Steve Camp, CCM pioneer behind the '107 Theses,' dies at 71
Photo: Louder Than The MusicContemporary Christian music pioneer Steve Camp, whose songs and sermons carried the gospel for more than five decades — and whose "107 Theses" challenged the Christian music industry to reform — has died at 71. His family said he died Wednesday, Nov. 11, after a battle with heart failure.
The Camp family announced his death in a statement shared on social media. "On Wednesday, November 11, 2026, after a battle with heart failure, the Lord called Steve Home," the family wrote. "Though our hearts are broken, we rejoice in knowing that Steve has finished his race. The One he spent his life proclaiming is the One he now worships face to face, in His unfiltered presence, for all eternity."
Born in Wheaton, Illinois, in 1955, Camp released his debut album, "Sayin' It with Love," in 1978 and went on to record 22 albums. At least 15 of his songs reached No. 1, and more than 40 reached the Top 10. He received a Grammy nomination for "Love's Not a Feeling," a duet with Michele Pillar from his 1984 album "Fire and Ice." His best-known songs included "He Covers Me," "Run to the Battle," "He's All You Need," "Living in Laodicea" and "Stranger to Holiness."
Camp was as famous for his convictions as for his voice. In the late 1990s he issued a call to reform contemporary Christian music in a document he titled the "107 Theses," mailing copies printed as 4-foot posters to roughly 6,000 people in the Christian music business. The theses called on musicians to keep their business dealings beyond reproach, to "reclaim Christian music for Christ," and to return to the five "solas" of the Protestant Reformation — Scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone and the glory of God alone. In lectures, he criticized what he called "God is my girlfriend" songs, saying such lyrics put words like "love" in place of God. He restated his case in 2013, posting the theses again on his blog and signing off, "Still Pounding on Wittenberg's Door."
He was a two-time cover artist for CCM Magazine, including its November 1986 issue, and later turned more of his attention to ministry and preaching, serving as a pastor in Florida. The family said two Bible passages shaped his life and ministry — Acts 20:24, about finishing the course and the ministry received from the Lord Jesus, and 2 Corinthians 4:5, about preaching Jesus Christ as Lord. "For over 50 years, Steve dedicated his life to proclaiming the Gospel through music, preaching, and life on life ministry," the family wrote. "His greatest desire was to make much of the Lord Jesus Christ!"
Sources: Christian Post, "Steve Camp, CCM singer behind '107 Theses,' dies at 71" (Nov. 14, 2026, full text verified); CCM Magazine, "Steve Camp, Christian Music Pioneer, Enters Heaven at 71" (Nov. 13, 2026, full text verified); ChurchLeaders, "Christian Singer and Pastor Steve Camp Dies at 71 After Battle With Heart Failure" (Nov. 14, 2026). The family statement was published in full by CCM Magazine; the death date and career figures are as reported by the Christian Post.
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