“Here I Am Send Me”
Integrity Music, 2017
Hillsong veteran Darlene Zschech wrote modern praise masterpiece “Shout to the Lord” in 1993 while fighting to keep her family afloat financially. The 11 songs on “Here I Am Send Me,” only the second live solo album of Zschech’s illustrious career, were born of even greater struggles.
The album kicks off with “You Are Great,” a response to Zschech’s recent battle with breast cancer. The song was actually co-written with former Delirious? vocalist and guitarist Martin Smith during Zschech’s first week of chemotherapy.
It’s followed immediately by “You Will Be Praised,” which Zschech wrote with Paul Baloche and Bethel Music’s Jenn Johnson, during her first trip to the United States after radiation treatment.
It’s a fantastic song, especially lyrically:
“Though I walk through darkest valleys
There’s no fear for You are with me
You have held me through the fire
Jesus You are here with me …
Through every storm You will remain
In death and in life I’ll not be afraid
In joy or in pain You will be praised”
There are plenty of reasons Zschech has been called a “praise and worship pioneer.” “Here I Am Send Me” is merely the latest and one of the greatest.
Reviewed by Jeremy Henderson
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