# Darlene Zschech

Darlene Joyce Zschech (/dɑːrˈliːn ˈtʃɛk/; née Steinhardt; 8 September 1965) is an Australian Pentecostal Christian worship leader and singer who primarily writes praise and worship songs. Described as a pioneer of the modern worship movement, she is the former worship pastor of Hillsong Church. Zschech is currently a contributing songwriter with CompassionArt, a charity founded by Christian songwriter Martin Smith. Along with her husband, Zschech is the lead pastor of Hope Unlimited Church in New South Wales.

## Early life

Zschech starred on television at the age of ten, as part of an Australian children's show, Happy Go Round. When she was 13, her parents divorced and the emotional stress of being on television and her parents' divorce resulted in her having bulimia for about four years.
In 1980, when Zschech was 15, her father rededicated his life to Christ and began taking her to church, where she also became a committed Christian and met her future husband, Mark Zschech. When they married, her husband suggested that they move from Brisbane to Sydney, which was confirmed at a small church they were visiting one Sunday when the guest speaker said in the middle of his sermon, "This doesn't happen to me very often, but whatever it is you two prayed last night, God says to do it now." They began attending Hills Christian Life Centre, which would become Hillsong Church.
Zschech sang jingles for several international companies including McDonald's, KFC and Coca-Cola.

### Career

She released Make the Choice in 1987 and Pearls & Gold in 1993. She eventually joined the staff of Hillsong Church after penning "Shout to the Lord" in 1993. When she presented it to Hillsong's then-worship pastor, Geoff Bullock, she was so embarrassed that she requested he face away from her as she played and sang. It was first recorded on People Just Like Us and has appeared on more than 200 different albums by numerous artists in multiple languages. It is also the title track for the first live album co-produced with Integrity Music featuring Zschech as a worship leader. It was Integrity Music's first album to feature a female worship leader. The album was nominated for Praise & Worship Album of the Year at the 1997 Dove Awards. The song was nominated in the 1998 Dove Awards' Song of the Year category. It has been performed for the Pope at the Vatican and for the President of the United States. The song has become one of the most well-known modern worship songs, being sung by an estimated 25–30 million churchgoers every Sunday since the song's release. She wrote the song during a time of personal struggle.
Shout to the Lord, the album, was nominated as Album of the Year for the 1997 Dove Awards and Song of the Year for the 1998 Dove Awards. In 2000, Zschech received a Dove Award nomination for Songwriter of the Year and received the International Award for influence in praise and worship.
Zschech was the worship pastor of Hillsong Church from 1996 to 2007, during which time she served as producer, vocal producer or executive producer for more than 20 albums under the Hillsong Music label and wrote more than 80 published worship songs. Under Zschech's leadership, the album People Just Like Us (1994) was the first Christian album in Australia to be certified gold and platinum, and the album For All You've Done (2004) debuted at No. 1 on the Australian Record Industry Association album charts.
In 2003, Zschech released her first official solo album, Kiss of Heaven. Change Your World followed in 2005. She has since released two albums, in 2011, called Simply Darlene and You Are Love. In addition to writing songs, she has written five books: Worship (1996), Extravagant Worship (2002), The Kiss of Heaven (2003), The Great Generational Transition (2009) and Revealing Jesus: A 365-Day Devotional (2013).
In January 2011, with her husband, she became senior pastor of Hope Unlimited Church in New South Wales. Since becoming lead pastors there, Hope Unlimited has transitioned from being a local ministry to having a worldwide outreach with locations throughout Australia, India, and four major cities in the United States. The church also livestreams services through HopeUC.tv where the weekly services are also available on demand.

## Discography

The following is a list by year of albums or single tracks which feature Zschech as a prominent vocalist or worship leader.
| Year | Featured on | Notes |
| 1987 | Make the Choice (Darlene Zschech) | first solo studio album release |
| 1988 | Spirit and Truth (Hillsong Music International) | first album released by Hillsong |
| 1990 | Show Your Glory (Hillsong Music Australia) | |
| 1992 | The Power of Your Love (Hillsong Music Australia) | first live album released by Hillsong |
| 1993 | Stone's Been Rolled Away (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "Your Name" |
| 1993 | Pearls & Gold (Darlene Zschech) | |
| 1994 | People Just Like Us (Hillsong Music Australia) | first recording of "Shout to the Lord" |
| 1994 | The song "Shout to the Lord" from Jump to the Jam (Youth Alive / Hillsong Music Australia) | |
| 1995 | Friends in High Places (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "Praise His Holy Name", "Rock of Ages" with Geoff Bullock and "Lord I Give Myself" |
| 1996 | God is in the House (Hillsong Music Australia) | first Hillsong Live album as worship pastor; wrote "God Is in the House" with Russell Fragar, "And That My Soul Knows Very Well" with Fragar, "Let the Peace of God Reign", "Walking in the Light" and "I Will Run To You" |
| 1996 | Simply Worship (Hillsong Music Australia) | |
| 1996 | The song "And That My Soul Knows Very Well" on Chosen One (Youth Alive / Hillsong Music Australia) | |
| 1996 | Shout to the Lord (Integrity Music) | first Integrity album to feature a female worship leader |
| 1997 | All Things Are Possible (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "All Things Are Possible", "I Live to Know You", "I Know It" and "Glory to the King" |
| 1997 | Simply Worship 2 (Hillsong Music Australia) | |
| 1997 | Hills Praise (Hillsong Music Australia and Integrity Music) | |
| 1997 | I Believe the Promise (London Christian Media Centre) | |
| 1998 | Touching Heaven, Changing Earth (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote the songs "That's What We Came Here For" with Fragar, "I Will Bless You Lord", "Jesus You're All I Need" and "The Potter's Hand" |
| 1998 | Simply Worship 3 (Hillsong Music Australia) | |
| 1998 | Shout to the Lord 2000 (Integrity Music) | |
| 1999 | By Your Side (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "Sing of Your Great Love" and "Free to Dance"; album received a nomination for Praise & Worship Album of the Year at the 2001 Dove Awards |
| 2000 | For This Cause (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "Here to Eternity" with David Moyse and "It Is You" |
| 2000 | The Power of Your Love Symphony (Sony Music) | |
| 2000 | Overwhelmed (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "Overwhelmed", "Jesus, Our Lord Jesus" and "The Lord is Good" with Reuben Morgan |
| 2000 | You Shine (Hillsong Music Australia) | |
| 2000 | The Platinum Collection Volume 1: Shout to the Lord (Hillsong Music Australia) | originally published as Millennium: The Story So Far; a compilation of previously recorded songs by the Hillsong team |
| 2001 | You Are My World (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "Irresistible", "Glorious", "To You" and "Worthy Is the Lamb"; the album received a nomination for Praise & Worship Album of the Year at the 2002 Dove Awards |
| 2001 | Christmas (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "Perfect Love" with Russell Fragar and "Hallelujah" |
| 2002 | Blessed (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "Blessed" with Reuben Morgan; the album received a nomination for Praise & Worship Album of the Year at the 2003 Dove Awards |
| 2002 | Extravagant Worship: The Songs of Darlene Zschech (Hillsong Music Australia) | a compilation of previously recorded songs; the tracks that were written by Zschech but previously recorded by a different lead vocalist were re-recorded with Zschech as the lead vocal |
| 2002 | Extravagant Worship: The Songs of Reuben Morgan (Hillsong Music Australia) | |
| 2003 | Hope (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "My Hope", "Call" and "You Are"; the song "My Hope" was nominated for Inspirational Song of the Year at the 2004 Dove Awards |
| 2003 | Kiss of Heaven (Darlene Zschech) | |
| 2003 | Amazing Love (Hillsong Music Australia) | |
| 2003 | The Platinum Collection Volume 2: Shout to the Lord 2 (Hillsong Music Australia) | a compilation of previously recorded songs by the Hillsong team and a studio-recorded version of Zschech's song "My Hope" |
| 2004 | For All You've Done (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "You Are Worthy" and "Glorify Your Name" with David Holmes |
| 2004 | Faithful (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "Mercy Endures" |
| 2004 | UP: Unified Praise (Hillsong Music Australia) | Zschech and the Hillsong team joined with Delirious? |
| 2005 | God He Reigns (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "Saviour" and "Know You More" |
| 2005 | Celebrating Christmas (Hillsong Music Australia) | |
| 2005 | Ultimate Worship (Hillsong Music Australia) | |
| 2005 | Change Your World (Darlene Zschech) | |
| 2006 | Mighty to Save (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "More to See" with Mia Fieldes, Deborah Ezzy (Zschech's sister), Donia Makadonez & Nigel Hendroff, "I Believe" and "At the Cross" with Reuben Morgan; the song "Mighty to Save", written by Ben Fielding and Reuben Morgan, received Worship Song of the Year at the 2009 Dove Awards |
| 2006 | Songs for Communion (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "The Only Name", "Saviour" (which was previously recorded live on the album God He Reigns), "Oh the Blood" and "Worthy is the Lamb" (which was previously recorded live on You Are My World and Unified Praise) |
| 2006 | Supernatural (Hillsong Kids/Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "I Will Sing" with Gio Galanti and daughters Chloe Zschech and Zoe Zschech |
| 2007 | Saviour King (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "One Thing" with Marty Sampson |
| 2007 | Lord of All (Hillsong Music Australia) | |
| 2008 | This Is Our God (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "High and Lifted Up" with Mike Guglielmucci |
| 2008 | Ultimate Collection Volume II (Hillsong Music Australia) | A compilation of previously released songs |
| 2009 | Songs 4 Worship 50 | featured on the songs "Shout to the Lord" and "My Redeemer Lives" |
| 2009 | Faith + Hope + Love (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "His Glory Appears" with Marty Sampson |
| 2010 | A Beautiful Exchange (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "Believe" with Reuben Morgan |
| 2010 | The Very Best of Graham Kendrick: Knowing You Jesus (Graham Kendrick) | featured on the songs "There is a Hope So Sure" and "Until the Day" |
| 2010 | Con Todo (Hillsong Music Australia) | Zschech sings in Spanish; the album won the award for Spanish Language Album of the Year at the 42nd GMA Dove Awards |
| 2010 | One Voice | featured on the song "Awesome Wonder" |
| 2011 | God is Able (Hillsong Music Australia) | wrote "Cry of the Broken" |
| 2011 | Simply Darlene (Darlene Zschech) | |
| 2011 | You Are Love (Darlene Zschech) | |
| 2011 | Songs 4 Worship Ultimate | featured on the song "Face to Face", which she wrote |
| 2011 | The song "Lo Grande Que Eres Dios" on the album En Mi Lugar (Hillsong Music Australia) | Zschech sings in Spanish |
| 2011 | The song "Emmanuel" on the album Born is the King (Hillsong Music Australia) | |
| 2011 | Music Inspired by The Story | featured on a duet with Michael W. Smith on the track "The Great Day (Second Coming)" |
| 2012 | The song "Es Tu Amor" on the album Global Project Español (Hillsong Music Australia) | Zschech sings in Spanish |
| 2012 | 25 Songs That Changed the Way We Worship | featured on the song "Shout to the Lord" |
| 2012 | Hope | featured on the song "My Hope" |
| 2012 | The song "Emmanuel" on the album We Have a Saviour (Hillsong Music Australia) | |
| 2013 | The Rescue (Sidney Mohede) | featured on the song "It is Done" |
| 2013 | Revealing Jesus (Darlene Zschech) | Zschech's first official live solo album |
| 2013 | Worship Duets (Graham Kendrick) | featured on the song "That Name" |
| 2013 | Just As I Am (A Legacy of Hymns and Worship) | featured on the song "My Jesus I Love Thee (I Love You Jesus)" |
| 2013 | In Christ Alone: 25 of Today's Most Powerful Modern Hymns | featured on the song "Your Name/Cry of the Broken" |
| 2013 | My Hope: Songs Inspired by the Message and Mission of Billy Graham | featured on the song "The Cross of Christ", which she wrote |
| 2014 | Only King Forever (Elevation Worship) | featured on the song "The Love of Jesus" |
| 2014 | Heaven is For Real: Songs Inspired by the Film and Best-Selling Book | wrote and featured as lead vocal on the song "Heaven in Me" |
| 2015 | In Jesus' Name: A Legacy of Worship & Faith | a compilation of previously recorded songs |
| 2015 | "Grace Divine" HopeUC single | featuring Darlene Zschech |
| 2017 | Here I Am Send Me (Darlene Zschech) | live album |
| 2017 | "You Hear, You Answer" HopeUC single | featuring Darlene Zschech |
| 2017 | "O Holy Night / All Glory" HopeUC single | featuring Darlene Zschech & Luke Taylor |
| 2018 | "The Table: A Christmas Worship Gathering" | HopeUC's first Christmas album |
| 2019 | "Forever My King" Live from HopeUC Gathering | featuring Darlene Zschech, Leeland & Dustin Smith |
| 2020 | "Soli Deo Gloria" Darlene Zschech single | featuring Darlene Zschech & Mitch Wong |
| 2020 | Live "Revere" album | featuring Darlene Zschech & William McDowell on the song "Waymaker" |
| 2021 | "I Will Not Fear" Live from HopeUC Gathering | featuring Darlene Zschech |
| 2021 | "Mercy on Display" HopeUC single | featuring Darlene Zschech |