The Leadership Blog Interview: Darlene Zschech

Darlene Zschech

Bio: Darlene is lead vocalist, worship leader, and producer of Hillsong Music Australia's best selling albums. The live worship albums have all achieved gold status, and include "Stone's Been Rolled Away", "People Just Like Us", "God Is In The House", "Friends In High Places", "All Things Are Possible", "Touching Heaven, Changing Earth", "By Your Side", "For This Cause", "You Are My World", "Blessed" and "Hope".

Shout to the Lord, a beautiful chorus written by Darlene, is sung by an estimated 25 to 30 million churchgoers every week. This song is the title track for the first live album co-produced with Integrity Music featuring Darlene as a prominent female worship leader. Shout To The Lord was nominated as 'Song of the Year' for the 1998 Dove Awards and was nominated as 'Album of the year' for the 1997 Dove Awards and has been recorded on over 20 different albums. In the year 2000 Darlene received a Dove Award nomination for Songwriter of the year.

For the past eighteen years Darlene and her husband Mark have been a vital part of the leadership team at Hillsong Church, Sydney which is possibly Australia's largest church, with a current congregation of over 15,000.

Site: darlenezschech.com

1. Darlene, what gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Darlene: "Seeing the people I am leading start to flourish and find their own wings."

2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Darlene: "Seeing those you love and are committed to, making continual unwise choices when they know better... I find this extremely difficult."

3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Darlene: "My husband, my pastor, John Maxwell, Billy Graham, Mother Teresa.... to name a few"

4. What books have changed your life?
Darlene: "Treasury of David by Spurgeon, Surprised by Joy – CS Lewis, The Message Bible"

5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Darlene: "There is very little margin for error, so aware that any decision I make has the potential to impact many."

6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Darlene: "Passionate about raising the next generation and beyond in the understanding and responsibilityof living authentic Christ honouring lives."

7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Darlene: "Writing, teaching, loving my family and serving the poor and forgotten...."

Thanks Darlene for taking the interview and allowing us to see inside your life! Your music has impacted all of our lives!