Browse Artists
Hill, Kim
Change. It doesn't come easy for most people. and Kim Hill is no exception. After six albums, nine number one singles. a Grammy Award nomination, and one Dove award, it's easy to begin thinking you're on the right track. But beyond all the applause and accolades, Kim Hill had a gnawing hunger for something more. And getting it would require big changes - in her music, in her career and in her heart.
Nearly a decade ago, Kim Hill made a remarkable entrance into Christian music as the first artist to achieve two consecutive number one singles on her self-titled debut album. Her following two recordings, Talk About Life and Brave Heart, earned an additional five number one singles for their catchy. acoustic pop songs including "Testimony" and "Mysterious Ways." In 1994, Hill briefly stepped away from Christian music and headed for the country. While her debut video "Janie's Gone Fishin" from her BNA recording So Far So Good reached number one on Country Music Television (CMT) video charts, something inside Kim's heart still longed to glorify God with her talents. She returned to Christian music with a new passion for worship which was clearly reflected on her 1997 release The Fire Again. Kim's latest recording from Star Song - Arms of Mercy - still features Kim's trademark vocal and acoustic styling. but the lyrics reflect her desire to bring listeners into a more intimate place of worship.
"There's definitely been a change in the focus of my life," Kim says. "I realize that this whole thing - the career, the music and the ministry -isn't about me. It's about Him. He's called me to do more than entertain. He's called me to help people enter into His presence through worship. It hasn't been an easy process. but that's where I've been able to embrace the Lord's mercy in my life. Even though I've stumbled on the journey, I know He still loves me, delights in me and has mercy on me.
"I've heard that when a great marksman gets a new gun, he rarely hits the bulls eye on the first try." she continues. "It's on the second and third shot that he gets closer to the center. On my last album. I felt like I hit the target with integrating worship back into my music. Arms Of Mercy is the next step in getting to the center of God's will and what I'm supposed to be doing."
Kim says that the course of her life and career was radically changed while attending a Twila Paris concert several years ago. As she listened to the praise choruses, she was reminded of her original reason for moving to Nashville. to glorify God. She left the con-cert with a renewed vision and began immersing herself in old hymns, praise songs and worship music. When event organizer Lisa Harper invited her to lead worship at Focus On The Family's "Renewing The Heart" conferences. Kim began walking in a new place as a worship leader. The conferences, a one-day women's event created to minister to women through Biblical teaching, humor, encouragement and fellowship. draws an average of 18,000 women in each city.
"I had never really considered myself a worship leader before," she admits. "But at the first event, I was given the opportunity to lead 19,000 women in worship. I felt like more than ever before, I was doing what God had called me to do. I remember telling the women that of all the places I'd performed in my career, 'this is the ultimate.' At each of the conferences since then, I've continued to be amazed that He has given me the opportunity to lead thousands of women in worship and watch His grace transform their lives."
The desire to work with other worship-oriented musicians prompted Kim to record Arms of Mercy in England. Teamed with producer Andy Piercy - best known for his work with Delirious, Hill spent several weeks abroad recording the album. "Piercy is part of the worship movement which has been spreading across the UK," she explains. "He's an incredible producer and completely understood what I was trying to do with my music. Since Christian music really isn't an industry over there, the musicians had a way of looking at things completely different. When we recorded, the guitarist, drummer and other players were really seeking God and worshipping with all of their hearts. I felt like I opened my mouth and all this stuff just poured out. It was almost effortless."
Beyond worshipping God through her music, Kim desires to worship Him through her lifestyle - as a wife and mom. "Part of what has drawn me into the deeper parts of the Lord is my marriage," she confides. - "Rob and I met in January 1992. We were engaged within two weeks and married in July. A month later, I was pregnant with our first child. Because it all happened so fast, there's been a lot of adjustments. It's been the area I know I can't do by myself. I can't be a good wife in my own strength. I have to come to Him daily and get filled up in order to fully serve my husband."
Even though Kim travels as an artists, she says there are a lot of days she gets to be home and enjoy being a mom. "I love spending time with my kids (Graham age 5 and Benjamin, age 2). Graham is at a precious age where he's getting to understand a lot of different things. Every night we ask him to think of three things to thank the Lord for - those are the moments I don't like to miss.
In fact, it was during one of those bedtime moments that "Up To The Moon" was born. "Every night Graham and I have a contest to answer the question, 'How much do I love You?' We travel up to the sky, over to China and down to Australia to describe our love. This simple melody came to me one day as I was driving, and I began to sing it to him at night. Graham would just melt and get a big smile. He allowed himself to enjoy me singing over him."
During a "Renewing The Heart" conference, Lisa Harper encouraged her share "Up To The Moon" with the audience. "I know it's not a typical worship song, but it resonates with the hearts of mothers because it's from the heart of the Father. I could see that from the response at the conference. Before I could finish singing it, everyone was crying. Moms kept coming up wanting to talk to me and share their stories."
Kim sees the changes in her heart reflected in all areas of her life as a wife, mom, artist and worship leader. With Arms of Mercy, she hopes to draw listeners into God's presence and convey the message of His unending grace. Though she's recognized as a vet-eran in Christian music, Kim knows her journey as a worship leader isn't over - in fact - it's just begun.
Nearly a decade ago, Kim Hill made a remarkable entrance into Christian music as the first artist to achieve two consecutive number one singles on her self-titled debut album. Her following two recordings, Talk About Life and Brave Heart, earned an additional five number one singles for their catchy. acoustic pop songs including "Testimony" and "Mysterious Ways." In 1994, Hill briefly stepped away from Christian music and headed for the country. While her debut video "Janie's Gone Fishin" from her BNA recording So Far So Good reached number one on Country Music Television (CMT) video charts, something inside Kim's heart still longed to glorify God with her talents. She returned to Christian music with a new passion for worship which was clearly reflected on her 1997 release The Fire Again. Kim's latest recording from Star Song - Arms of Mercy - still features Kim's trademark vocal and acoustic styling. but the lyrics reflect her desire to bring listeners into a more intimate place of worship.
"There's definitely been a change in the focus of my life," Kim says. "I realize that this whole thing - the career, the music and the ministry -isn't about me. It's about Him. He's called me to do more than entertain. He's called me to help people enter into His presence through worship. It hasn't been an easy process. but that's where I've been able to embrace the Lord's mercy in my life. Even though I've stumbled on the journey, I know He still loves me, delights in me and has mercy on me.
"I've heard that when a great marksman gets a new gun, he rarely hits the bulls eye on the first try." she continues. "It's on the second and third shot that he gets closer to the center. On my last album. I felt like I hit the target with integrating worship back into my music. Arms Of Mercy is the next step in getting to the center of God's will and what I'm supposed to be doing."
Kim says that the course of her life and career was radically changed while attending a Twila Paris concert several years ago. As she listened to the praise choruses, she was reminded of her original reason for moving to Nashville. to glorify God. She left the con-cert with a renewed vision and began immersing herself in old hymns, praise songs and worship music. When event organizer Lisa Harper invited her to lead worship at Focus On The Family's "Renewing The Heart" conferences. Kim began walking in a new place as a worship leader. The conferences, a one-day women's event created to minister to women through Biblical teaching, humor, encouragement and fellowship. draws an average of 18,000 women in each city.
"I had never really considered myself a worship leader before," she admits. "But at the first event, I was given the opportunity to lead 19,000 women in worship. I felt like more than ever before, I was doing what God had called me to do. I remember telling the women that of all the places I'd performed in my career, 'this is the ultimate.' At each of the conferences since then, I've continued to be amazed that He has given me the opportunity to lead thousands of women in worship and watch His grace transform their lives."
The desire to work with other worship-oriented musicians prompted Kim to record Arms of Mercy in England. Teamed with producer Andy Piercy - best known for his work with Delirious, Hill spent several weeks abroad recording the album. "Piercy is part of the worship movement which has been spreading across the UK," she explains. "He's an incredible producer and completely understood what I was trying to do with my music. Since Christian music really isn't an industry over there, the musicians had a way of looking at things completely different. When we recorded, the guitarist, drummer and other players were really seeking God and worshipping with all of their hearts. I felt like I opened my mouth and all this stuff just poured out. It was almost effortless."
Beyond worshipping God through her music, Kim desires to worship Him through her lifestyle - as a wife and mom. "Part of what has drawn me into the deeper parts of the Lord is my marriage," she confides. - "Rob and I met in January 1992. We were engaged within two weeks and married in July. A month later, I was pregnant with our first child. Because it all happened so fast, there's been a lot of adjustments. It's been the area I know I can't do by myself. I can't be a good wife in my own strength. I have to come to Him daily and get filled up in order to fully serve my husband."
Even though Kim travels as an artists, she says there are a lot of days she gets to be home and enjoy being a mom. "I love spending time with my kids (Graham age 5 and Benjamin, age 2). Graham is at a precious age where he's getting to understand a lot of different things. Every night we ask him to think of three things to thank the Lord for - those are the moments I don't like to miss.
In fact, it was during one of those bedtime moments that "Up To The Moon" was born. "Every night Graham and I have a contest to answer the question, 'How much do I love You?' We travel up to the sky, over to China and down to Australia to describe our love. This simple melody came to me one day as I was driving, and I began to sing it to him at night. Graham would just melt and get a big smile. He allowed himself to enjoy me singing over him."
During a "Renewing The Heart" conference, Lisa Harper encouraged her share "Up To The Moon" with the audience. "I know it's not a typical worship song, but it resonates with the hearts of mothers because it's from the heart of the Father. I could see that from the response at the conference. Before I could finish singing it, everyone was crying. Moms kept coming up wanting to talk to me and share their stories."
Kim sees the changes in her heart reflected in all areas of her life as a wife, mom, artist and worship leader. With Arms of Mercy, she hopes to draw listeners into God's presence and convey the message of His unending grace. Though she's recognized as a vet-eran in Christian music, Kim knows her journey as a worship leader isn't over - in fact - it's just begun.
Albums
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Fire Again
Arms Of Mercy
