For Stephen Hurd, his commission is clear.
“I know my assignment as a worship leader,” he shares. “I feel like I’m called to be a teacher, to nurture and spark creativity in others. I’m called to help leaders understand their real responsibility, which is to help their congregations experience God.”
Stephen is a renowned leader in the gospel music community. He serves as the minister of music for First Baptist Church Glenarden in Landover, Maryland. He has released two acclaimed recordings with Integrity Music. And he is a Stellar and Dove-Award nominated songwriter and artist.
Yet despite the accolades, Stephen knew that his new project should more fully reflect his complete calling. A collection of songs that would not only edify the Church, but recharge and reinvigorate his fellow leaders. A live recording of a one-of-a-kind worship environment.
“I wanted to create a place for worship leaders where they could be refreshed,” he says. “A place where I could pour into them. A place where they weren’t on a platform, but could instead receive from God the weight of His glory.”
But more than being inspired by God’s renewing presence, Stephen wanted to encourage leaders to ignite their own community.
“My desire was that these worship leaders would be sparked with excitement and creativity so they could bring a fresh sound of worship to their congregation,” he says.
A call was sent out to worship leaders, music directors, psalmists, and musicians from across the country. The response was overwhelming, and in May of 2008 over 250 worship leaders met in the upper room of Stephen’s church to take part in this landmark recording.
The result is Times of Refreshing, a dynamic set that distills Stephen’s vision into a powerful and intimate time of worship. Helmed by Stephen and Justin Savage (Israel and New Breed, Jonathan Nelson, Joe Pace), the project is a potent mix of hymns, contemporary worship, and traditional gospel, offering music that crosses denominational and color lines. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the project’s first single, “Amazing.”
“Justin kept telling me about this song that he had for my project,” Stephen remembers. “He came to my office and played it, and as soon as he did I said, ‘I’m singing that song!’”
The feedback for the song so far? It’s been, well, amazing.
“Everywhere I go I do ‘Amazing’ and it’s absolutely incredible what happens when I lift up that song,” he says. “The room becomes illuminated with this energy, as people realize that God is not just faithful and true and strong. We struggle to find the words to describe Him, so we settle for ‘amazing.’ It’s crazy watching people young and old, white and black, Baptist and Pentecostal, people from different denominations, grab this song and make it their worship moment.”
The recording experience also served to reaffirm Stephen’s unique calling.
“There were times when the Lord poured into me a mandate to give the worship leaders,” he says. “It was like I was getting emails from God to pour into these lives, these hearts, these people.”
And long before a song went to radio, and months before the record’s release, Stephen began to experience a groundswell of feedback from that special time of praise.
“I’ve received emails and phone calls from people who had an ‘I Got It’ moment,” he shares. “People who received the mandate to be more effective and responsible with what God has charged them to do in their local churches.”
With Times of Refreshing, Stephen has taken the next step in his extraordinary journey as a leader in contemporary gospel. Stephen is also committed to expanding his ministry beyond music by helping people in places ravaged by poverty and disease.
“I work closely with World Vision, helping to ensure positive futures for those who are disenfranchised,” he says. “I want to help children who are orphans because of parents who have died from disease, AIDS in particular. I want to aid those children who themselves have been born with AIDS. I’m committed to helping people sponsor those children so they get a chance at having a great future and a healthy life.”
Yet Stephen believes that impacting the world for Christ can begin right in the local church. And as he continues to sow into the lives of those who lead, he knows that global change will follow.
“My hope is that worship leaders will discover that it’s not just about singing well or sounding good,” he says. “They should strive to become students of the Word, master their gift for transforming their environment, and crystallize what they hear from God.
“When we gathered those people in the hall, we planted a foundation seed for opportunities to help men and women around the globe experience God in a fresh way. And I think that’s what we created.”
Destiny
Stephen Hurd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's the plan that you have for me
The place you've called me to be
Some people call it destiny
Will you let me know
What's the plight that
You've called me to
I trust you Lord to see me through
Will you let me look
In your heart
Lord hear my plea
Reveal to me
The mysteries
And the plan you have for me
This prayer is from me
Make known to me
The mysteries
And the plan you have for me
Destiny
Thank you (Thank you)
For showing me (For showing me)
And directing me (directing me)
To my destiny (To my destiny)
Tell the Lord Thank you
(Thank you)
For showing me (For showing me)
And directing me (Directing me)
To my destiny (To my destiny)
I know what I'm here for
Thank you
For showing me
Directing me
To my destiny
(4xs)
I know what I'm here for
I know what I'm here for
I know what I'm here for
The lyrics of Stephen Hurd's song "Destiny" are a prayer to God, asking Him to reveal the plan and purpose He has for the singer's life. The song addresses the idea of destiny and the notion that there is a specific path that each person is meant to follow in life. The singer is asking God to show him the way and guide him towards his destiny.
Throughout the song, the singer expresses his trust in God and his willingness to follow wherever God leads him. He acknowledges that the road ahead may be difficult, but he knows that God will see him through. The refrain of the song echoes the thankfulness that the singer has towards God for revealing his destiny.
Overall, the lyrics of "Destiny" convey a sense of surrender and trust in God's plan for the singer's life. The song speaks to anyone who has ever struggled with finding their purpose in life and reminds them that God has a plan for each of us, and that plan is our destiny.
Line by Line Meaning
What's the plan that you have for me
What is the specific task you have in store for me, O Lord?
The place you've called me to be
Where should I go, where is the place you need me to serve?
Some people call it destiny
The path and task you have laid out for me, some may call it fate or destiny.
Will you let me know
Please communicate your plan to me so that I may understand and follow it.
What's the plight that
What is the challenge or task that
You've called me to
You have specifically chosen and called me to accomplish?
The thing I'm set aside to do
The unique task that I have been set apart to accomplish and fulfill.
I trust you Lord to see me through
I place my trust in you, Lord, to guide and support me through this journey.
Will you let me look
May I have the opportunity to see and understand
In your heart
Your intentions and desires for me, O Lord.
Lord hear my plea
Lord, please listen to my request.
Reveal to me
Please disclose to me and make known
The mysteries
The hidden and unknown details,
And the plan you have for me
And the purpose and specific task that you have laid out for me to fulfill.
This prayer is from me
This plea and request is genuinely from me.
Make known to me
Disclose and reveal to me
Destiny
The unique purpose and task that God has prepared and chosen for each person to accomplish.
Thank you (Thank you)
Expressing gratitude for the Lord's guidance and direction.
For showing me (For showing me)
Thankful for revealing and making known God's plan for their life.
And directing me (directing me)
Grateful for the Lord's guidance and direction towards their destiny.
To my destiny (To my destiny)
Thankful for being led towards and accomplishing their unique purpose and task.
I know what I'm here for
I am aware and confident in the specific purpose the Lord has for me.
Thank you
Expressing gratitude towards the Lord for His guidance and direction.
For showing me
Thanking the Lord for revealing and making known their unique purpose and task.
Directing me
Grateful for the Lord's guidance in their journey towards fulfilling their destiny.
To my destiny
Thankful for being led towards and accomplishing their unique purpose and task.
I know what I'm here for
Reaffirming their awareness and confidence in the specific purpose the Lord has for them.
Writer(s): Jonathan Nelson, Justin Savage, Stephen Hurd
Contributed by Evelyn T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.