Darlene Zschech Siblings: Get to Know Deborah Ezzy
Darlene Zschech PHOTO/ABC News
Darlene Joyce Zschech, born Darlene Joyce Steinhardt on September 8, 1965, in Brisbane, Australia, is a renowned Australian Pentecostal Christian worship leader, singer-songwriter, pastor, author, and speaker.
She gained international fame primarily through her work in praise and worship music, most notably for composing the iconic anthem “Shout to the Lord” in 1993.
Zschech’s early life was marked by a blend of talent and challenges; she began performing on television at the age of ten as part of the Australian children’s show Happy Go Round, achieving early commercial success in entertainment.
However, her parents’ divorce when she was 13 led to personal struggles, including bulimia that lasted about four years.
At 15, after her father rededicated his life to Christ, she became a committed Christian and met her future husband, Mark Zschech, whom she married in 1984.
Beyond her music, Zschech is known for her pastoral role and humanitarian efforts, including founding Hope: Global, which focuses on initiatives in places like Rwanda and Uganda.
Siblings
Zschech has one sister, namely Deborah Ezzy.
The two collaborated on songs such as “More to See” from the 2006 Hillsong album Mighty to Save, where Deborah contributed as a co-writer alongside others.
Deborah appears to share a close bond with Darlene, rooted in their shared family background and possibly similar interests in music and faith.
Career
Zschech first entered the spotlight as a child performer on Australian television, but after her spiritual awakening in her teens, she shifted toward Christian ministry.
In the 1980s, she joined Hillsong Church in Sydney, initially as a vocalist and songwriter, contributing to the church’s burgeoning music ministry.
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By 1996, she was appointed worship pastor at Hillsong, a role she held until 2007, during which she led the production of over 20 albums under the Hillsong Music label.
Her breakthrough came with “Shout to the Lord,” featured on the 1994 album People Just Like Us, which became one of the most sung worship songs globally and helped propel Hillsong’s music to international acclaim.
Zschech’s songwriting catalog exceeds 80 published worship songs, many co-written with collaborators like Reuben Morgan, and her leadership shaped the modern worship genre by blending heartfelt lyrics with accessible melodies.
In 2010, she and her husband Mark left Hillsong to plant Hope Unlimited Church, where she continues as a senior pastor, focusing on local community while maintaining a global presence through solo albums like Kiss of Heaven (2003), You Are Love (2011), and Testament (2024).
Beyond music, Zschech has authored books on worship and leadership, such as Worship Changes Everything and The Golden Thread, and she engages in humanitarian work through Hope: Global, which she co-founded to address needs in impoverished regions.
Her career also includes collaborations with artists like Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans.
Accolades
Zschech has received multiple nominations from the Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Awards, including Songwriter of the Year in 2000, Praise & Worship Album of the Year in 1997 for Shout to the Lord, and additional nods in 1998 for Song of the Year and in 2001 for By Your Side.
In 2000, she was honored with the GMA International Award for her global influence in praise and worship music, acknowledging her role in spreading contemporary Christian worship worldwide.
“Shout to the Lord” itself has been celebrated extensively, earning Dove Award nominations and being estimated to be sung by 30 million worshippers weekly in churches around the world.
Zschech’s collaborative efforts, such as the 2006 Hillsong album Mighty to Save, contributed to further accolades, including the Worship Song of the Year at the 2009 Dove Awards for the title track.
More recently, her involvement in projects like the 2025 album House of Worship, featuring duets with artists like CeCe Winans, continues to highlight her enduring legacy.