Christianity Today

"Five years ago, my wife and I were in the hospital awaiting the arrival of our son, Chase. All day long we were playing our favorite worship songs, even while my wife was giving birth. And as my son left the womb and took his first gasp of air, my wife and I were smiling, weeping … and singing along with Chris Tomlin's 'How Great is Our God.' Every time we hear or sing this, it reminds us of the majestic and intimate ways that our great God loves us." (Ira Wilson)

"When Carter, the 16-year-old daughter of our good friends, was involved in a car crash, my wife and I immediately headed to the ER to support the family. We heard that Carter had a very bad head injury and only a 20 percent chance of living through the night—and if she did, her chances of living anything like a normal life after were very small. Many of us ended up praying that night, even with the doctor. The next night, my daughter Kelsey, Carter's best friend, rounded up about 60 teenagers for a prayer session at the hospital, and several adults joined them, praying out loud for almost 90 minutes. Two nights later, Kelsey and her buddies had another prayer session, adding some songs as well. So again the mob showed up, and we prayed, and we sang. I cannot tell you what other songs we sang that evening, but we closed with 'How Great Is Our God.' When we got to the chorus, it was as if the angels had decided to come and sing with us, because the sound in that lobby was far greater than anything those gathered could have raised on their own. Long story short: Carter is a one in a gazillion winner of the 'God's Miracle' lottery. Two weeks and two days after the accident, she walked out of the hospital to go to a rehab center. She was talking and smiling and pretty much in control of her world at that point. She went on to college and will graduate in May with a history degree. When you ask Carter's parents what they most remember about those terrible two weeks, they mention the power of the first prayer circle, and the singing of 'How Great Is Our God' during the second prayer circle. So, Mr. Tomlin, please keep cranking out the praise songs, because thousands of praise leaders in churches—like me—will keep playing them for our people to use in worship. And thanks for giving us a song that was very timely in watching just how great God was in answering the prayers of many in Carter's recovery." (Alan Peterson)

Copyright © 2011 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.