I think it would be more accurate to say that Ralph Carmichael was a pioneer in CCM. Dimension Records (Harvest Flight, Phoenix Sonshine), Starsong Records (Resurrection Band), and Maranatha! Records (Children of the Day, The Way, Love Song, Mustard Seed Faith, Sweet Comfort, .........), for example, sprang up independently of Carmichael's Light Records (part of Word Records). Larry Norman was so independent he was almost independent of himself, and he also was Randy Stonehill's start. I'm not sure how much Myrrh Records (2nd Chapter of Acts, Barry McGuire, and quite a few others) owed to Carmichael. Phil Keaggy started out independent. The late 60s and early 70s was the time of the Jesus Movement, and a lot of local musicians all over the US became Christians and their music got "converted" as well (All Saved Freak Band, anybody?).
Don't misunderstand, Carmichael was significant and very early. The Archers and Jamie Owens (Collins) were on Light Records. Perhaps his greatest achievement/influence (not sure what word to use) was the signing of Andrae' Crouch and the Disciples. In so doing he brought the black Gospel sound to a wider audience, and Andrae' was a song writer who could evolve that traditional sound into something broader, too.