Singer, songwriter, producer and twice Dove Award-nominated recording artist Michael Bethany has released his highly anticipated album Sanctuary. Available now at digital and streaming outlets globally in partnership with Capitol CMG’s Re:Think Music via https://michaelbethany.lnk.to/sanctuary, 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.
Sanctuary tracklisting:
01) Resurrection is Coming
02) Step By Step
03) Step By Step Overflow (Learning to Lean, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms)
04) Sanctuary
05) Sanctuary Overflow
06) Lord Prepare Me to be a Sanctuary
07) High Priest
08) High Priest Overflow
09) Open The Eyes of My Heart
10) Take Your Place
11) Crown Him (Take Your Place)
12) Be Magnified
13) Be Magnified Overflow
14) Secret Place
15) Secret Place Overflow Part 1 (Walk With You & Better Is One Day)
16) Secret Place Overflow Part 2 (Better Is One Day)
17) Holy One
18) Holy One Overflow
19) Gold
