Interview

Darlene and Mark Zschech (Hillsong Church) -  Interview

The Zschech's and the Johnson's

 

Brian: Talk about your journey.

 

Darlene: We’ve been married for 32 years. I turned 50 last year and I’m proud of it! We have three children, two sons in law and three grandchildren. We met playing in a band playing high school ministry at age 17. We moved to Hillsong Church when there were 180 people. 

 

The Zschechs began to pastor a church 5 years ago. It’s been the best years and the toughest years.

 

Mark: The church is on the Central Coast of Australia. We call our church Hope Unlimited. Adventures are amazing! Abraham went on adventures in the old testament and didn’t know where he was going and we feel like we are doing the same thing. We don’t know where we are going either. Journeys are very different than adventures. With a journey, you have a map and a plan and with an adventure, you have neither. I don’t want to live a life that is predictable where I know what the end will be like. I want to have a life that has the Holy Spirit all over it, surrounded by signs and miracles. 

Don’t just take journeys, take adventures into the unknown. Do something fresh. Write fresh songs. Don’t be a duplicate. 

Fight for what God’s put inside you.

 

Jenn: Talk to us about this last few years. You have gone on a rough and beautiful journey with cancer. Share the journey and process with us.

 

Darlene: First of all, I am doing great! It has been two years since I finished treatment. I’ve got no cancer in my body.

Darlene discusses the months leading up to finding cancer in her body. She talks about her doctor's visits and how she had been tracking a lump for some time. She discusses the difficulties of facing fear and working through and processing with their children.

We had to grab onto truths and fight in the spirit like we never had before. Yes, it was the most difficult thing we have ever journeyed. 

We really had to be careful not to let too many people in because we heard story after story of tragedy. We really had to manage other people's’ fear too. We became very vehement to protect the atmosphere around my life.

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love and of power and of a sound mind. We had to protect that. 

Going forward, we are very intentional about everything we do. We aren’t as busy. We want to be effective, not busy. We need time to refresh and hear from heaven. To be fresh in the things of God and the secret places. These are the rich places in ministry.

 

Brian: Can you talk about that season of closeness with God. In these sorts of seasons, people run to God or away. Obviously, you ran to God, but there’s an element of the closeness of God in that season. What were some things you did? Besides clinging to the scriptures of course. 

 

Darlene: Obviously I never want to go through cancer again, but one thing I miss is the closeness with God. With the Holy Spirit. The only way to describe it is when you are as sick as I was, I felt so cradled in the hand of God. I heard him say, “Just breathe in.. breath out... Breathe in..” This happened all through the night. When I thought I wouldn’t live through the night. I miss that. He was coaching me through. He coaches me differently now but I will never forget that season. I’m so grateful to God for those moments. He holds us.

 

Mark: Proclaiming he is good was a lifesaver for me. Proclaiming his goodness and know he has good things always. 

 

Jenn: We love you both so much. Obviously, your impact on worship and ministry is amazing but you are also such amazing parents. Can you talk about parenting a little bit?

 

Darlene: That’s our favorite thing. Every great thing I’ve done in my life if did with a baby on my hip. The anointing is not just just for me or Mark, it’s for us. It’s for our household. 

I love watching my family step into deep love with the Lord. Our job is to laugh with them, lead them into the goodness of God, and to protect them. Don’t separate ministry or family etc. Let it all flow together.

 

Mark: Don’t protect the kids from the church or church community. Bring them to rehearsals and let them be part of the behind the scene pieces as well. 

Every week we have family dinner night. It is utter chaos but it is part of it. We love to bring everyone together and sharing what God is doing. Funny things at work or at home. It is really a highlight for us. 

 

Darlene: Managing phones. It’s ok to say, “turn that thing off.” Put the phones in a bowl until the end of the night. We have to fight for "community" in our families and church families. Have some guts as parents. Love your children and teach them to put boundaries in. Protect the conversation. It’s ok not to be on social media every second of the day. 

 

Jenn: We have to navigate so much with this generation. Social media can really take the place of real connection. If you are feeling uncomfortable in a room, jumping on the phone to look connected can really be a crutch. Don’t let social media or escaping be a crutch. Look people in the eye and have a conversation. We love social media in this house but it can be tough. 

 

Katie Riddle - 

“When social media turns from inspiration to comparison put the phone down. Re-anchor yourself in who you are.”

 

When you spend a lot of time on social media your heart can be taken down so fast. You really have to monitor. Is this bringing me joy and life? 

Protect who and what you are connecting to.

 

Mark: There is a young couple from our church that travels to high schools around Australia and they are really involved in this area of social media. Their advice for parents is to turn off the wifi at the house every day at midnight. The most problems with bullying, anxiety, etc happen mostly between 12-4am. 

 

Jenn: Simple things like that can change everything! 

 

Mark: Another suggestion is to have a computer in a high traffic area of the house, not in their bedrooms.

 

Brian: How did you guys meet?

 

Darlene: Darlene discusses their history. She talks about being in a band and putting out an ad for a drummer. Mark answered the add.

 

Brian: Talk about spiritual discipline. What are some tips and tricks that keep you alive and connected to God during the ups and downs of life? 

 

Darlene: I have a ritual in the morning. I don’t even put my feet on the floor before I read scripture and have a cup of coffee. There are so many things that are going to fight for my time, thoughts, and emotions during the day. I must be planted in the word of God first thing.  

 

Mark: I’m the same. I love getting up to watch the sunrise while I read the bible. This is like soul food for me. 

 

Brian: Another thing I have been thinking about is how it is such a bad idea to process with people before you process with God or more than you process with God. That time with God where I read and have devolution is the most important time in my life. 

 

Jenn: Bill says: “Reading the word renews your mind.” It recenters you. Hearing the voice of the Lord and reading the word is a beautiful way to stay centered and focused. Being proactive and getting with the Lord before you need it midday is a great practice. 

 

Darlene: “He sent his word and healed them.” If you need healing, received his word and be healed in Jesus name. We don’t approach his word with his fingers crossed. His cross did it all.

 

Jenn asks Darlene and Mark to close in prayer. They pray for healing in the room.