DARLENE ZSCHECH INTERTWINES
MUSIC AND MISSIONS:
Bent Tree Bible Fellowship Hosts International Singer and
Hillsong Worship Band as part of Week-Long Missions Festival

CARROLLTON, Texas, Oct. 13, 2009 – Internationally renowned singer, songwriter, worship leader, author and speaker, Darlene Zschech, along with Australia’s Hillsong Worship Band and the local Bent Tree Bible Fellowship choir, led a packed house of 3,100 in an evening of music and hope tonight at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship.

Zschech has written more than 70 worship songs that have been published by Hillsong Music Australia alone, including “Shout to the Lord,” which is sung by an estimated 25 to 30 million churchgoers every week.

“I was never called to be a singer. I was called to be a worshipper,” said Zschech, in telling the audience of her own God-given life mission. “He’s fueling all of us for a purpose – to be the hands and feet of Christ.”

Tonight’s celebration was part of Bent Tree’s week-long Missions Festival, which ends Sunday, Oct. 18. Anne Graham Lotz, president and CEO of AnGeL Ministries and daughter of the Rev. Billy and Ruth Graham, opened the festival, speaking in both Sunday services Oct. 11. Missionaries from around the globe have gathered at Bent Tree to share their inspirational stories. Additionally, showcasing the church’s decade of ministry among the Maratha people of India, Bent Tree has set up “The Maratha Experience” in the east hallway outside of the Worship Center for people to immerse themselves in this culture via a creative, inspiring “living history” walk-thru exhibit.

“What we see is that Missions Festival is an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to grab our hearts for God’s global purposes,” said JoAnn Hummel, Bent Tree pastor of missions and prayer. “My prayer is that we are not only a mission-minded church, but a mission-impassioned church.”

Bent Tree Bible Fellowship is an interdenominational church located in the north Dallas suburb of Carrollton. It exists to be used by God as He transforms people into disciples of Jesus Christ, here and around the world. What began as a mini-church of 15 families in 1975, expanded several times before their current location on International Parkway in Carrollton in 1997. Bent Tree has continued to grow through LifeGroups and support of missionaries both domestically and a broad international presence. For additional information, visit www.btbf.org.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information about Bent Tree Bible Fellowship, contact Julie Shultz, account executive, at 972.267.1111, or via e-mail at [email protected].