Baton Rouge Youth Choir Ablaze Wins New Artist of the Year at the 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Baton Rouge Youth Choir Ablaze Wins New Artist of the Year at the 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards
Teen worship movement founded at United Christian Faith Ministries and directed by Mark Ellis Jr. named New Artist of the Year. National broadcast begins Aug. 29.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Aug. 17, 2026) Ablaze, the youth worship choir founded at United Christian Faith Ministries and directed by Mark Ellis Jr., has won New Artist of the Year at the 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards. The award was presented Aug. 15 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, during a ceremony hosted by Kirk Franklin, a 45-time Stellar Award winner and 20-time GRAMMY winner.
The Stellar Awards are the most prominent honors in gospel music, and New Artist of the Year recognizes the artist who broke through nationally over the past year. Ablaze, which has no major-label backing, won the category as an independent artist over Asaun Bynum, Bishop Charles Ellis & Greater Grace Worship Choir, and the United Music & Arts Conference Choir. The group also earned a nomination for Contemporary Choir of the Year.
The win caps a rise that began three years ago in a church sanctuary on North Ridgewood Drive. Ablaze started in 2023 as a small ensemble of teenagers at United Christian Faith Ministries, the Church of God in Christ congregation founded in 2006 by Dr. Mark Ellis Sr. Under his son’s direction, the group grew past 80 members and built a national audience the way its generation does: on a phone screen.
A July 2024 clip of the choir performing “My Soul Loves Jesus” passed two million views and pulled in attention from across the music world, including artists well outside the gospel lane. Since then, Ablaze has logged more than five million streams, gathered a social following north of 350,000, released its debut album, and taken the stage at youth conferences and gospel festivals around the country. In 2025 the group was named Gen Z Influencer of the Year by Black Christian Influencers.
The Stellar Awards are the most prominent honors in gospel music, and New Artist of the Year recognizes the artist who broke through nationally over the past year. Ablaze, which has no major-label backing, won the category as an independent artist over Asaun Bynum, Bishop Charles Ellis & Greater Grace Worship Choir, and the United Music & Arts Conference Choir. The group also earned a nomination for Contemporary Choir of the Year.
The win caps a rise that began three years ago in a church sanctuary on North Ridgewood Drive. Ablaze started in 2023 as a small ensemble of teenagers at United Christian Faith Ministries, the Church of God in Christ congregation founded in 2006 by Dr. Mark Ellis Sr. Under his son’s direction, the group grew past 80 members and built a national audience the way its generation does: on a phone screen.
A July 2024 clip of the choir performing “My Soul Loves Jesus” passed two million views and pulled in attention from across the music world, including artists well outside the gospel lane. Since then, Ablaze has logged more than five million streams, gathered a social following north of 350,000, released its debut album, and taken the stage at youth conferences and gospel festivals around the country. In 2025 the group was named Gen Z Influencer of the Year by Black Christian Influencers.
Quotes
“Winning New Artist of the Year means way more to me than just being able to say we won an award,” said Mark Ellis Jr., director of Ablaze. “To me, it’s a win for the next generation of gospel music. It shows young people that you can be creative, love music, have so much fun, and still be completely set apart from the world.”
“I want ABLAZE to be proof that God can use your gifts in ways you never imagined when you give them back to Him,” Ellis said.
“As for what’s next, we’re just ready to keep creating, keep being on fire for Christ, and keep reaching people through our music and ministry,” he added. “At the end of the day, the awards are amazing, but winning souls to Jesus will always be the real win for us. And we’re just getting started.”
“As a pastor, the Stellar Award represents the power of using your God-given gifts to touch lives and advance the Kingdom,” said Dr. Mark Ellis Sr., founder and pastor of United Christian Faith Ministries. “As a father, it reminds me that the greatest joy is not simply seeing your children succeed, but watching them become who God created them to be.”
“Winning New Artist of the Year means way more to me than just being able to say we won an award,” said Mark Ellis Jr., director of Ablaze. “To me, it’s a win for the next generation of gospel music. It shows young people that you can be creative, love music, have so much fun, and still be completely set apart from the world.”
“I want ABLAZE to be proof that God can use your gifts in ways you never imagined when you give them back to Him,” Ellis said.
“As for what’s next, we’re just ready to keep creating, keep being on fire for Christ, and keep reaching people through our music and ministry,” he added. “At the end of the day, the awards are amazing, but winning souls to Jesus will always be the real win for us. And we’re just getting started.”
“As a pastor, the Stellar Award represents the power of using your God-given gifts to touch lives and advance the Kingdom,” said Dr. Mark Ellis Sr., founder and pastor of United Christian Faith Ministries. “As a father, it reminds me that the greatest joy is not simply seeing your children succeed, but watching them become who God created them to be.”
Broadcast Information
The 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, themed “Feels Like Home,” airs nationally on the following schedule:
The 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, themed “Feels Like Home,” airs nationally on the following schedule:
The Stellar Network: Saturday, Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. ET, with an encore at 10 p.m. ET
BET: Sunday, Aug. 30 at 8 p.m. ET, with an additional airing at 10:30 p.m. ET
Bounce TV: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. ET
Broadcast syndication: Sept. 5 through Sept. 27, 2026
BET: Sunday, Aug. 30 at 8 p.m. ET, with an additional airing at 10:30 p.m. ET
Bounce TV: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. ET
Broadcast syndication: Sept. 5 through Sept. 27, 2026
Ablaze can be seen and heard on all major streaming platforms. The choir ministers at United Christian Faith Ministries on fourth Sundays and is available for bookings through ablazeyc.com.
About Ablaze
Ablaze is a youth worship choir founded in 2023 at United Christian Faith Ministries in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, under the direction of Mark Ellis Jr. Blending traditional gospel with contemporary and urban sounds, the group has grown from a small ensemble of teenagers into a national worship movement of more than 80 young voices. Ablaze was named Gen Z Influencer of the Year by Black Christian Influencers in 2025 and won New Artist of the Year at the 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards in 2026. Learn more at ablazeyc.com.
Ablaze is a youth worship choir founded in 2023 at United Christian Faith Ministries in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, under the direction of Mark Ellis Jr. Blending traditional gospel with contemporary and urban sounds, the group has grown from a small ensemble of teenagers into a national worship movement of more than 80 young voices. Ablaze was named Gen Z Influencer of the Year by Black Christian Influencers in 2025 and won New Artist of the Year at the 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards in 2026. Learn more at ablazeyc.com.
About United Christian Faith Ministries
United Christian Faith Ministries is a Spirit-filled Church of God in Christ congregation in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, founded in 2006 by Dr. Mark Ellis Sr. UCFM exists to bring people of all races to Jesus and into His family, to develop their faith into Christ-like maturity, and to equip them for ministry in the church and mission in the world. Worship services are held Sundays at 8 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., with Bible study Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Learn more at ucfministries.org.
United Christian Faith Ministries is a Spirit-filled Church of God in Christ congregation in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, founded in 2006 by Dr. Mark Ellis Sr. UCFM exists to bring people of all races to Jesus and into His family, to develop their faith into Christ-like maturity, and to equip them for ministry in the church and mission in the world. Worship services are held Sundays at 8 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., with Bible study Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Learn more at ucfministries.org.
Media Contact
Miracle Ennis | UCFM Marketing
United Christian Faith Ministries
9229 North Ridgewood Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70814
(225) 927-1161
marketing@ucfministries.org
ucfministries.org | ablazeyc.com
Miracle Ennis | UCFM Marketing
United Christian Faith Ministries
9229 North Ridgewood Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70814
(225) 927-1161
marketing@ucfministries.org
ucfministries.org | ablazeyc.com
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