Loulita Gill On Her involvement with Homegrown Worship & the Inspirations Behind Her New Songs

Bristol based worship leader and songwriter, Loulita Gill, returns with her beautiful, poignant track 'You're Always There'. The song is released by Homegrown Worship. Having reached Number 8 in the Official UK Christian Charts with her previous release, 'And I Sing', this song is a wonderful follow-up, both tender yet powerful.

Loulita has been leading worship for over 15 years and in May 2018 released her debut solo album The Last Twelve Years.
Following her album release, Loulita was approached by Andy Baker to become part of Handpicked by Homegrown Worship and will be releasing 6 brand new songs through the playlist this year.

Aside from leading worship and performing her music, Loulita has been involved in teaching the subjects of Worship and Team Building to Bible School students. She is also a gifted graphic designer and has been running her business (Loulita Gill Design) for 9 years.

Loulita graduated with a Masters Degree in Practical Theology from the University of Chester in 2015. She is a wife and mum of three lovely boys.  

Q:  Loulita, thanks for doing this interview with us.  Let's start with yourself: you are a worship leader in Bristol, UK. tell us more about your ministry there. 

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to be interviewed. I have been involved in worship ministry for many years, and I'm now part of the worship team at my local church River Of Life Christian Centre (www.riveroflife.co.uk). I love leading people into God's presence. It's something that I know I was born to do.

Q:  Your last album "The Last Twelve Years" chronicles your journey with meeting God.  How did you meet God?  And how has your life been different since that encounter?

I would say that I have been a Christian for most of my life but I never really knew God as a loving Father. It was 12 years prior to the release of my album that I encountered God in a way that completely transformed my life. I used to view God as angry, uninvolved and impossible to please. I guess my view of God was influenced by my childhood and the abuse I suffered. I was at a very low point when I finally and fully surrendered my life to Jesus. He sent me people who walked a difficult journey with me (so my encounter with a God was actually a process, not something instant) and they taught me about God's unconditional love, kindness and care for me as an individual. What ensued was life altering in every way. I began to understand my value and realised how precious I was to God. It totally and radically altered my outlook on life and set me free to be the woman God has created me to be. 

Q:  You have recently been handpicked by Homegrown Worship to release 6 new worship songs under their help.  How did you get to work with Homegrown Worship?

After I released my album, I was approached by Andy Baker, who heads up Homegrown Worship to get involved. He rightly calls himself the Chief Enthusiast of this new worship movement. He asked me to consider releasing some music through the label. To be honest, I was surprised because I didn't think I was good enough as an artist and worship leader (long story!). But I just knew in my heart that it was the right move for me and I signed up. I'm now releasing 7 singles this year and eventually a live album next year, which I am so excited about. I love what Homegrown Worship is doing for the church community and I love the new songs and sounds that are being released. I feel very blessed to be a part of it.

Q:  I believe you have released three new songs with them now.  Let's talk about each of them briefly.  "God You Are My God," what's this song about and how did it come about?

This song is based on Psalm 63 where David was in the wilderness fleeing from his son, Absalom, who was trying to kill him. To be honest, when I wrote the song I was not aware of the context of the psalm. I just loved the way that David expressed himself to God. The words were so relevant to me and I just could relate to how David worshipped. I later researched the context and I was amazed. While David was in the wilderness, the wilderness did not silence his worship. It was a real encouragement that no matter what I'm going through God will always be my God and nothing and no one can silence my worship.  

Q:  What about "And I Sing"? What's the story behind this one?

I wrote And I Sing based on Hebrews 12:1-2 where Jesus is depicted as suffering on the cross, despising it's shame, and yet enduring all that horror with joy. Why? Because He knew the outcome - that people would be reconciled to God. When I realised that Jesus chose to suffer for me so that I could have His life, that I could be reconciled back to God, and live in peace and freedom, I just could not stop singing hallelujah, praise the Lord, what a Saviour! Not only that, but His absolute conviction and calling to lay down his life for me has been a source of strength knowing that when I lay down my life for others, there is great reward. What better reward than seeing someone reconciled back to God even if it means you will suffer for it?

Q:  "You're Always There" is your latest.  Why are you excited about this song?

I've been through so much in my life but that has never changed who God is. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. His love is unchanging. His character is set. Nothing moves Him. I always wanted to write a song that spoke of this. What I love about the verses in this song is that it depicts a loving God who is always there in every season. He picks us up, He removes shame, He wipes our tears, He carries our cares, He takes our fears, He gives us grace. He is even there when we doubt Him, or when it's dark and we feel our hearts have grown cold towards Him. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. We may not always turn towards Him but He waits patiently for us. I love this heart of God who is so for us and not against us. 

Q:  Give us a preview of the other three songs that are yet to come.

The next four songs are all so different. Two are actually as though God is singing to us. He is beckoning us to come back to Him, to trust Him and let Him do what He needs to do in our lives. The third is about trusting in God even when we don't understand where He is leading us to. The fourth is answering the call to go into all the world and spread the good news of Jesus. I guess all my songs really explore that aspect of having faith in God and what it means to have faith in Him. Faith is actually a journey of learning about Him and ourselves. It also has a response (I.e. our good works).

Q:  Do you then plan on releasing a new worship album yourself after these 6 songs?  

Yes I will be releasing a worship album with 10 new songs! Very exciting. We plan to record at the end of the year and release next year.

Q:  In all of these songs, I hear your heart of worship -- that sincerity and earnestness for God --- that comes right through.  How do you prepare your heart for worship?  And how does a worship leader feed herself spiritually so that we can bless others?

I think worship is a lifestyle. What we do when we gather together in corporate worship should be an overflow of our daily devotional life with God. When we spend time with God and read His word, we automatically prepare ourselves to live a life of worship (which should extend into every area of our lives). When we worship God, He is honoured. In all sincerity, worship is not something contrived or worked up, its overflow.

I am hoping to jointly release a journal with Homegrown Worship that will help people in their devotional lives. I think many people don't even know where to begin or "how" to spend time with God and I really want to equip them. I have learned to talk to God throughout my day and involve Him in absolutely everything, in every decision and choice I make. I don't always get it right but I do love His presence so much that I just want to be close to Him. When I follow His guidance and counsel, it brings Him so much honour and in that way I have worshipped. If we make greater room in our lives for the Lord, greater will be our worship. What better preparation than that? :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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