Never Gone Before

In 2004 I was ministering to a small youth group every Wednesday night. They had been gathering together on off nights to do live worship and the youth worship leader had just announced he was leaving for college. No one else wanted to step into that roll so there was much talk about the worship nights coming to an end as a result.

I approached the church leadership offering to lead the worship in place of the youth leader who was leaving so the nights of worship didn’t have to end. They explained that sometimes only one or two people showed up attempting to justify it's ending. I replied by telling them that was completely fine with me as one or two hearts worshiping Jesus was well worth every effort on my behalf. Convicted, they agreed and released me to do it. The Lord spoke to me a promise at that point. He said since you have offered to lead the smallest of groups, even a single individual into my presence, I will anoint your worship efforts and you will reach worshippers all over the entire earth. That has not only come to pass with my personal worship music but also in Lori and I's ministry, The Healing Stream Media Network.

I stepped in as the Worship Leader for the small youth gathering and over the next several months, that little youth based worship night began to grow. Parents began to come, the ladies prayer group began to come, we finally had to move into the main sanctuary to handle the growth and we actually outgrew an existing city wide meeting that the main church worship team was holding monthly at that time.  

The first night in the main sanctuary was a chilly and snow covered February night in 2004. That was the night I recorded my first “official” project called “Humble Beginning” with the help of some younger musicians.  The months would turn into years and over those years I have released a total of 15 music and worship projects. My latest effort called “Never Been Before” is out now in pre-release form here on the site.

Writing and recording original worship stuff is something that has accompanied me on and off thru my entire life. I wrote my first little worship chorus at age 12 and since have had countless ideas that have turned into dozens of original songs that have served me well over the years. On this most recent project I revisit some of those songs like I Sing Holy, Never Go Back, Waves Of Glory, Prophets Unveiled, Enjoy The Presence... I even do a fresh arrangement of Psalm 61, a song my longtime friend Ron Ferlito wrote in the late 80s and just because I like to play it so much, I even included Shade in the Desert, the title track from my 2006 Instrumental release.

While all of that was a lot of fun and came off very well, the big reason in my opinion to buy this project is for the new 14 minute track called "Never Gone Before".  I open with it on the project because it is born out of personal frustration and so many right now are walking thru stuff that has them in that same type of place.  I sat down at the keyboard and God asked me what I wanted. Frustrated I said I wasn't sure. He asked me again and I got even more frustrated. he asked me a third time... Mark, What do you want?  I made my way to e minor and sang my answer back to Him "I want to go where I have never gone before!  ...and all I know is you alone, you are the door!.. Will you take me with you, where I have never gone before? .. and He did.. and my prayer is he will do the same for you as you listen.

Thank you in advance for adding this project to your worship collection. If while listening you slip into the beautiful presence of Jesus and find fresh acceptance and enjoyment there, then I have succeeded in my goal to create atmosphere for you and the Holy Spirit to explore one another and truly enjoy each other’s presence.

Lastly, please do not share these files with others. Instead direct them to purchase them thru me just as you have done.  By doing this you will honor me as I honor our Lord.

All the best

Mark 

---