Longtime bassist for Aussie supergoup newsboys, Phil Joel recently announced that he has decided to part ways with the band after 12 and a half years. Joel will now pursue his passion for ministry with deliberatePeople as well as prepare for the spring release of a new children’s project.

“As big of a decision as it may seem, it is very clear to Heather and I that the Lord has called us into this new season,” says Joel. “We are very excited about the future and the things the Lord has set before us to do in 2007. We wish the guys all the best and pray the Lord’s blessing on each of them and their families.”

Founded in 2004 by Phil and Heather Joel, deliberatePeople aims to help people turn their passion for the Lord into a deliberate plan to pursue Him. Presently, it centers around a daily Bible reading schedule, devotional journal, inspired music and web site deliberatePeople.com, with additional resources made available through Indelible Creative Group to follow. Joel’s partnership with Indelible most recently produced the deliberatePeople. album, which released to national retail last fall. This January, Phil is in the studio working to finish up a children’s album, deliberateKids. The Indelible record will launch this spring.

“The Lord has put a real passion in our hearts to write new songs that teach and inspire the newest generation to know the Lord and to develop a personal relationship with Him at the youngest age possible,” says Joel. “deliberateKids is just one example of how we intend to extend the deliberatePeople philosophy to all peoples and ages. It’s shaping up to be one of the most fun and fresh projects I’ve ever been a part of!”

A native of Auckland, New Zealand, Phil Joel moved to the United States in 1994, when he joined the band newsboys. To date, he’s released three solo projects.

The deliberatePeople album is currently available your local Canadian Christian retailer. Find out more about Joel’s projects on his YMZ artist page.