The Inside Story – April Edition.

An inside look at the stories of those behind Aglow Australia. 

Our Inside Story takes an inside look at the lives we love, perhaps only heard about, or may not even know at all. Mentors, leaders, valued Kingdom partners, and most of all you, of whom, together, form the wider, magnificent story of Aglow Australia today.  

This month’s interview is with Carolyn Williams (Billing), Assistant Pastor/Worship Director at Zions Hill Church, Launceston who will be leading worship at Aglow’s August PRESENCE Conference! 

Q1: As the Worship Leader of Aglow’s PRESENCE Conference this year, we note your passion for Throne Room worship – tell us more about this! 

A: Sure! My heart is always to go into the Throne Room in worship! I love the sweetness of intimacy with the Father and seeing lives changed and transformed simply by encountering Him! 

I truly believe that our worship spaces need to come back to the more intimate, less orchestrated, raw moments for “an audience of one!” As a result, I believe the performance culture in our churches will be stripped back so that we can again have Davidic worship and be raising up more Psalmists who minister to the Lord, as well as the people.  

Q2: Aglow couldn’t agree more with what you’ve said! Share a little about how this love for worship all began for you? 

A: Well, it started young! Born in Tasmania, I grew up in a ministry family and was only three years old when first given a microphone to sing at the front of church.  

My parents were the Australasian Directors of Psalmody for years, while based in Brisbane, and they used to take my brother and I around Australia, and sometimes overseas, to help them teach on Worship in the sessions. 

My mother also produced the “Children Arise” series (God’s Word in Song), which started when I was seven, so I also grew up writing and recording songs, especially based on scripture.  There are five of these recordings.  

She used to come into my room at night with her guitar, and I learned to freely sing to the Lord. I actually had one of my most significant early encounters in worship (at the age of 5) as God spoke audibly to me. He said, “Carolyn, I’m so glad you are singing to me, because I love you!” I couldn’t believe He knew my name! 

Today, my mum continues to record God’s Word in Song in a new series called, “Let The Whole Word Sing”, where I now help to train the children, and sing solos and harmonies on various songs. 

Q3: In addition to your love for worship, your family has quite a church heritage also! 

A: Yes, the first church I grew up in was actually planted by my Parents and an Aunt and Uncle, and later taken on by my Grandfather when we moved to Brisbane. It’s still going now and is called Legana Christian Church, here in Tasmania.  

My parents were then on the Pastoral Team of Garden City Church in Brisbane, but when I was 13, we moved back to Tasmania where my parents planted The Vine Christian Church. It was in a little City Mission Chapel, right next to where the homeless could sleep inside for the night. I was part of the worship team while also running the children’s ministry, which I loved. 

In 2002, we were then led to purchase an old High School in a low socio-economic area and moved our church to this new location. Our church, and the land, were eventually renamed Zions Hill, and it remains as such to this day. At Zions Hill, we began hosting annual Prophetic Worship Events which have drawn people from around Australia and overseas.  

Q4: We’d love to hear about your background in music.  

A: As a child, I grew up learning piano and training vocally for the recordings with Children Arise. I also learned the flute for one year in Primary School, which has actually served me well, as I love to use my flutes, and Irish whistles in worship even now! I’ve gathered quite a collection over the years! 

In 2004, I received my Bachelor of Education with a Minor in music. Then a few years later, I produced my debut album, “Reflections”, featuring songs written through various seasons of my life. 

In 2012, my personal ‘worship ministry’ journey really grew when the Lord connected me with Dr. Brian Simmons. Dr Brian is currently translating the Passion Translation, and was, at the time, teaching on the Song of Songs through Passion and Fire Conferences, and other events. The Lord began to use me to minister His ‘Father Heart’ of love over people and gave me numerous songs directly from the Song of Songs that became key at these events. I've since had the pleasure of ministering with Brian and his wife Candice, both in America and in several states within Australia.  

The most significant song I had written and recorded in that time, was “You have Ravished My Heart”.  It’s the Bridegroom’s song of love over His Bride and is directly from the Song of Songs in the Passion Translation, now heard in many places around the world. (It’s featured on my “Breath of Life” album.) 

Q5: We note that you are also a Pastor. 

A: Yes. I became a credentialed Pastor with Australian Christian Churches in 2013, stepping then into the position of Assistant Pastor and Worship Director at Zions Hill in 2014. 

I have since led and overseen the worship at our ongoing annual Prophetic Worship Events, including our 15-year journey with many Indigenous Leaders from around Australia. 

Q6: It’s interesting to learn that you’ve been involved in a number of conferences with respected prophets we most know and love: 

A: Yes! I really love how the Lord connects us with people who share His passion for authentic relationship with Him, and for the move of the Holy Spirit! 

It’s often in these places where there is greater freedom for Throne Room worship and the prophetic. 

There is definitely something so powerful about the gathering of believers from all walks of life, whether Internationally or Nationally, and the “one voice” that comes from the corporate worship moments of a conference.  

Some of my most treasured memories in the Conference space have been ministering alongside Lana Vawser (a dear friend of mine and also Anita Alexander’s), most notably when I was the Worship leader for a Conference cruise we did from Sydney to Vanuatu, as well as leading the worship at Lana’s “Burning Ones” conference in Adelaide.  

I have also loved ministering in numerous H.I.M. Conferences in Brisbane, had the great joy of co-leading the worship at a ‘Daddy’s Girls’ conference in Hawaii with Kathy Walters and Bob Jones, and more recently, ministered at an Iris Ministries training school in Alice Springs with Heidi Baker and others. 

Q7: Lastly, tell us what you’re anticipating for Aglow’s PRESENCE Conference in August? 

A: I really felt an excitement when I heard about the title and the theme! I immediately sensed the significance of this “New Day” and the season of transition for Aglow and those who will attend. 

I’ve felt there will be something on the “unlocking” of people’s voices! The call to Arise, will not only be a corporate one, but one very specific to each attendee. There are still destinies yet to be stepped into, and I feel The Lord is inviting us into a new space of boldness with Him! No more fear, intimidation, or disappointment holding us back! Just a hunger for more! 

I believe that as we allow Him to lead us into an even deeper encounter with His heart, there is going to be a redeeming of our Sound! The voiceless will again find their voice. I’m sensing this will be both a spiritual unlocking as well as a natural one!