There’s a thread you can’t miss running through the powerful anthems from recording artist Zach Williams – finding the path to true freedom. But the source of that thread is an unexpected place. He shares that he found his calling on a visit to a women’s prison.
Zach made his way there on a visit with his church. He led worship, shared hope, and then felt an incredible message straight from God.
“When we shared stories with these women, and played some songs in this women’s prison, God really clearly spoke to me. He said, ‘I want you to look around.’ And there were about 25 or 30 women getting up for the altar call. ‘This is what I have for you. This is what I want you to do. This is who I want you to write for. These are the places I want you to be.'”
“At that point things just started to change for me. A year later the church we were going to asked me to help launch a campus with them. We started reaching out to people that have been to drug rehab or prison ministry. Any of that type of stuff. Over the last few years, it’s just become something I’ve really had a heart for.”
With that background, it comes as no surprise Zach chose to make his way to Harding Prison in Nashville to record his latest EP.
“To be honest, I remember the day I got there. I was like, ‘What I have gotten myself into?! I have no idea what I’m going to say to these guys. One of the guards had already told me, ‘You know. these guys think for a second that you’re fake, game over.'”
“I’m sitting there thinking, ‘What am I going to say?’ It was crazy. God prepared me for that moment, and we shared with these men over the course of the six hours we played. From all the hopelessness, these men chose hope that day in Jesus. It was just a special day. I watched several of those men find freedom behind bars. It was just an honor and a privilege to be there with those guys.”
Zach Williams is the refreshing voice behind anthems like “Old Church Choir”, “Fear Is a Liar” & the newest single “Survivor”. He’s currently on the road with his friends Casting Crowns & Austin French for the Only Jesus Tour.
On the Road with Zach Williams
