They even questioned whether it was ethical to profit from religious music. "For Those Tears I Died" became one of the earliest CCM hits, something Stevens-Pino and her bandmates in Children of the Day could’ve never predicted. Her high school choir director encouraged her to copyright the song, which would prove to be wise advice. In 1969, when she was a high schooler still learning the Gospel, Stevens-Pino wrote " For Those Tears I Died " to help lead her sister to the Lord. Marsha Stevens-Pino found her own way to Christianity at a Southern California church with "barefoot hippies." She described the atmosphere as being so egalitarian that anyone in the congregation could share an original song. With acoustic guitars and long hair, "Jesus freaks" brought their own sort of counterculture to Christian denominations. Singing has long been part of many Christian traditions, but contemporary Christian music (CCM) has its roots in the Jesus movement of the 1960s and 1970s. The Origins Of The Christian Music Industry They’re using art to not only express their faith, but also to forge a more accepting Christian church. But a new generation of queer Christian musicians is refusing to compromise either part of their identity. In the past, LGBTQ+ artists were forced out of the genre after coming out. "For a genre that’s meant to harness artistic expression, there are a lot of boundaries, and I think that's very strange, especially when, thematically, we're looking at all of creation and divinity," says Baldrige, adding, "Artists like myself and others, we're presenting a challenge, and a question, to Christian music, which is, what do you want to be known for?" While the Christian music industry has embraced modern musical stylings like indie rock, metal and rap, lyrical content has been slower to encompass a broader diversity of voices. In a genre that has doubled down on commercial hits that praise an unwavering dedication to Christianity, Preacher’s Kid was revolutionary for expressing a more nuanced connection with God - and was made even more so by Baldridge's genderqueer identity. The album topped the iTunes Christan music chart.
"And these days I believe in Bigfoot more than God, 'cause who's he hurting?" Semler questions on the track "Jesus From Texas." The EP centered on Baldrige’s experiences growing up in the Episcopal Church, a religion that often didn’t accept her identity, and the ways in which she wrestled with religion. In 2021, queer musician Grace Baldridge (who peforms as Semler) rocked Christian music on her debut release, Preacher’s Kid.