Fellowship Creative is the music ministry of Fellowship Church in Dallas, Texas. Previously their songs have been recorded for their church community, but now they have launched their first major label national release, Running to Follow, available everywhere May 13. The album was produced by CJ Eiriksson (U2, Matchbox Twenty).

Right from the opening song "Glory in the Highest," the band displays uplifting reverence and a joy of worship to our King, Jesus. The song has a great melody and I could imagine singing it with fellow believers, especially the worshipful chorus: "Glory, glory, glory in the highest, highest, my heart and soul will sing, shout out with everything glory in the highest."

I love the biblical truth of the song and Derric Bonnet's sincere and emotive vocal style laced with an indie alt-rock vibe which reminds me of the Mars Hill Church-based band, Citizens. I had the chance to interview Bonnet about the song.

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

For this song, I woke up one morning at 4 in the morning, which is not usual for me. I did do something I don't normally do when I get out of bed: I rode my bike.

I rode up on top of this hill that overlooks some of the city and a lake, which is a beautiful spot to see the sun rise. Rather than lying in bed and letting stress and anxiety churn in my mind, I sat on top of this hill and just started talking with God, getting all these anxious thoughts out there. I was thanking God for Who He is. In that moment I was reminded, as I saw this beautiful view, of how big and how great God is. He's mindful of me, and He's got a plan and purpose for our lives that nothing can separate us from. That's when the lyrics and the melody popped into my head.

I wasn't planning on writing a song. I just wanted a moment of private and personal worship with God. But before I knew it, I had a powerful and catchy song. I wanted to just keep worshiping God and having this moment with Him, but I needed to get home and get dressed and get to work. I had nothing to write the song down with, so I booked it home as fast as I could and grabbed my phone and recorded the melody.

Originally the song was a ballad, and our producer suggested that the lyrics were full of life and so joyful, and rather than sing it in a chill way, we should turn it into a party and more of a celebration. We tried it, and it stuck and felt right.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Luke 2:14 (NKJV): Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

Luke 19:38 (NKJV): "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

Colossians 1:15-18 (NKJV): He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Colossians 1:27-29 (VOICE): He decided to make known to them His blessing to the nations; the glorious riches of this mystery is the indwelling of the Anointed in you! The very hope of glory. We are preaching Him— spreading the Word to all with equal amounts of wise warning and instruction— so that, at the final judgment, we will be able to present everyone to the Creator fully mature because of what Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King, has done. This is why I continue to toil and struggle— because His amazing power and energy surge within me.

Colossians 2:15 (NKJV): Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

What is the takeaway message?

A moment that was very personal and powerful for me has now become a song and lyric that other people can experience in their way with the same God. Our heartbeat and our passion at Fellowship Creative is our local church, inviting people to church that don't have a relationship with Christ and preparing the most creative and compelling ways people can experience God so that hopefully people who are giving Jesus a one-time shot have an experience that hooks them, captures their heart and changes their life.

That being said, anyone involved in ministry knows that it is "brute-a-full" as our pastor Ed Young says. There is no doubt a beautiful side, seeing lives changed. There's also a brutal side, if you're out there, taking big risks and putting a lot of things on the line. There is stress and opposition.

Glory is not a word I use in my everyday vocabulary. The word glory means high renown or honor won by notable achievements. When Jesus was born, the angels appeared singing "Glory to God in the highest." What a foreshadowing of what Jesus was going to achieve.

Colossians 1 talks about how the Son is the image of the invisible God, Firstborn over all creation and everything was created through Him, for Him, in Him. He is the Beginning and The End. He has reconciled us. We read that the mystery that was hidden in Christ is now disclosed to the Lord's people. To them God has chosen to make known the glorious riches of this mystery which is Christ in us, the hope of glory. In Colossians 2:14-15 we read that Jesus, having nailed them to the cross, triumphed over principalities and powers and made a public spectacle of them. What better way to deserve high renown and honor by a notable achievement than to defeat death and sin for us.

The verses of the song are all about Who Jesus is. The pre-chorus turns it personal: "I am Yours, You are mine." That truth is woven into my soul and my being and my eternity. The chorus is our response to that, giving God the highest honor, praise and renown. We hope people are comforted and empowered by Who God is, that they are introduced to the rescue available through Jesus and that they do something with that. In our comfort, get uncomfortable. We've been radically rescued, now go rescue radically.

Lyrics:
Beginning and end
Higher than all 
Even kings and the waves 
They kneel at Your call
And the demons they shudder 
At the sound of Your name
Not even death could put You away

Creator of all 
Creation is yours
Heaven and earth 
And the stars and the shores
Perfect in all ways
Sovereign and true 
More faithful than anyone are You

I am yours and You are mine

Glory glory glory in the highest highest
Glory glory glory in the highest highest 
My heart and soul will sing
Shout out with everything 
Glory in the highest

Beginning and end
You are higher than all 
Even kings and the waves 
They kneel at Your call
You came down from heaven 
To lay down Your life
And because of Your love we are alive

Glory glory glory in the highest highest
Glory glory glory in the highest, Jesus 
My heart and soul will sing
Shout out with everything 
Glory in the highest

Fellowship Creative's passion is to make creative music that inspires the worship of Jesus Christ and to point listeners to Him. The theme of emptying ourselves in order to be filled by the everlasting Jesus for wholeness and holiness is worth singing at the top of our lungs, "Glory in the Highest."

I greatly enjoy the musical vibe of this album, and the melodies and lyrics are all catchy and rooted in Scripture. The creative use of biblical language is a highlight. There are no ambiguous lyrics, which is refreshing and strong material for the Church to boldly proclaim praises to Jesus. Fans of Hillsong, Citizens and Passion should enjoy this solid gourmet worship album, one of the year's best.

I appreciate Derric's obedience and reverence to God in writing this song for the Church. When God speaks to us in those God-moments and we get the chance to pass those moments on to others to edify and build up the body, that's a beautiful picture of the Kingdom of God.

With this catchy and upbeat song for the Church, like the angels in Heaven and the Disciples, followers of Jesus can all celebrate God's goodness and holiness. From glory to glory, we can praise Jesus by lifting our eyes, our hands and our voices and singing to Him, "glory, glory, glory in the highest, my heart and soul will sing, shout out with everything glory in the highest." Amen to that!

(Watch the music video here.)