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The composer of "Shout to the Lord," sung by an estimated 30 million people every Sunday, is a stay-at-home mom at heart. But a packed schedule keeps Darlene Zschech—lead vocalist, worship leader and producer of Hillsong Music Australia's beloved CDs—on the move, often with concert tours or, more recently a trip to Africa with Christian relief organization Compassion International. But she loves nothing more than being at home—and in her home church—with husband Mark and their three daughters, Amy, Chloe and Zoe. We recently "zschatted" with Zschech about everything from Africa to finding balance to the state of worship music today.

You just returned from a trip to Africa with Compassion International. How many trips have you taken with them?

Darlene ZschechThis was our second one with Compassion. We went into Asia a couple of years ago, specifically to Bangkok and then to Manila in the Philippines. We went to Uganda and Rwanda this time, and we were able to dash into Kenya on the way home.

We took our girls and some guys from church, some friends. We were able to drive around the slums and had our hearts broken again. What Mark and I are now sensing is like a new revelation. When you're a worshipper of the living God, he really changes and molds you in his presence. And you start to become intolerant of injustice. As the worshippers, we really feel that we can make a difference. Lots of leaders of worship are feeling exactly the same way, so I feel like God is actually commissioning us to make our songs real and to live in a different way.

What did you do while in Africa?

ZschechWe held babies. We were able to encourage the staff who are in the midst of watching heartbreak, 24/7. And the mothers are mothers just like me, who have dreams for their children, just like I do for mine. I was able to connect with those women as moms in the aftermath of the genocide in Rwanda. So many people have lost so much—over one million people slaughtered in 100 days. It was only ten years ago, so the country is still in mourning.

There were many people walking around with pieces of themselves missing because they've been hacked off by machetes—the weapon of war they used. People were wandering around at that time with HIV and raping women. So, they AIDS crisis is very real, of epidemic proportions. UNICEF recently announced that there are over 13 million orphans, and that will double in the next ten years. So I'm like, "Okay, worshippers, let's go do something."

How are you able to balance everything in your life—your work with Compassion, Mercy Ministries, Hillsong Church, a solo music career and your family?

ZschechI have great people in my world, in the U.S. and at home. The thing is, my capacity is increased as the journey unfolds. I've always had a lot of energy. And I'm very passionate about Jesus, and that gives you energy.

We've sort of adopted a life philosophy in our home. We don't wander around complaining how tired we are, because of what a privilege it is to be able to serve the Lord. While we have breath, let's do something with it.

I've also learned through making mistakes. I put some time aside every week so it isn't work, work, work. There are lots of times when I'm really not doing anything. I might be cooking with my kids or doing homework. Like any other working mom, I'm a working mom.

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