Darlene Zschech Chats To The Women In Worship Network

– August 16, 2010
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Hi Darlene, thanks so much for chatting to us here at the Women In Worship Network!

I’ll shoot a few questions your way, that have come in from the readers of this site, sent into me via Twitter and email:

When you wrote Shout To The Lord, did you know or sense it would be a powerful song that would touch the world, or did that suprise you?

I had absolutely no idea it would have the impact that it is having… The song came when I was having an ‘ I don’t know if I can handle today..’ type of day. and in my overwhelmed state, sat at my piano, opened my bible to Psalm 96..

I read and played and worshipped. the song probably took 20 minutes to complete, and I just played it to myself over the next few weeks as I worshipped through my storm.

I finally played it to our worship pastor at the time, who took it to the church, and the song kind of just leapt into people’s hearts.. I cannot explain what happened, it was a Holy moment and one I will never forget.

How do you put together a set list?

I think about the people, the style of service, I never let the prevailing atmosphere dictate as to what we will or won’t sing… I feel it is our role to  encourage the worshipper in every single person to be released in Spirit and Truth…

So, we enter His gates with praise and thanksgiving, and encourage people to not allow their circumstances to small down their praise of God.. and eventually sing the more intimate songs as we worship, truly worship our Jesus. I pray I will never take for granted the immense privilege it is to lead people to the courts of our King.

When you write a song, do you start with music or lyrics?

Both ways work for me!! i have journals going at all times filled with lyrics and ideas, then I will record ideas whenever they come to me on my ipod, to look at when I get time at home to flesh the ideas out, and then I also will just play and worship, and sometimes songs come out of that time.

One other way I love to write is to collaborate… this is always lots of fun. I have been writing recently with Israel Houghton.. he makes it very easy!

What advice would you give to the female worship leaders/singers/songwriters who are part of this online community… any words of wisdom that you feel would help and encourage them?

Be Yourself. You can glean wisdom from many you respect etc, but in the end, be confident in who God has made you to be.
There is only one original you, and you have ways of communicating the glory and splendour of God that no one else has… just do that,. you will find that over time, who you truly are in this role will emerge clear and beautiful. I will say that as a woman, just be that.
I’ve NEVER felt that being a woman has caused me to feel second place etc…. In fact, it does allow us to  be the tender nurturers that we are in the natural, in the spirit realm as well… what a privilege.
Can I say one more thing? PLEASE don’t be BOSSY!! oh, there is nothing worse than a bossy female worship leader who feels she has to prove something!! Love the people, love them to Jesus…. in loving people we purely LIFT them…. you cannot MAKE people worship, or MAKE people respect you.
Oohh… we could talk on these subjects for hours…. maybe one day…I love you and SO believe in you.

Thanks! Really appreciate your time and your insights! Blessings to you Darlene. All of us here at the WIW network will be praying for your ministry and all you are doing.