New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Rick Hoganson Media) As world-renowned worship leader, best-selling author and Hope Unlimited Church Sr. Pastor Darlene Zschech prepares for Easter celebrations this weekend, Christians across continents are joining in the call to worship presented through her Revealing Jesus live CD/DVD and 365-day devotional hardcover gift book from RGM-NEW BREED
Music / Integrity
Music and Bethany House Publishers, respectively. Released last week amidst international acclaim, her long-awaited new recording took top retail sales spots around the world, including peaking at No. 1 in Australia and No. 3 in the U.S. on iTunes'® Christian & Gospel Charts, No. 5 on the Singapore iTunes Pop Albums Chart and No. 4 on the Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart in the UK.
Sharing the overall story of the album, several song stories and her definition of worship in more than 15 videos featured at https://www.youtube.com/integritymusic, Zschech says, "This whole concept has come out of a simple longing for more of Jesus to be revealed in my life; more of Him in every area of my life, starting with my heart…I've been asking God about the authority we have in Jesus name, and how the finished work of Christ really does affect every single moment of our lives…To declare this finished work, to speak out His word and not just accept some of the situations we find ourselves in, but push the enemy right back with the Word of God as we face any trial in life. From my heart of hearts to yours today, I truly pray these songs become fuel for your journey."
Produced by five-time GRAMMY Award-winner
Israel Houghton and featuring special guest appearances and song co-writes with Michael W. Smith,
Kari Jobe and Houghton, the Revealing Jesus CD/DVD release, as well as the book release, was celebrated in an exclusive "social fusion" tweet, chat and interview event on Get Real Live March 19. The event featuring Zschech, along with special guests, Houghton, Smith and Jobe, as well as Paul Baloche who wrote "Your Name" featured on the album, sparked millions of Twitter impressions. In fact, since mid-February, more than 48,129,000 Revealing Jesus Twitter impressions have been generated.
In addition to social media, Zschech has received widespread critical acclaim with numerous covers, features and reviews from radio, newspapers and television outlets internationally. With an upcoming feature in Worship Leader Magazine, Dr. Chuck Fromm, founder and publisher of Worship Leader Magazine / Song Discovery says, "Among today's hymnwriters and music creators, Darlene Zschech is a pioneer, mentor and vital contributor with worldwide impact. Revealing Jesus is a wonderful representation of her experience and her heart for ministry in action. Her passionate love for Christ and her concern for those she leads in worship pervade this album as it does everything she puts her hand, voice and life to. Her service to God and the Church is exemplified by the depth of her teaching and the height of her praise, not only in the songs she sings and the books and columns she writes, but in the life she lives."
Echoing Dr. Fromm, the critics continue their acclaim with Praise.com / CBNmusic.com saying that "Darlene Zschech's Revealing Jesus offers get-out-of-the-pew worship songs that evoke declarative praise to the one true God." Christian Today declares that "the former pastor at
Hillsong Church has produced an amazing album full of the conviction she has come to be known and loved for." NewReleaseTuesday.com adds, "Darlene delivers unabashed, unhindered praise to the King of
Kings in profound, relevant fashion." Worship leader Kim Gentes says, "I thought I had already heard some great albums this year, but this one is simply on another level in both musical production and a complete worship experience. This album easily gets my nod as 'Editor's Choice Album' and is currently my top candidate for this year's best album."
Continuing to receive coverage, on Maundy
Thursday (March 28) The 700 Club plans to feature the video of the Zschech, Houghton and Jobe-penned song "Victor's Crown" from Revealing Jesus, which released as an Easter resource and has already received over 154,000 YouTube views. The next day (Good Friday), Praise.com plans to launch an exclusive "14-day devotional with Darlene Zschech" that includes one new devotional each day from the Revealing Jesus book. With an additional exclusive 15-day devotional series for mobile applications currently being featured through YouVersion.com, Zschech devotionals, as well as four videos, chord charts and more, are also available on the microsite, Revealing-Jesus.com. Then on April 5, TBN's "Praise The Lord" will feature "Best For Me" and "In Jesus' Name" from the Revealing Jesus DVD followed by the April 12 premiere on TBN of the entire Revealing Jesus event recorded live Sept. 28 and 29, 2012 at the Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, AL.
In addition to the 12 new Revealing Jesus CD/DVD worship anthems, bonus tracks in custom versions of the album will include fresh takes on such internationally acclaimed songs as "Shout to the Lord," "Hosanna" and "Worthy is the Lamb," as well as the Houghton-penned "Jesus at the Center." The custom versions include a "deluxe" CD/DVD combination, an ebook with songs, and an iTunes LP® that includes video plus bonus resources, song devotional videos and more.
The companion Revealing Jesus book was poured out from the pages of Zschech's personal journals. Honest, raw, and beautifully written, the devotional contains meditations and Scriptures revealing the heart of Jesus. These devotions are designed to inspire and encourage the reader's journey, especially when times are hard, tenderly calling readers to sit at the feet of the Lord, learn from His wisdom, embrace His love and experience His peace.
Taking her music and message to conferences across the U.S. this year, Zschech will be featured during the Joyce Meyer Conference in Portland, OR (May 24 - June 1), at the Wave Conference in Virginia Beach, VA (July 31 - Aug. 4) and at the Imagine Women's Conference in Los Angeles, CA (Nov. 1 -2). A major market tour with Zschech and Houghton is also being planned for late April and is slated to hit venues in San Diego, Phoenix, Dallas and Houston.
