The Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia, is a congregation of 17,000 plus members. After two decades, Hillsong branched into the gospel music industry. Soon followed music pastor Reuben Morgan's solo debut, World Through Your Eyes, released in November of 2004, and a slew of other releases, including Unified Praise, Jesus Is My Superhero, and Christmas, featuring Hillsong starlet Darlene Zschech as well as Brooke Fraser.
The worship team at Hillsong Church is led by Darlene Zschech, writer of "Shout To The Lord." Darlene works with a dedicated group of singers and musicians who week in and week out give their time and energy to lead their church into an atmosphere of worship. It is this dedication that is reflected on the albums.
The songs, "Through It All" which Darlene sang, and another one entitled, "Still" are my two 'Epiphanies' because the story about how I came to know Hillsong through these two songs is one of faith that I truly hold dearly in the heart.
In the place where I used to rent internet service to communicate with my sister, where they always played loud and wild music, one day played a song that struck a chord. The melody stuck in my head and I found myself humming to it until I got home.
The next opportunity I got to go online I tried Googling words I could remember in the lyrics. A Google result directed me to a YouTube video.
Unperturbed, despite a noisy internet cafe, I held the headset closely to my ears and basked in the words of worship. And as tears flowed, a deep sense of safety and security seemed to hover and descend on me like an overwhelmingly comforting embrace that lifted sadness and worries away. It didn't matter if I was in tears in a public cafe. Nothing mattered because I am carried in 'everlasting arms'.
It's been many years since I've gotten to know Hillsong, but I wish I had known them sooner. And until now, these songs "Through It All" and "Still" are the two songs I go to for comfort during troubled times. Today, is no different.
I am writing this blog with the hope that one day, Darlene Zschech can read my message to her. Thank you, Ms. Darlene Zschech for the tremendous light of inspiration and comfort you have showed me, as I'm sure many others.
My troubled times are nothing to the sacrifice made out of faithfulness He did for all of us. And your songs brightly reflect that truth. Thank you for the gift of songs you are sharing to the world through the wonderful gift that the Lord has so graciously given you and your team.
May you reach the farthest corners of earth to spread the word of God's everlasting arms and mend broken faith and shattered hopes. May God bless you always.
Love and prayers,