The Artist
Earl Killian
Christian songwriter. Guitarist, Pianist. Student of the Word.
In His Own Words
Since I was 15, I have always felt the healing power in music
After a very wild youth The LORD drew me and saved me around the age of 30 and I met my wonderful wife Pamela Smith Killian and we have 3 adult sons, Henry, Joe and Cliff. After that I started concentrating on writing Christian based songs.
The guitar has been with me since I was a teenager. It's been through seasons of doubt, seasons of deep joy, seasons of sitting with hard passages and not knowing what to do with them. The songs that came out of those seasons are the ones that ended up here.
I studied Music Theory and Piano in my late 20s to help become a better songwriter. I'm not a theologian but I read the Bible everyday with the great Commentary of Matthew Henry, who I highly recommend. I'm just someone who loves the Word and loves music— and believes those two things belong together.
Grain of Faith is named after the parable of the mustard seed. Small things. Quiet things. Things that grow slowly and take root in unlikely soil. That's what I hope these songs are for you.
The Journey
How the music grew
Early Years
My Grandfather Henry took me to church as a child and I remember singing Hymns at the top of my lungs at 8 years old.
First Songs
My first songs were reflective secular songs searching for answers. Around 30 years old I was saved and started writing Christian songs in many different genres.
The Cantata
The piano piece by Modeste Mussorgsky influenced the Cantata. Mussorgsky composed the concept piece, "Pictures at an Exhibition". I memorized that piece in my late 20s and decided to write "Hosanna To The KING" a Bible overview concept piece.
Grain of Faith
Launched this site to share the music freely and affordably — digital downloads, no subscriptions, no gatekeeping. Just songs for the journey.
The Centerpiece
The Cantata--A Bible overview in song from The Exodus to The Resurrection of CHRIST
For years I'd been writing songs about individual passages — a psalm here, a parable there. Then one day I asked myself: what if I tried to tell the whole story from The Exodus To The Resurrection of CHRIST?
The result is an 18-minute cantata, animated with AI surreal art that tries to capture the dreamlike, epic quality of Scripture. It's the piece I'm most proud of, and I hope it becomes something you return to.
Download The Cantata →Roots & Influences
What shaped the music
The music is waiting for you.
Download once, keep forever. Songs for the road, the quiet morning, the hard season.