Rebekah Maddux El-Hakam, a worship leader and songwriter from Houston, Texas released her highly-anticipated debut album, Radiant You on September 18, 2012. Produced by Marshall Altman (Audrey Assad, Brooke Fraser, Josh Wilson, Amy Grant), Radiant You is a beautiful, eclectic mix of true, heartfelt worship.

Rebekah began writing new music as she was studying and preparing for worship from week to week. Soon, these new melodies formed into worship songs that her church family embraced. It was the start of something life-changing for Rebekah and her family. She would continue to write new music, share it with the congregation of her home church and hear God telling her that the music was meant for more. "From the beginning, I heard God telling me that the music needed to get to more people and more congregations. I knew that from the start, but I had no idea it would happen like this. God is so faithful."

 

Radiant You is eclectic and exciting and showcases Rebekah's talent for songwriting, her vocal range, unique vocal sound, and various styles that will captivate and engage congregations and listeners. It's a perfect mix of big worship anthems, simple praise songs and heartfelt ballads. Rebekah's songwriting is simple, touching and inspired by God's Word. Her husband, Moustapha, collaborated with her in writing four songs featured on the project. Her voice is all her own. It's beautiful and unique. It's Rebekah. Her love of the Holy Trinity and belief in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is interwoven throughout the music. She calls on the Holy Spirit to "Shine on Us" and through us in the title track "Radiant You" and her declarations only get stronger through the entire album. 

 

The imagery in the 11 song album is spirit-filled, full of hope, promise and declarations that although we may struggle with hard times in life, God is who He says He is. Rebekah includes some of her spiritual inspirations under each song title in the album insert. Her hope is that the album will inspire many to worship God with their whole hearts and that they will want to know more of the light of the Holy Spirit.  The journey, as a mother, as a wife and a person who wants to do more for God's kingdom, is evident in Rebekah's debut album. It's mature. It's simple. It's truth. And, it's what Rebekah's heart is saying now and what she wants to share with others. Her hope is that the album can impact lives for Jesus. "If we can all impact one life for the kingdom, the world would be a much better place," Rebekah says. I interviewed Rebekah about her catchy title track and here's what she shared with me.

 

Please describe the background message behind the song "Radiant You." 
 

I co-wrote four of the songs on the album with my husband, including this song. As I started writing songs about five years ago, we didn't have a piano at my house at the time and every time I would visit my in-laws I would sit at their piano and start playing the melody of this song. I didn't have any lyrics, just the melody. As I was preparing to record this album, I was playing this melody and my husband suggested that we include this song on the album. I feel really drawn to the Scriptures that we reference in the lyrics, to welcome the Holy Spirit in and to shine a light in us. "Radiant You" tells of our ability to truly shine through God's light. Serving Him with our whole heart and being aglow with the Spirit. This album calls on the Spirit to shine on all of us.

 

Romans 12:11: Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

 

2 Corinthians 4:6: For God, Who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ.

 

...and John 14:5-7: Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we don't know where You are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you really knew Me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him."
 

What's the main message of the song to you personally and for listeners?
 

I've been on a changing road for many years: marriage, moving, having four children, loss of employment, the unexpected. Life lessons have been in it all. It's change, it's life. It's remembering that God is in control and reigning sovereign through it all, and that we can have hope that His grace will fulfill our every need. He can meet our core needs.

My hope for this song and this album is for people to dive into the Scriptures that the songs are based on. If you read Romans 12:2, it tells us, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." It's about having a renewed mind, and a renewed attitude. It's about knowing what's true and acceptable and then we will be able to test and approve God's will for us.

If we have the mindset that we know something special and wonderful but we won't conform to this world, then we will be transformed in Christ. We can still shine a light even when we feel like we are the only ones in this dark world. It can make a difference and we can be encouraged that even though there's despair, we can hold on to Jesus and shine that light. That's where our hope comes from.

 

 

There are several great themes that are faced by women and girls specifically that the album addresses in a mature and faith-based way. Probably the most memorable moments on the album for me are the songs about being made in God's image and not seeking society's approval but knowing that God created and loves us all as we are. That critical message is heard loud and clear in the title track "Radiant You." Rebekah delivers that message of affirmation perfectly in the lyrics where she proclaims—"Nothing to gain from the things of this world, Numbered each one, all as loss, everything disappearing, But the knowing , the knowledge of You." Amen. 

 

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life! Something Rebekah and I discussed was how the core of our faith as Christians is found in John 14:6.  Jesus is the only way.  All roads don't lead to heaven, despite what a secular culture tries to tell us.  When you've been in God's presence, it melts you. Even in those seasons of silence, God is still working and wants us to pursue Him. This song is a great way to pray along with Rebekah and to remember that God will never leave or forsake you. Jeremiah 29:13 says "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart." This is a great message for us to celebrate our freedom from sin based on our faith in Christ Jesus. Also, it is commanded by Jesus in Matthew 5:16 to "let your light shine" so that others may praise God based on seeing the power of His life in us.

 

Sometimes we forget to give Jesus credit for our freedom and accomplishments. We need to celebrate that freedom with our hands reaching out to others in Christ and show His light in us and let Him shine in us. Be encouraged by the light of Jesus shining in all of us based on our faith in Him and personally I am quite moved knowing that Jesus is shining in me for all to see and believe. Perhaps in this season leading up to Easter we can all practice "letting our light shine so that others may praise our Father in Heaven." Have a blessed Valentine's Day!

 

(Here's the lyrics video.)