Every Reason- An Original Song

On September 28, 2023, the Hardin-Simmons University Chapel Band will introduce an original new song called “Every Reason,” which will be recorded and published on major streaming services later this year. This is the third original song released by the university’s Chapel Band, preceded by “Detours” in 2022 and “Here I Am” from 2021. 

“We wanted to write a song of praise that reminds us who God is and invites us to come into His presence with thankfulness and joy,” Tiffany Stotts, Instructor of Worship Leadership, said. “Sometimes, as humans, we forget that God has already extended the invitation to come to Him. This song is simply a response to that invitation and a reminder of all the reasons we have to give Him our love and devotion.” 

During Worship Night on September 28, there will be a live recording of the song. It will be released as a live worship EP and will also include the Chapel Band’s other two original songs.

“I think it’s a really cool and unique thing when we get to come together as a student body of instrumentalists and musicians to write songs,” Alex Govea said. Alex is a junior majoring in worship music and is one of the main writers and contributors of the new song. 

“Every Reason” was written during the summer over three days by several students involved in Chapel Band with the direction and assistance of Professor Stotts.

“Sometimes the melodies and lyrics come quickly, and other times it’s a labor of love to find the right words and instrumentation that communicates clearly,” Stotts commented on the songwriting process. “We always meet to pray and ask God to give us a song that glorifies Him first. Then, we throw around some ideas, try different keys and melodies, and work on lyrics. We also do this through co-writing, which helps the process go faster.” 

Both Stotts and Govea shared their hope for the song to unify the HSU community.

“We are not only students that go to class together, but we are believers in the Kingdom, and we are people who participate in this Kingdom and in worship. So, I think it’s really important that we recognize that and come together to praise God,” Govea said. “At the end of the day, that’s really why we’re here at Hardin-Simmons, at a Baptist University, because we believe that there is one God and that He is good.” 

Govea said the song focuses on being a song to God, not just a song about Him. 

“Some of the lyrics say, ‘God is all we need,’ and even in the crazy mystery of life in college, we can just give it all to Him. Because He’s why we’re here. He’s our joy and our fortress of salvation,” Govea said. 

Stotts mentioned the Biblical importance of songwriting and why she feels the Chapel Band should continue to write music. 

Songwriting is a way to express all that God is doing in our world in a creative and artistic way. The Bible tells us that when God moved among the people, they built an altar or dug a well as a marker and reminder of God’s faithfulness. Songwriting is a way for us to capture these moments and be able to revisit them

The Chapel Band plans to write and release an original song every year, typically that reflects the chapel theme. 

“Our main goal is that a believer or non-believer could hear this and learn how to praise God for every breath that He’s given us,” Govea said. 

You can find the HSU Chapel Band’s songs on major streaming sources like Spotify, Amazon and Apple Music under the name “Hardin-Simmons Worship.“