About
Daniel 12:3 “those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, those who turn many to righteousness like stars forever and ever.” “Bands come and go along with many songs and styles and we recognize that….BUT…. the life-change that our God brings will last eternity. This is the call. This is our heartbeat. To be a “star” that leads others to righteousness.”
The husband/wife duo in Branch began at a local bible study and two albums later they have found a voice and platform to champion Jesus Christ and the things He’s about: Love, Justice, and Hope. When the band isn’t actively involved in their base church in Athens TX, they are traveling the Country striving with all they are to create an atmosphere of worship where people can get their eyes of themselves and onto a God who can change everything (2 Cor 3:18).
Living in a city with four college’s, the band got it’s start leading worship for a city-wide collegiate bible study called Grace. Steven Patterson was attending college at Hardin Simmons where he met his wife Rachel and ultimately formed a band. The band got a great opportunity to trade weeks leading worship with Jeff Berry alongside the teaching of Matt Chandler at Grace (Abilene’s collegiate bible study). After consistently leading worship at the bible study and at their local church (UBC), the band began traveling the country to lead worship at various camps, conferences, and retreats. In the Fall of 2005, the band officially became Branch with the release of their debut album “Desperate for Real”. The band name comes from John 15 with the key verse being “abide in me for apart from me you can do nothing (15:5). “We felt like we always needed to remember that!” With this first record, the band’s ministry reached beyond the borders of the bible study and soon the band was traveling full time leading others to experience, know, and worship God. Branch’s newest released “The Side Effects of Seeing,” released in September 07. The bands purpose could be summed up in this sentence: to creatively and effectively lead others into the presence of God where they can respond to God and be changed into His likeness. We strive with all we have to create an ATMOSPHERE of praise where people can get their eyes off of themselves and on to the GLORY of GOD they will be transformed!
