Darlene Zschech: The Australian worship leader talks about her church's 2004 album

Monday 27th June 2005

Australian worship leader DARLENE ZSCHECH spoke about the 'For All You've Done' album.

COMMITTED TO WORSHIP:  Darlene Zschech
COMMITTED TO WORSHIP: Darlene Zschech

Hillsong worship pastor and composer of such contemporary worship classics as "Shout To The Lord", "I Will Run To You", "All Things Are Possible" and "The Potter's Hand" Darlene Zschech answered a sheaf of questions in July 2004.

Tell us a bit about Hillsong's 'For All You've Done' album.

Darlene: 'For All You've Done' is a really significant project for our church. It is a real testimony of the greatness of God and the faithfulness of God in our lives as a church and as individuals. It's everyone altogether, it's young people, the old people, everyone in between sort of gathering together on a night and basically saying, "Thank you." If there was one word that went over the project, it would just be "Thank you." That's your entry point to the throne of God right there. It's found in praise where we are just grateful, grateful for salvation, grateful for what God has done in each of our families and in our lives and so it's culminated in 'For All You've Done'. We record a live album every year! Basically it's just a snapshot of what happens in church life over a year. The songs are always a bit of a song documentary of the word of faith, etc, that has gone forth throughout the year - personal journeys of the songwriters but it often reflects the journey of the worship and creative arts department in the church at large. If we're not changing and growing and moving forward, then something's wrong. There are a lot more songs - it's just that a CD is only so long! This is our twelve-month snapshot.

What sticks in your mind about the recording?

Darlene: It was a really fantastic night. There was a great ease. We as a team don't approach it as a concert or a performance in any way although we all do put on a bit more make-up for the DVD! But bottom line is that we really want to have a truthful worship experience. So, the night started and we were just having a great time. We were so excited and, I tell you, by the time we got to the end, it was just magnificent. Many people got saved - we always hear great testimonies from those nights. There was no way that we could cut what happened down onto a single CD. 76 minutes just does not do it! That's why we tried to include a little bit more of the free worship and just some of the more spontaneous moments and not just the things that we rehearsed. And so, there're our songs. I don't know which is my favourite - they're all my favourites for different reasons.

One of the outstanding songs on the project is "You Are Worthy".

Darlene: "You Are Worthy" has sort of developed over a little while, just understanding that the Father crowns us with so many things throughout your experience in Christianity and just the out-working of your salvation you come to really understand the kindness of God. When you get to the book of Revelation, it starts to say that all the crowns have got to be laid at the foot of Jesus and we crown him with many crowns and so it's really a song about just letting go of pride, letting go of all the things that even the word would esteem us to walk in to. In the end, we've still got to let them all go and crown him with many crowns. That has been an unfolding journey for me, understanding that since I wrote "Worthy Is The Lamb" and started to learn about how you can crown the Father, this is sort of like the next chapter. He wants to crown us, but in the end, Revelation says no, he is to be crowned Lord of all so that's where he is worthy. Again in Revelation, all honour, in glory and power and strength - all glory belongs to the Lord.

Another standout is "Glorify Your Name".

Darlene: I didn't actually intend for it to be sung at church. I was just writing it at home and worshipping and this song came out that's probably a bit more dramatic than I was used to singing, and I thought "Oh this would be great in an Easter musical" or something! I played it on a Wednesday night rehearsal and everyone said, "We've got to sing that, we've got to sing that!" So, we sang that and it's a little bit unusual probably for me as a writer, but again it's all about just giving all the glory to God, about getting out of the way and giving him all the glory. I think with this project, my greatest heart's desire is that people will not walk away and go "Great - or even not great - Hillsong project," I just want them to fall more and more in love with Jesus that Hillsong's not the name they talk about but that they end up talking about the name of Jesus. I really pray that this project has a sense of new wine, new understanding, new revelation, fresh revelation. I think that if Hillsong music was starting to sound tired, it would be a reflection of where we are at. But we've had the grandest year as far as discovering more about the Lord and truthful worship and what that really means, what that really costs, what that looks like in the shape of a life, so I would really pray that that is, some how, sensed from the start to the finish of this project.

I understand the Psalms study expedition is in its second year. Tell me a bit about that.

Darlene: I really sensed the Holy Spirit when I was on holidays in Christmas 2002 that we would study the Psalms because we are lovers of the word for sure but Wednesday nights, our rehearsal night, we'd become really good at rehearsing! There is always an element of teaching but I guess that God really wanted us to go deeper into the understanding of the Psalms, teaching us how to pray, teaching us how to praise, reminding the team, especially some of the new Christians, of the foundations again of worship. It's been a fantastic journey - we have a long way to go in our Psalms studies so I think we'll be doing them 'til the Lord returns! It's the highlight of my week, every week, when I go to prepare them. I look forward to it, it's like having a little three hour holiday in the Spirit. It's beautiful, so they've been really helpful. CR

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.
 

Reader Comments

Posted by Bro. Jun in Philippines @ 07:32 on May 28 2015

It is my desire to worship GOD 24/7 of whom sola scriptura tells me the great omniscience of GOd. As such it draws in my spirit that as long as he allows me to survive in this world, bottomline I will worship HIM in spirit and in truth(Book of John). Now it is GOD's tolerance that all things happened in my life.



Posted by bena in indonesia @ 11:13 on Oct 2 2009

Dear Darlene
thank you Darlene..... your music & songs have been an inspiration to me. thanks for your book "extravagant worship" n "kiss of heaven" it's inspiration to me. love you so much. i hope i can meet you one day later...



Posted by EMMANUEL in MEXICO @ 16:25 on Apr 8 2008

congratulations!!! brothers, I love you



Posted by Eileen @ 16:25 on Nov 29 2007

Dear Darlene
You, your music & songs have been an inspiration to me. You're such a blessing to the earth sent by GOD.
I pray that you will continue to touch and speak words of encouragement into our lives just as you have done for me. You're the greatest living instrument of praise and worship ever and all Glory and honour goes to GOD for bringing you into this world! Love you much Darls!



Posted by Loriaan in England in Hertfordshire @ 17:13 on Nov 13 2007

First of all i would like to thank God for the music you produced as it is only from Him. I have been really inspired by your music. My favourite song is Emmanuel. Im also a song writer and worship leader of our church and i believe that God is taking me in the same direction. Darlene you have been my inspiration! God bless of all you!



Posted by helen daguro in japan @ 14:11 on Oct 5 2007

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Congratulations to the team of Hillsong.I am blessed personally to your album entitled For All You've Done. It's one of my favorite album. Infact, the songs in that album almost included most of my line-up in our sun. worship to our Living God.The songs really saturate my soul in worshipping Him.I pray that you will released another album to glorify God soon.God bless you all and more power to your team.



Posted by may tupaz in philippines @ 05:29 on Jul 10 2007

God is so greatful because we stand out for the glory of the Lord! continue to glorify the name of our God!!!! God bless u......



Posted by Ronnie D. Roa in purok 2 c gusa cagayan de oro @ 04:35 on May 12 2007

hi to Darlene Zschech this is roni roa of cagayan de oro city 9000 philippines. you know we are gladly and waiting to see you here in cagayan de oro city. pls come here in our country. youre number 1 here in our country phillippines we listen your praise and worship music. I am so happy and all believers in Christ are so excited to see you here. pls come here. remember we are CITIZEN IN HEAVEN OUR NAME ARE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE, JESUS PROMISE US THRE IS NEW JERUSALEM... I ASK GOD PLS COME HERE IN CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY. THRE ARE HILLSONGS CONCERT HERE ECHEDULED JUNE 15 AND 16 AT CORPUZ CHRISTI. MY COMMENT IS WHY YOU NOT COME HERE WHAT IS THE REASON. WE NEED YOU HERE TO GATHER TO PRAISE GOD. HONESTLY YOURE NUMBER 1 HERE.. GOD BLESS YOU AND MORE POWER HILLSONGS TEAM. GOD IS GOOD ALL TIME.. MORE NEW SONGS TO COME HILLSONGS TEAM..

ASK FAVOR FROM Darlene Zschech : PLS IM APPLYING TO YOUR TEAM AS A MUSIC ASSISTANT OR MAINTENANCE OR ELSE THIS IS MY PRAYER TO GOD THAT IM A PART OF YOUR TEAM. PLS HELP ME

REGARDS TO YOUR TEAM.

THANK YOU LORD JESUS I PRAY YOU TOUCH THE HEART OF HILLSONGS TEAM TO HELP ME.TO GIVE ME A JOB.



Posted by julian morn in philippines @ 10:11 on Oct 11 2006

why the album was titled for all youve done


Reply by travis in singleton @ 01:35 on Feb 28 2008

it was supposed to be just called:thankyou...but Darlene wanted it to be called something more exciting and its all about saying thanks to the lord..."for all youve done."

(do you get what i mean?)

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