Ames’ own worship band Anthem will be playing a free show at Cornerstone Church on May 3 to a goal of more than 1,500 attendees. 

Anthem originally started in 2002 as a worshipping event at Cornerstone Church. Through time, Anthem became a group of songwriters and musicians to write songs for today’s worshippers. 

Anthem has been a band of the Cornerstone Church since its birth and as well as the band’s home; the band’s goal stays the same through time: to spread the word and message of Jesus Christ and glorify God. The band said this message has been kept well despite the many line up changes the group has faced. 

“Anthem itself is to twofold. One aspect of Anthem is the event which we hold once a semester, and the other is the songwriting component where we write, produce and record our own music,” said singer and guitarist Jesse Antelman.

Antelman said the goal of the group is to affect the next generation to love, follow and worship the one, true God. 

“Our music is a declaration of what we believe and a cry to God to work in and through us. We aim to edify the local church with original music and are vitally involved in the life of Cornerstone Church of Ames which includes The Salt Company which is the College Ministry of Cornerstone. Being apart of a local church has allowed us to invest into musicians who are in our ministries and when someone has to leave because of work or other reasons, we are able to pull up the next guy who has been raised up,” Antelman said.

The band has seen multiple lineup changes due to members leaving for jobs, as well as the band’s home church (Cornerstone Church) planting a new church in Iowa City called Veritas Church. This led to four members of the band leaving to help with that church.

“God was faithful to bring even more talented musicians and songwriters into Anthem after the members who left for Veritas left,” Antelman said.

Being part of Ames, Anthem said it feels that the group does not face competition with the many acts throughout the music scene. Instead it aims to getting their music and message out.

Anthem remains true to its hometown of Ames, but has also played for other events in Des Moines, Kansas, Omaha and Minnesota and even opening up for other Christian acts such as Phil Wickham and Shane & Shane.

“At our core, Anthem is all about worshipping God. We are not trying to do something completely out of the box or super distinct. Our goal is to aid people in their pursuit of worshipping God with all they are,” Antelman said. “This means writing songs that, while relevant and original, are able to be used in a corporate setting where people are able to connect and engage as they sing with us.”

Fans of Anthem or those who would like to attend can see it for free from 8 to 10 p.m. May 3 at Cornerstone Church.