a collective of artists and songwriters creating music rooted in community, faith, justice, and lived experience.

Laurie Nichols
Christians for Social Action
laurie.nichols@eastern.edu
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