“Hope Darst has been one of my dearest friends for several years. She has always amazed me with her vocal talent, and the ability to communicate with an audience. But most remarkable is her spiritual depth and wisdom, which makes her much more than just a singer, it makes her a minister. This combination is sure to leave a lasting deposit in all who hear her music.”
~ Natalie Grant, Curb Recording Artist
As Proverbs 16:9 says, a man plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps. Over the past decade, God has taken the wisdom of these words and turned them into a reality for Hope Darst. For years, Hope harbored a dream of becoming a recording artist. With powerhouse vocals, a commanding stage presence, and experience singing alongside some of the biggest names in Christian music, Hope seemed to be on her way to making that dream a reality. But God had other plans.
In 2004, shortly after getting married, Hope Darst began to reevaluate her career goals and aspirations. Despite the fact that she had begun to make a name for herself in the Nashville recording industry, singing alongside artists like Natalie Grant, Israel Houghton (Lakewood Church), Point of Grace, Michael W. Smith, and MercyMe, Hope grew uncertain about her future and began to seek God’s direction and plan for her life. “After much praying and crying, I felt God gently ask me to let this dream of being an artist go,” Hope says. “To bury it in the backyard of my heart. I did so reluctantly and began asking God for a new dream.”
Although Hope had spent the previous four years singing with her church’s worship team, she felt a strong pull from God to increase her involvement. Despite having previous experience as a worship leader, Hope humbled herself and started from square one, singing in the back row of the choir. Over the next six months, God began to reignite Hope’s passion for worship. A deep desire to usher people into the presence of God began to consume her, manifesting itself in dreams, creative song ideas, and a humble longing to serve. During that time, Hope began to feel a sincere calling from God to dedicate her life to worship leading.
Over the course of the next six years, Hope accepted a position as a full-time worship leader at her home church in Brentwood, Tennessee and birth a new ministry. Throughout her time leading worship, Hope began writing and performing her own original worship songs. As others heard Hope’s music, requests began pouring in for her to record an album. Hope was reluctant at first, but God made a way. This November, Hope will release her first EP, With All My Heart. “This album is a dream come true,” she says, “but it’s also the journal of my journey. It’s the fruit of a seed God planted many years ago that only He could grow in the right season.“
It’s Hope’s desire that every lyric and song she sings or writes will be an
inspired, heartfelt response to Christ. “I love that we serve a God who
wants to know us, and be known by us,” she says. “When we seek Him with all
of our heart and soul, He is found by us. I pray the songs on this album
will bring people to a place in worship where they let can go and dive head
first into getting to know their Creator. It is in that place that we are
forever changed by who He is!”
Hope Darst resides in Nashville, TN with her husband and two daughters, Olivia Grace and Brooklyn Elizabeth. She is also the Senior Worship Leader at Bethel World
Outreach Center in Brentwood, TN.
