[1] With little success finding new artists during the first six months of the new imprint's existence, Willett was dragged by a local promoter to see a Youth Choir concert, and he found them to be "creatively inventive and musically prophetic.

"[9] The Choir would ultimately re-record both songs: an acoustic version of "Black Cloud" on the band's 2010 release de-plumed and "Render Love" for the soundtrack of the 2020 film Electric Jesus.

[10] Although bass guitarist Tim Chandler and saxophone and Lyricon player Dan Michaels were official members of the Choir, only Daugherty and Hindalong were featured in the album artwork and promotional materials for Diamonds and Rain.

According to Hindalong, the band was "increasingly ashamed" of the photo on the front cover—which featured photo-retouched yellow and red spiky hair—and they would deliberately place the albums upside down on their merchandise table when on tour.

[11] The original album title under consideration was Love and Fear, but according to Hindalong, Willett was not in favor, and "suggested we look through the lyrics to find two symbols representative of these themes—hence, the more poetic Diamonds and Rain.

The album was highlighted in Billboard as a "Recommended" release in the Gospel section for the week of December 20, 1986, and the review praised it for its "pleasing pop, filled with energy and memorable melodies.

"[15] CCM Magazine also praised the album, with reviewer Brian Quincy Newcomb calling Diamonds and Rain "enjoyable, thoughtful and accessible," and "a first-rate, serious effort, serious both in content and intent."

However, he praised Hindalong's "impressive drum sound and intelligent, poetic lyrics," and added that Daugherty's "vocals ring out with greater confidence and melodic sense than previous efforts.

"[9] Mark Allan Powell in the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music specifically called the song "Render Love" the "standout track [...] an anthem to universal reconciliation that would have fit easily into U2's late '80s repertoire.