Michael Bethany Releases Live Album, 'Sanctuary', Via Capitol CMG's Re:Think Music
Singer, songwriter, producer and twice Dove Award-nominated recording artist Michael Bethany releases today (March 6) his highly anticipated album Sanctuary. Available now at digital and streaming outlets globally in partnership with Capitol CMG’s Re:Think Music, the 19-track album and companion videos were recorded live at Freedom Church in Dallas (Carrollton), TX.
Produced by Bethany, Ryan Rich (Martin Smith, Elyssa Smith) and Kevin Turner (Marvin Sapp, Tauren Wells), Sanctuary features multi-GRAMMY Award-winning guest artists, including Maverick City Music’s Maryanne George and Alton Eugene, Elevation Worship’s Isaiah Templeton and The Choir Room’s Dwan Hill. Carrying a deep atmosphere of intimacy and reverence, the album reminds listeners that worship is more than a moment; it is a life lived as the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.
“This album is a collection of corporate worship songs that help people to see themselves as a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit,” emphasizes Bethany. “It is constantly pressing into the concept of the individual being the dwelling place. I want people to experience the power of God's presence in their own personal life.”
Bethany shares that this is one of the reasons that explains the length of the songs, which combine for an impressive 100 minutes of music and video: “I wanted people to listen to a song until they got to a place where they can really spend time with the Lord. Typically, a song might be three and a half, four or five minutes. But if you spend time with the Lord, it's as long as you have. And so, we just take a journey and create that environment so you can experience what the Holy Spirit's wanting to do within your own heart and your own temple.”
In the declarative, up-tempo song of prayer “Gold” that is being revealed today on Sanctuary, Bethany says, “ The lyrics are serious about wanting the Holy Spirit to cleanse me, purify me and make me more like Him until I come out like gold. It’s praying for revival: ‘Lord, I want your holy fire to purify my heart and keep me in that fire until I come out like pure gold. We're thirsty for Your presence. Revival come.’”
The album also declares God’s greatness even in seasons of uncertainty with “Be Magnified,” a song written while Michael was reading through the book of Habakkuk; the intimate worship song, “Secret Place,” featuring an unplanned moment with Templeton; “Holy One,” written alongside Templeton and Elevation Worship’s Davide Mutendji; and the message of living one day at a time with steady faith and trust in “Step by Step,” written by Bethany to encourage his cousins during a difficult season when their mother was walking through dementia.
Along with the new album, Bethany is hosting the Overflow Experience Conference (OXP) that began yesterday and is running through today (March 6). Being held at Freedom Church, the conference featuring Isaiah Templeton, Roosevelt Stewart, Jimmy Rollins and David and Nicole Binion is designed to unite the Dallas-Fort Worth creative community through transformative worship and leadership development. The heart behind the conference is to train, encourage and strengthen creative teams with spiritual depth, practical leadership tools and renewed vision for ministry.
“OXP is intentionally designed to go beyond inspiration,” shares Bethany. “Our focus is on developing healthy, sustainable creative leaders; those who can lead with skill, humility, unity and longevity in their church context.”
For Michael Bethany and his Overflow Culture Global movement, the music is just the beginning. The heart behind the Sanctuary album is intrinsically linked to a mission of tangible restoration across the globe. From providing clean water in Sri Lanka to building educational infrastructure in West Africa, every note played on stage is fueled by a commitment to serve the 'least of these.'
