We Must Respond is the new album released by Bethel Music . It was recorded at the Cascade Theatre in Redding , California , and features guest vocalists such as Brooke Ligertwood , Abbie Gamboa , and Aodhán King . We Must Respond is more than an album title ; it ’ s a declaration . It ’ s our commitment to live active , surrendered lives that reflect the glory of God . It is a superb collection of new songs .
[ Alex ] It ’ s great to have this visit with you today .
[ Jenn Johnson ] Thank you .
[ WM ] Well , thank you so much for joining me Jenn . I appreciate it . I wanted to ask you first , long before Bethel Chapel , did you grow up singing in choirs or rock bands or something else ?
[ Jenn ] Yeah , I grew up in a small church in northern California and I sang my first solo in church when I was five years old . And I started piano lessons when I was about five as well .
My Mom played church piano , and my Dad sang solos every single year . He sang an Easter solo , and they were Elders in the church . So , I just grew up in a small church , went to Christian school and just had a really wonderful childhood and community . I led worship when I was probably 12 years-old and I started leading in kids church and then youth group and big church as we call it . So , I ’ ve just always been a lover of God and a lover of people and the church , and so it ’ s just kind of been my whole life .
[ WM ] Wow . That ’ s quite a timeline ! I was just curious because you sing really well , and I wondered what your background was . You and
The Church ( Live )
your husband Brian have not only shepherded many worship leaders but have also been prolific songwriters in your own right . I was thinking about writer ’ s block when there ’ s seemingly a creative drought that comes to tunesmiths and the Lord needs to bring rain again . A good example of God bringing an abundance of rain is the miraculous refilling of your Lake Shasta . So , what are your thoughts on this dynamic and how would you encourage writers inside and outside of your Bethel collective ?
[ Jenn ] I would encourage songwriters and worship leaders , first and foremost , to absolutely make reading the Bible a priority . To get the Word of God inside of your spirit and your mind . Because I think it ’ s everything what you actually believe . And to spend time with God and just reading your Bible . Also being planted in the local church … I think every human on the planet should be planted in a local church . I think it ’ s God ’ s design . There are no perfect churches or people . However , I encourage every musician creative to ask God where they should be planted in what
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