Planetshakers

Planetshakers is an Australian Christian worship ministry, church and music movement founded by pastors Russell and Sam Evans. Based in Melbourne, Victoria, the ministry is best known internationally for its energetic contemporary worship music, large-scale conferences and its work with young people. Its music is performed and released through the Planetshakers Band, which has become one of the most recognizable Australian worship groups in contemporary Christian music.

The story of Planetshakers began in 1997 with a youth-focused Christian conference in Adelaide, South Australia. What started as a gathering of about 300 young people grew into an international ministry involving a church, worship band, conferences, youth ministry, college and other forms of Christian outreach. The ministry’s central mandate is “Empowering Generations to Win Generations,” a vision that continues to shape its music and wider activities.

Planetshakers is particularly known for songs such as “Nothing Is Impossible,” “The Anthem,” “Endless Praise,” “Leave Me Astounded,” “This Is Our Time,” “Way Maker,” “It’s All About You” and “Supernatural Love.” Over the years, the Planetshakers Band has released more than 30 albums and has toured extensively across Australia and internationally, helping give Australian contemporary worship a significant global presence.

Quick Facts

Origins and Early Years

Planetshakers traces its beginnings to a Christian youth conference held in Adelaide in 1997. Russell and Sam Evans responded to what they understood as a call from God to create a conference called Planetshakers, bringing together young people with a focus on worship, faith and spiritual transformation.

The first conference attracted around 300 young people. According to the ministry’s own account, the event quickly gained momentum as young people travelled from different parts of Australia to attend. As interest grew, the conference expanded beyond Adelaide and eventually became an important part of the ministry’s identity.

The early emphasis on young people would remain central to Planetshakers. Rather than treating youth ministry as a secondary part of church life, the Evanses developed a ministry built around empowering young people to discover their faith, develop leadership and influence their generation.

From Youth Conference to Church

The growth of the Planetshakers conferences eventually led to the establishment of a permanent church community. Russell and Sam Evans relocated to Melbourne, where they planted Planetshakers Church.

The church developed into a large and multicultural congregation with a strong emphasis on contemporary worship, youth, families, leadership development and practical Christian ministry. Today, Planetshakers Church operates multiple campuses in Australia and internationally, including locations in Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore, Cape Town and Port Moresby.

The church’s wider vision remains closely connected to the original youth movement. Its stated purpose is to see people experience a personal and powerful encounter with Jesus while empowering different generations to live out their faith and purpose.

The Planetshakers Band

Music became one of the most visible expressions of the Planetshakers movement. The Planetshakers Band developed from the worship ministry surrounding the conferences and church and eventually became an international touring and recording group.

The band is not built around a single permanent front person. Instead, it functions as a collective of worship leaders, musicians and singers who have served at different points throughout the ministry’s history. This collective approach has allowed the sound and personnel of Planetshakers to evolve while maintaining a recognizable musical identity.

The band emerged from what Planetshakers describes as a youth revival in Adelaide around 2000. After the ministry moved to Melbourne, the music developed alongside the growing church and conference movement. The Planetshakers Band now tours extensively and has performed across Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.

Musical Style and Influences

Planetshakers is known for an energetic and contemporary approach to Christian worship. Its music frequently combines modern pop, rock, electronic and dance influences with congregational worship songwriting.

The band’s sound is deliberately accessible and contemporary. This reflects the ministry’s long-standing emphasis on speaking to younger generations in a language and musical style that feels current without changing its Christian message.

Many Planetshakers songs are built around themes of praise, faith, freedom, hope, God’s presence and spiritual victory. The music often features large arrangements, prominent drums, electronic elements, guitar-driven sections and repeated declarations designed to encourage congregational participation.

This approach has allowed Planetshakers to occupy a space between church worship music and contemporary Christian performance music. Its recordings can function as personal listening experiences while also being used in churches, conferences and large worship gatherings.

Notable Songs and Albums

Planetshakers has released a substantial catalogue of worship music throughout its history. Among its best-known songs are “Nothing Is Impossible,” “The Anthem,” “Endless Praise,” “Leave Me Astounded,” “This Is Our Time,” “Supernatural Love” and “It’s All About You.”

The band’s discography includes numerous live and studio projects. Albums and projects such as Rain Down, Endless Praise, This Is Our Time, Outback Worship Sessions, Legacy, Heaven on Earth, Overflow, Limitless and Greater have contributed to its international profile.

A recurring feature of the Planetshakers catalogue is the use of live worship recordings. The live format reflects the band’s origins in conferences and church gatherings, where the music is intended to be experienced collectively rather than simply consumed as recorded entertainment.

The ministry continues to release new music. Its more recent catalogue includes projects such as Winning Team: Songs For Church (Live), Overflow of Worship (Songs For Church) and the album Weight of Heaven, demonstrating that Planetshakers continues to develop its worship sound rather than relying solely on its earlier catalogue.

Planetshakers Conference and Global Ministry

The Planetshakers Conference remains one of the most important parts of the ministry. What began as a youth conference in Adelaide has grown into an international gathering attracting Christians from different backgrounds and countries.

The conferences combine worship, preaching, prayer and ministry, with the Planetshakers Band providing much of the musical leadership. Although the original conferences were designed primarily for young people, the events have expanded over time to attract people across different age groups, cultures and denominations.

Planetshakers also operates beyond music and conferences. Its ministry includes Planetshakers College, which provides Christian training and leadership development, as well as youth and university ministries. Planetboom serves as the ministry’s youth-focused expression, while Planetuni is aimed at university students.

Current Activities and Legacy

Planetshakers remains an active international Christian ministry, with its church, conferences, college, youth programs and music continuing to operate under the leadership of Russell and Sam Evans. The ministry maintains campuses in Australia and other countries and continues to organize international conferences and worship events.

The Planetshakers Band also continues to tour and release music. Its current work remains connected to the ministry’s original emphasis on contemporary worship and empowering younger generations. The band’s international touring schedule has taken its music far beyond Australia, helping establish Planetshakers as one of the country’s most influential contemporary Christian worship exports.

One of Planetshakers’ most significant contributions has been its role in demonstrating how youth ministry, church leadership and contemporary worship music can develop together. The movement began with a small gathering of young people in Adelaide and grew into a global ministry whose songs are sung in churches and worship gatherings around the world.

Its influence can be seen particularly in its emphasis on the next generation. Through Planetshakers Church, the Planetshakers Band, planetboom, conferences and leadership training, the ministry continues to pursue its original vision of empowering one generation to influence and strengthen the next.