10 Questions with ... Zach Williams

Introduction/Synopsis

I was born in Pensacola, Florida but grew up in a small town in Northeast Arkansas called Bono. My childhood was perfect, I had very loving and supportive parents who taught me about the importance of having a relationship with Christ. They told me I could be anything I set my mind to. I went to Westside High School and was a standout basketball player. I worked construction for my dad’s drywall business through high school and most of my adult life until becoming a worship leader, my current job, in 2015. Jonesboro, AR is my current hometown.

Discography:
Electric Revival (Zach Williams & The Reformation)
A Southern Offering (Zach Williams & The Reformation)
Chain Breaker (single)

1. What does a normal day at home look like for you?

A typical day for me is to be at work around 8:30am and start planning worship sets for two services on Sunday and one college service on Wednesday, as well as scheduling all volunteers for our campus. I also meet with members and new prospects for the church throughout the week. I usually get home around 5:30pm and I love to cook so I cook dinner for my family. My two littlest kids help me get everything ready for dinner. After that we all usually find a movie or something to watch until bedtime.

2. What’s the song that you just can’t get out of your head right now?

I’ve been listening to this band Consumed by Fire and I love the song “He Waits For Me.” Just a great, great song.

3. How much do you travel, what are the challenges? How do you juggle life on the road with wanting to be home?

I’m usually in Nashville one week out of the month, sometimes a few extra trips back and forth. I love traveling and have always had a busy life even as a kid traveling for sports. Being away from the family is hard, but with all of the technology it’s easy to see each other and keep in touch.

4. What Artist or Pastor has had the greatest impact on you?

From a worship leader standpoint, I love how in-tune Passion Band and Louie Giglio are when they lead at conferences I attend. As a fan, I love going to a Big Daddy Weave show. When you go to one of there concerts it’s like going to church.

5. What’s the last book you read?

Ragamuffin Gospel was the last book I read and it blew me away. It really breaks down just how big God’s grace is and how available it is to all who surrender to Him and believe. After reading it, I wrote a song called “To The Table,” which will be on my debut record.

6. Funniest or most embarrassing moment on the road?

Before surrendering my life and becoming a Christian in 2012, I spent several years touring with a rock band and over the years we had several funny things happen. This certainly wasn’t funny at the time, but looking back now it is. We were driving back from a show late one night and we were pulling our trailer with and old pickup truck. There were three of us in the front seat and one of the guys was in the back of the extended cab, asleep. All of the sudden the dashboard and floor board became engulfed in fire and we had to stop, and somehow the guy that was sleeping beat us all out of the truck and took off running down the interstate. After we were safe on the side of the road, we almost died laughing at the whole situation.

7. Tell us about your latest project.

STORY BEHIND “CHAIN BREAKER”

“CHAIN BREAKER” - OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO

8. What organization/service group are you affiliated with?

My family supports a child with Compassion, International. We started sponsoring the child a couple of years ago after attending a Rock ‘n’ Worship Roadshow concert. My wife has talked about adoption in the future, and we both felt like we had been blessed so much that we would like to sponsor a child.

9. Person you’d most like to have a discussion with, living or dead…..Deities are excused from this question

I would love to have a conversation with the Apostle Paul. Just to be able to talk about the life change that he had when he met the Lord would be amazing.

10. Favorite Bible Verse....life verse?

Jeremiah 29:11 is a verse that my parents prayed over me as a child and it a prayer I prayer over my family as well.

How & When did you become a believer?

In the summer of 2012 while on tour in Spain with my former rock band, the Lord spoke to me through a song. I was at a low point in my life and God used the song “Redeemed” by Big Daddy Weave to wake me up and call me home. I quit my band and started attending church and never looked back. I began volunteering at the church in 2013 and by 2015 they offered me a position as the director and worship leader at one of the campuses.

What’s the biggest “God moment” you’ve ever experienced? Personally or professionally, when has God shown up in a powerful way?

In 2015 right after I had been offered the position at my church, I found out I was going to need neck surgery to repair a herniated disk. I didn’t know what I was going to do to provide for my family, or if I would be able to take off work for eight weeks. I almost had myself talked out of the surgery but my wife called my parents who came over and prayed for me. After that I had a peace like never before. The church told me to stay home for eight weeks and work from home. They took care of everything.