Worship Leader Debra Black Testifies to God's Faithfulness in Every Season in This Exclusive Interview

Despite only being in her twenties, Debra Black has pioneered "Worship on the Square," an organization bringing the church body together in the city center to worship God and bring awareness to social causes in the city.  In May, 2012, she released her debut single entitled "More Than Enough" (which is also included in this album).  And now she is fully pursuing her dream to lead people in worship and is releasing her full-length album August, 12, 2014. Over the past year she entered the studio and started recording her first album, "God in Every Season." 

We are so honored to be able to catch up with Debra Black for this Hallels' exclusive interview: 

Hallels:  Thank you so much Debra for your time and congratulations on the release of "God in Every Season."  Tell us a little bit more about yourself, how did the Lord lead you to be a worship leader?

Thank you! I'm 28 living in Atlanta and have been leading worship for the last 10 years. Really it started with a love of singing in the church. Then the more I read the Word and got to know the Lord, started asking the question "What is worship really?" The Lord led me to Roman 12:1-2

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." 

I really started seeing worship as my life, more than the songs that I sing, it is what I am doing with the 97 percent of the time when I'm not on a stage? Realizing that will allow the other 3 percent to resonate and be the true overflow of my heart. God really showed me I can't love a God I do not know, and I cannot serve a God I do not love, I really can't worship if I do not know God or have spent time with Him throughout the week. It was through Him teaching me true worship being my life, when He called me to lead and encourage the church to do the same.

Hallels:  The theme of the record is "God in Every Season," can you explain to our readers, what do you mean by that?

Oh this is a lengthy answer but I will do my best. The lord really opened my eyes to Ecclesiastes 3 "There is a time and season for everything under heaven..." He really teaches me a lot through His creation. One day I was outside of Atlanta and a huge gust of wind blew over me... I love wind; I closed my eyes and saw this beautiful tree that had every season represented on the one tree. Within my spirit I heard the Lord saying "Debra, fall is the death, the dying time, but it's also one of the most beautiful times of the year. Surrendering, letting something die and lay to rest can be beautiful" That is where this whole story begins. The lord began to show me that He is the "tree" (hence the album cover) and He is in every phase, and every season of our lives. He is not a God that abandons us or leaves us. He is a God that walks with us into the winter and purifies us, renews us, and gives a rest from whatever the fall brought. This makes us ready for spring and the new life that comes with it. Then summer comes and the sun shines and radiates on the newness of what spring brought, and then the cycle continues. He is God In Every Season, like the tree he is what is constant and sure. He is someone who doesn't abandon us while we walk into something hard or difficult, he takes our hands and tells us He will walk with us, even into the fire.

Hallels:  What inspired you to write and sing about this theme?  

My personal testimony is this album. My struggles with trusting God and dealing with my fear and doubt and His faithfulness and goodness through it all is the inspiration. All of these issues of the heart were what allowed the Word of God to change and pierce it, renew it and make these songs anthems. I am so thankful that "He sent forth His word to heal them..." as Psalm 107:20 states and that His word changes, and transforms lives. 
 
Hallels:  "Be Free," I believe, is your new single from "God in Every Season."  For our readers who may not have it, tell us what is the song about?

This was actually the last song my producer and I wrote for my album. As we sat down and looked over the different themes of the songs we had, I realized the biggest thing the Lord had showed me throughout this whole process was I can trust Him, and rest in the freedom of His grace for every step. As I opened up Isaiah and looked at some of the verses I had underlined over the years Isaiah 49:9 stood out to me on the page. "To say to the captives, 'Come out, Be Free." There was just something about the words "Be Free" that made me stop and think. Just be... God has done it all, it is finished. I can trust that even in my doubt, even in my fear and through my struggles that I can still live in freedom, and be. It doesn't mean it's not hard, it just means that I am not alone, that God has opened up the prison door of sin and shame, taken it all for me and is telling me to be free; to live, to dream, to trust.  I put this song as the first song on my upcoming album. I wanted it to set the tone for the rest of the album, as an anthem of sorts. We are free, Christ has done it all and because of that we can live in freedom, trusting that God is for us, and cheering us on. And because of this in return I owe Him my praise, adoration, thanksgiving and my song
 
Hallels:  You have also pioneered a ministry called "Worship on the Square," can you tell us more about this?

Sure. Worship on the Square was a ministry where we would teach by example what worship truly is in the center of a town square. Through music, scripture, prayer and inviting other service ministries to come set up tables. The goal was to make God known in the public square by uniting outside the denominational lines and showing the world the love of God by loving each other and through our unity. We tend to argue about things that don't matter as believers; it comes down to Jesus and what He did for us. Whether you dunk one time or I dunk three times in light of eternity it is Jesus. The ministry came out of John 17: 20-23 "20 

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one- 23 I in them and you in me-so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

 We did about 9 events over the course of 4 years. It too had its season and the Lord worked incredible things through it. I'm so thankful.

Hallels: Being a worship leader, how would you define a good worship service?

I think any service where the presence of the Lord is acknowledge and where there is a willingness to be sensitive to the spirit of God and His leading. This doesn't mean not be prepared for excellence, but just allowing the Lord to give a word. A service filled with joy and reverence, which encompasses the people of God, praising God. This comes out of the over flow of our hearts that have been filled up by God personally throughout the week and are exploding with adoration and thanksgiving. Oh and music and prayer too;) But seriously we can't love a God we don't know and we can't serve a God we don't love. We have to spend time in His word as His people to serve Him well. 

Hallels:  For our readers who would like to purchase your new album or find out more about you, where can they go?

 I would love to connect with you! My album is out on iTunes and other digital markets and you can connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at DebraBlackMusic or visit my website at www.debrablackmusic.com

 

 

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