important now than they have ever been.
There is no shortcut to being great at something. You have to do the work. People don’ t like that word, but you have to do the work.
[ WM ] You sound incredible on this new album! Your voice really shines on the bridges, and you nail that daylights out some pretty amazing notes!
[ Darlene ] Thank you! To be honest, I felt like maybe I let the project down a little bit. But in the end, it’ s not about my vocal performance. I did my best, and that’ s all I can do. And sometimes I was a bit frustrated with that. But hallelujah! Praise God! It’ s about His glory and not my voice! We just do our best for Him. I’ m happy with the songs and really happy with the story and the journey. It’ s very intentional on the album, from where we start and where we end up with“ Here I Am, Send Me”, and“ Go”. I think it’ s more intentional than I’ ve ever been, and I’ m really happy with that. [ WM ] In many ways, free worship is that antithesis of traditional arrangement elements like words, melodies, dynamics, and form. How do you prepare people to step into this and to respond to the Holy Spirit in the moment?
[ Darlene ] I see the song as a vehicle into those moments. I think freedom is the point. The one who the Son of God sets free is free indeed! Freedom is what we’ re announcing over people. We are declaring the freedom that we have in Christ.
Part of my role in worship is to continue to say to people,“ We’ ve given you a song to help voice what’ s in your heart. Now that you feel a little more secure in singing out... sing your own song! What do you want to say that I can’ t say for you? I can’ t worship for you. I can provide a vehicle, and I can declare His Word, but I can’ t worship for you. Only you can do that for you. These songs will help you worship, by the grace of God. They will help release what’ s in your heart. But there’ s a song that only you can sing, and only you can declare.” I love that we get to lead people into that place!
There’ s a moment at the end of“ Beloved” that’ s so powerful. There’ s a line that says,“ As Your Spirit pours out...” and then we just step back and see where it goes. You hear the people begin to just love God as they sing. And it’ s not about being in tune. Worship has never been about all that stuff. Worship is when you see the human heart respond to the greatness of God. Music helps, but it’ s not the be all and end all. I think there will be more of that. As the days of God’ s glory grow brighter and brighter, and as the earth grows darker and darker, and as the Kingdom of God is advancing, there will be more of these moments when we least expect it.
Worship teams, get ready for it. Don’ t be afraid of it. It’ s not scary or spooky. It’ s not weird. As you lead people to a place and then release them to where they can sing their own song to God, I think that’ s one of the highest compliments for a worship leader. Because now you are out of the way and it becomes about the person and God. And how beautiful is that?
32 Mar � Apr 2017 WorshipMusician. com