their longstanding work within the Church and through relief agencies such as Hope : Global , an organization they founded to serve the poorest of the poor . The Zschechs believe that if our worship is to fulfill God ’ s purpose , we must be willing to say “ Here I Am Send Me .”
It is the answer and response that drives the entire Hope Unlimited congregation . And it is the overarching message for Darlene ’ s latest recording , a live album and her first project following a life changing cancer diagnosis in 2014 .
Darlene Zschech BY MELISSA RIDDLE CHALOS
Set for global release , Here I Am Send Me ( Hineni ) features 11 new songs penned by Darlene and her team at Hope Unlimited , along with guest writers Martin Smith , Paul Baloche , Jenn Johnson and Leeland Mooring . It is , she says , a family affair and the most intentional work of her life .
“ The first mention of worship in the Bible is in Genesis 22 ,” Darlene says of the impetus behind the title track . “ God calls Abraham , and Abraham says , ‘ Yes Lord ,’ which is translated in Hebrew as ‘ hineni ,’ meaning ‘ Whatever it is you ’ re asking , my answer is yes .’ Even before the ask , before anything , my answer is ‘ Yes ’.”
It ’ s a scary proposition , this unreserved “ yes .” But having received the power of the Holy Spirit , His healing and grace , there is no other response for this mother , grandmother and spiritual mother to countless others .
Here I Am Send Me begins appropriately with a full-on declaration of the greatness of God in the song “ You Are Great ,” written with Martin Smith ( Delirious ?) in response to the most challenging season of her life .
You are great / Greater than the world has ever seen / Higher than the heavens over me
“ When I was at my sickest , Martin flew over from England to sit with us , sing songs over our church , and walk and talk with
me and my husband , all the while speaking courage into us ,” Darlene says , her voice full of emotion recalling the dark days after her diagnosis of breast cancer that is now in remission . “ It ’ s week one of treatment and you think you ’ re going to die , and Martin said , ‘ Darls , I know you ’ re going to want to write songs about this season . What do you want to say ?’ And I said , ‘ I want to say ‘ HE IS GREAT !’ And so we wrote this song together and have been singing it in our church . That ’ s where it started … In the midst of the fire , it doesn ’ t change who our God is .”
From there , she says , the album goes on a journey , always declaring God ’ s greatness , love and call , and our response .