In the Summer of 2015, the West Hills Youth Group went on a retreat called “Big Stuf”. It was a week-long Student Ministry camp in Panama City, Florida, a magical setting for a group of teens from the landlocked state of Nebraska. About 40 of us piled in a bus for a long 25 hour bus ride, and when we were done we arrived in a beautiful setting, surrounded by thousands of other Christians, eager to hear God’s word. I was excited, partly because I loved the beach, partly because I got to go with my big brother (who was REALLY cool), and mostly because I was curious about my faith, and what God really had in store for me.
The week was incredible. We heard a lot of sermons, had great small group discussions, AND we got to participate in some of the most inspiring worship I had ever experienced. The band for the weekend was called, “North Point Worship”. They were a relatively new Christian music group, and they played a lot of very popular worship songs, as well as some of their originals.
One night, we had an outdoor worship service, and we were being led by two members of the group, one guitar player, and one vocalist. Halfway through the service they announced that they would be playing a song that they had written that week. They wanted to play it for us and get feedback on whether or not they should record it for a new album they were working on. There were no screens, and none of us knew the words, so even though the idea was uncomfortable for me, the audience cheered and encouraged them to play.
It was instantly an incredible moment. The beach was silent, and the sound of the single guitar and one voice washed over the crowd and created an environment of praise and worship. With our eyes closed, many of us just lifted our hands up to heaven and took in the new lyrics. We joined hands with some of the new friends we met, and just took in the perfect peace we were experiencing. As the song continued, we learned some of the chorus and by the end of the song, hundreds of us were singing a new song to the Lord. By the end of the song, most of us were crying tears of joy and redemption, we had been feeling completely new by this worship experience, and the incredible lyrics of this new song. Needless to say, North Point Worship learned that their new song was a hit, and they played it at almost every other worship opportunity for the rest of the week. It became our anthem. We listened to it on repeat for most of the bus ride home, and when I need to feel reconnected to my faith, it is a go-to.
The song was recorded and uploaded in December of 2015, it was called, “Death Was Arrested” by North Point Worship. I’m sure most of you recognize it, as it has become incredibly popular over the years!
When I was searching for a new church home close to my college, I prayed for a place where I could feel connected, loved and heard. When my roommate and I attended our first service at our new church, we sat down and the first song they played was, “Death Was Arrested”. I couldn’t believe I was hearing it so far away from home, and so far from the place I had first been introduced to it! It certainly had an incredible impact on my life, and it’s my hope that the lyrics can inspire a renewed sense of faith in you as well!