Few worship songs have traveled as far, as fast, as “Way Maker.” It began as a song by a Nigerian worship leader, spread through YouTube and church services across Africa, and within five years was being sung in American megachurches, hospital parking lots and city streets. Here is the story behind “Way Maker”: how it happened, and why the song still connects with so many people.
Who wrote “Way Maker”?
“Way Maker” was written by Sinach (Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu), a Nigerian gospel singer and worship leader. She recorded the song in 2015, and its music video was released on YouTube on December 30, 2015. The song later became the centerpiece of her live album Waymaker – Live, released in November 2016.
The song is built on a simple idea that is easy for a congregation to sing: a list of names for God taken from Scripture and lived experience. He is the one who makes a way where there seems to be none, who works miracles, who keeps promises and who brings light into darkness. That repetition is not filler. It turns the song into a declaration that grows stronger every time the room sings it again.
From Lagos to the world
For several years “Way Maker” spread mostly through Africa and through YouTube, where the official video passed 100 million views in March 2019. That same year Sinach was invited by Joel Osteen to sing it at Lakewood Church in Houston, one of the largest congregations in the United States.
The turning point for Western radio came when well-known Christian artists began recording their own versions:
- Michael W. Smith first performed the song in August 2018 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and released his recording, featuring Vanessa Campagna and Madelyn Berry, on February 1, 2020.
- Leeland released “Way Maker (Live)” on August 16, 2019, as part of his album Better Word. You can watch it above or on our page for Leeland’s “Way Maker”.
- Mandisa, Passion (with Kristian Stanfill, Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes) and Darlene Zschech with William McDowell all recorded versions too. Listen to Mandisa’s version of “Way Maker”.
Breaking records on the charts
By 2020, the song was everywhere. In the Billboard chart week of April 11, 2020, two different versions of “Way Maker” sat in the top 10 of Hot Christian Songs at the same time: Michael W. Smith’s at No. 3 and Leeland’s at No. 9. It was the first time two versions of one song had shared the chart’s top 10.
A few more milestones followed in quick succession:
- In May 2020, Sinach became the first African artist to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian Songwriters chart.
- In June 2020, “Way Maker” reached No. 1 on the CCLI Top 100, the chart that measures which songs churches actually sing in their services.
- In October 2020, it won Song of the Year at the 51st GMA Dove Awards, making Sinach the first Nigerian gospel artist to win that award.
- In August 2021, it was named BMI Song of the Year, described as a first for an African gospel song.
A song for a hard year
Part of the song’s success came from timing. In 2020, as the pandemic closed churches and filled hospitals, videos circulated of people gathering in their cars outside hospitals in Albany, Georgia, and Kissimmee, Florida, singing “Way Maker” for doctors and nurses inside. Later that year it was sung at gatherings in Minneapolis and Milwaukee after the death of George Floyd.
In each case, people reached for the same thing: a short, repeatable confession that God is present and still at work when circumstances feel stuck. That is exactly what the song was written to say.
Why “Way Maker” works so well in worship
- It is easy to learn. A first-time visitor can join in by the second chorus.
- It is rooted in Scripture. The image of God making a way echoes Isaiah 43:16–19, where God “makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters.”
- It builds. The bridge repeats a simple affirmation of who God is, which lets a worship team build intensity without adding complexity.
- It crosses cultures. It was born in a Nigerian church and adapted naturally to choirs, rock bands and acoustic settings around the world.
More songs like “Way Maker”
If “Way Maker” speaks to you, these songs on our site carry a similar message of trust and breakthrough:
- Elevation Worship – “Graves Into Gardens”
- Elevation Worship – “Do It Again”
- Bethel Music – “Goodness of God”
- Hillsong United – “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”
- Elevation Worship – “Jireh”
You can also explore more songs by Leeland or browse our full Christian music video library.
Frequently asked questions
Who originally sang “Way Maker”?
Sinach, a Nigerian worship leader, wrote and first recorded the song in 2015.
Is “Way Maker” by Leeland the original?
No. Leeland’s live version from 2019 is one of the best-known covers in the United States, but the song is Sinach’s original.
What Bible verse is “Way Maker” based on?
The song is not a direct paraphrase of one passage, but its central image of God making a way echoes Isaiah 43:16–19.
Did “Way Maker” win any awards?
Yes. It won Song of the Year at the 2020 GMA Dove Awards and BMI Song of the Year in 2021.