arlene Zschech found her calling. She writes spurring, stirring songs and leads the world in a united heart of worship. With each note she sings, she shows the world its purpose – to worship God.

Though many people find it awkward to worship God in a corporate setting, Darlene feels the opposite. “Worship is more normal than anything else I do in the day. I was born to be poised with my posture upwards in worship.”

At the age of 15, Darlene became a Christian after her dad, a backslidden believer, was radically born again. She saw the love and grace of God transform her dad’s life, and that compelled her.

After Darlene became a Christian, expressing her love to God through music came easily to her. “I started writing as soon as I became a Christian. It is a miracle. I had never written before, but this love for composition grew in me. I write a lot of songs and many are very average songs. But the more you write, the more you listen and read. The honing of your gift becomes something you strive for every day.”

Though she has published over 70 songs, Darlene is most famous for her song “Shout To the Lord,” which is sung by 25 to 30 million people every week. “Shout To The Lord” was performed by the Top 8 "American Idol" contestants in 2008. The song was later recorded by "American Idol" participants and made available for download on iTunes.

Darlene Zschech.

Singing is a passion for Darlene, but so is composing music. “I still love to sing and lead worship, but I’m so inspired by the language and possibilities of music that writing is like a never-quenched thirst to bring a song to the fore.”

Beyond singing and composing, Darlene also is part of the musical ministry of Hillsong Church in Australia. Much like with “Shout To The Lord,” churchgoers worldwide worship with Hillsong songs weekly.

As a world traveler, Darlene is tuned into the world worship climate. “Wherever I go across the planet, the sound of worship can be heard loudly and unashamedly in lots of different denominations and in lots of different age groups and church groups. From places that are very wealthy to places that would be in abject poverty. It’s overwhelming when you hear it, when you see it, when you really start to see it change people from the inside out.”

Of all the places she’s been, Australia is her home and definitely the favorite place for Darlene. She calls Australia “amazing; the most divine place, full of contrast and spectacular beauty.” However, she also loves Africa and Europe. “Africa is harsh and glorious in the same frame,” she says. “And Europe … ah, my heart sings. It always feels like home when we visit Europe.”

With many opportunities to see the church of the world in action, Darlene observes many things. “Parts of the church globally really worry about what people think. That’s always going to be a stronghold that we at some time or another should move past. God wants us to break through those things,” she says.

Although the church as a whole shows areas of division in the realm of worship and doctrinal beliefs, Darlene sees a common theme of unity bubbling up. “We’re being united in love. I can definitely sense a unity gathering,” she says. “In our missions endeavors –  not in the sound or style of worship, but in the heart of worship – when you boil it all down, you find people who are passionate, who are hungry for the Gospel to be shared, lived-out and declared across the earth.”

It’s obvious from talking to her, knowing her songs or reading her books, Darlene has a heart for the people of the world. After visiting Rwanda, a country torn by genocide, Darlene and her husband Mark began Hope: Rwanda.

Darlene Zschech, co-founder of Hope: Rwanda.

With such a diverse perspective and experience, Darlene has much to reflect on while composing her songs. Not surprisingly, she says she writes 90 percent of her songs for the church. “When I write songs, it’s all about worship and not what I’m feeling, because often what I’m feeling is a lie when compared to the Word of God. I like to put the Word to music and sing it as a prayer of faith.”

Singing and praising, Darlene Zschech.

Over the years, Darlene has learned that her prayers of faith line up with the prayers of others. “Music will say things and go to places that people never go. I receive so many letters from people thanking me because they didn’t have a way to express how they felt. They say we give them a vehicle to express what’s in their hearts. This is an incredible honor to be a vehicle to someone’s prayer,” she says.

Darlene continues traveling the world on her song vehicles, fueled by the prayers of saints. Along the journey, she stops briefly, leading gatherings in worship and inspiring the masses to take a posture of praise. 

To learn more about Darlene Zschech, her music and ministry, visit http://www.darlenezschech.com. To find out more information about the program Hope: Rwanda, visit http://www.hoperwanda.org.