New Hillsong Chapel Series Kicks Off With Yahweh

One wonders what took Hillsong so long to release unplugged versions of its popular worship songs; apparently the clamoring of fans for acoustic versions of their favorites finally won out. The first album in the Hillsong Chapel series, the newly released Yahweh, sets the mark for others that follow, as the first in the acoustic series packs a punch with hits “Hosanna,” “From the Inside Out” and “Mighty to Save” among others.

A good song should still move the listener when all the bells and whistles, lights and production are removed from it – and that’s what is heard on Yahweh. Some might miss the loud Hillsong intensity of songs “Run,” “Salvation Is Here” and “The Time Has Come” but the power of the lyric remains and the songs find new life in their newfound simplicity.

Even though the songs are stripped down versions of their former selves, the album is actually quite refreshing and interesting. The album on the whole creates some wonderful space for personal worship, especially through songs “Yahweh,” “Came to My Rescue” and “You Hold Me Now.” It is also refreshing to hear more female worship leaders. The ladies have a presence on other Hillsong records but on Yahweh half of the tracks have a female lead; that difference adds to the freshness of songs “Mighty to Save,” “Saviour King” and “Stronger.”

The new arrangements of the songs on Yahweh will easily find their way into worship services. Some churches will find the acoustic arrangement more compatible to their needs or style of worship. Which is really the point of the Chapel series and Hillsong Music in general– to resource the church with accessible worship music.

Track listing:
1. Hosanna
2. You’ll Come
3. Run
4. The Time Has Come
5. Saviour King
6. Yahweh
7. Came To My Rescue
8. Stronger
9. This Is Our God
10. You Hold Me Now
11. From The Inside Out
12. Mighty To Save
13. Salvation Is Here

A Movement by Music

In spring of 2009, Josh White decided to take a huge step of faith. Previously the lead singer of the band Telecast, White quickly became a church planter and worship leader in Portland, Oregon. His church is located in the Hawthorne District of Southeast Portland, a bohemian part of town, known more for its hippies and hipsters than churches. “I met my wife Darcy in this neighborhood 14 years ago,” recounts White. “We know the culture and the people. Which in turn fuels the heart and vision of the church: to preach the gospel to the some of the most unchurched people in the country.

Josh White, formerly the lead singer of Telecast

His church Door of Hope offers the inspiration for White’s solo debut Achor, a folk/bluegrass project with BEC Recordings.

The meaning behind both the church name and the album title come from Hosea 2:15. The valley of Achor is the valley of trouble; so named after Achan’s sin was discovered and judged in the days of Joshua. The prophet Hosea proclaimed that the God’s restoration would transform the valley of trouble into a door of hope. It is this restoration that White and Door of Hope aim to see in their neighborhood.

The songs on Achor are the songs of the church, written for Door of Hope and used in its worship services. “Where I did the Brit rock sound with Telecast, these songs reflect the acoustic, folk music of Hawthorne. It’s a mix of folk and bluegrass in worship, almost like a Jesus Movement folk worship revival,” says White.

Produced by Sebastian Rogers, Achor took White down a new path of album recording. “This was the first Christian record that Sebastian ever worked on. He was fun and eccentric, stretching me to work from the belief that this should be the most honest music possible.” A belief that shaped the way the album was even recorded. “Typically recording builds from the drums up and everything is corrected to be shiny and pretty. Not this one,” says White. “We recorded my vocals and then gathered all the musicians one at a time in a room to play to that performance. There wasn’t any vocal tuning or loops.”

The freshness of recording reflects the content of the songs, which seek an intimate, new relationship with Christ. White is passionate about the experience of living Christ both in the church and through the music. “If you forget the foundation of knowing Christ personally, you can be super involved in a great cause but the gospel becomes lost. Everything comes from the foundation of knowing Christ personally; it’s about that relationship,” he says. “This is about moving beyond just acceptance of Christ. This is about being truly moved by the cost of discipleship and holy living. The record is focused on the possibility of deep intimacy with Christ and the idea that God can still surprise us,” says White.

Josh White wants to see people come alive in Christ and would believe Achor is but one piece contributing to this awakening. “There is a prophetic element to worship; it is necessary and powerful. Hearts open through music, stirring emotions and inserting a message into hearts. These songs come out of what we’re experiencing at Door of Hope; they are part of a movement to turn this city upside down.”