Mount Maunganui church group Mosaic Music's album You Surround has hit number two on the official New Zealand album charts and number three on the official top 40 album charts this week.
The album was released on April 6 and, on the same day, it hit number one on New Zealand's iTunes charts.
There was a core group of about 10 musicians who recorded the album, including songwriters Kelly Hayward, Simon Hayward and Josh Turner, but the church band had about 40 contributing members.
Mr Hayward said the band's music had a "real Kiwi sound" to it, which was part of what made it so popular with Christians in New Zealand.
It was the band's second album, Mr Hayward said, and the band had a loyal following.
"We recorded an album about five years ago, we just did it locally with beg, borrow and steal type deals when we didn't have much. When we did this one we had quite a few people waiting to see what we did the second time around."
Mr Hayward said this time the band recorded their album with producer Nic Manders in a Waiuku studio.
"With albums, we pour our heart and soul into them. They take so much time and sacrifice in family and work time, we think it will be so great to finish but then when we do finish, it's what is the next project?"
Mr Turner said he was seeing people connect with the band's songs on a spiritual level.
"It's a sound that relates to people personally. I think people have a preconceived notion of church music. They think it's all going to be in a church context. We're finding there is such a want for what we do, there are actually so many people wanting something they can relate to."
Mr Turner described the album as a bit of "ambient" music with some songs that were a bit more rock.
"It's quite a mixed bag. One thing we talked about with our songs was they needed to be about a God that wasn't a distant, angry God but one that was close and a part of everything, a bit more solid."
Mrs Hayward said the band would write songs individually or together, depending on what spoke to their hearts. Another album was possible if they had enough material. "We knew the songs worked well in other churches and knew the album would be well received, but it didn't cross our minds that chart stuff would happen."
Check them out here: