Smith Martin - Delirious : my journey with the band, a growing family and an army of historymakers

What people are saying about

DELIRIOUS

Martin is a visionary, a leader, a dreamer, a poet, a risk taker; a man full of compassion, humility, and integrity. In this fantastic and honest book, full of wisdom and insight, you will be inspired and encouraged to live your life to the full.

Tim Hughes, worship leader and recording artist

I have known Martin for years. Ive watched his journey, shared his vision, and sung his songs. Now, in this book, we can all get inspired by his thoughts, his insights, and his hopes for the future.

Michael W. Smith, singer and songwriter

I would recommend this book to anyone with a heart for worship. We had the great pleasure of having Martin and Delirious? lead worship at our conferences, and they truly have a heart for God. What a great story of the grace of God and what He can do with a life that is devoted to Him.

Joyce Meyer, best-selling author and Bible teacher

Honest and humble, Martin Smith gives us a personal look at the heart and soul behind a band with limitless dreams. With refreshing honesty and rawness, he addresses the incredible tension of engaging a broken world, keeping strong roots in the church, and leading a family. It is vulnerable, prophetic, and drenched with kingdom purpose. Always pointing to Jesus, Martin Smith has had a profound influence on my life. This book has only confirmed the strong calling placed on this incredible songwriter, leader, mentor, and historymaker.

Jon Egan, worship leader and songwriter for Desperation Band and New Life Church

DELIRIOUS

Published by David C Cook

4050 Lee Vance View

Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.

David C Cook Distribution Canada

55 Woodslee Avenue, Paris, Ontario, Canada N3L 3E5

David C Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications

Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England

David C Cook and the graphic circle C logo

are registered trademarks of Cook Communications Ministries.

All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes,

no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form

without written permission from the publisher.

Some names have been changed for privacy purposes.

Scripture quotations are taken from the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.

LCCN 2010940912

ISBN 978-1-4347-0237-1

eISBN 978-0-7814-0611-6

2011 Martin Smith

The Team: Alex Field, Amy Kiechlin, Sarah Schultz, Caitlyn York, Karen Athen

Cover Design: Scott Lee Design, Scott Lee

Cover Image: A photoshoot by Marc Gilgen

First Edition 2011

TO ANNA,
THE LIGHT AND LOVE OF MY LIFE.

CONTENTS

BY MATT REDMAN

BY CRAIG BORLASE

FOREWORD

BY MATT REDMAN

It was the summer of 1995, and I was sitting by the hospital bed of my good friend Martin Smith. A few days earlier hed suffered in a horrible car crash, and, in addition to other complications, his right leg was badly broken. The process by which a broken bone heals never ceases to fascinate me. Somehow during the rest and recuperation period, our amazing God-designed bodies can start to knit themselves back together, with bone and tissue re-forming and many other wonders going on beneath the surface of the skin. But what I didnt know was that in those moments of stillness, something even more powerful and wonderful was forming inside Martin. God birthed a new vision in his hearta dream to take what was already happening through the Cutting Edge worship-music journey and commit to it more fully than ever. It was the beginning of Delirious?. Before long, the band and their families took a risk of faith, jumped out of their comfort zone, and found themselves free-falling wholeheartedly into the adventure of worshipping God through music.

The music of the D:boys started flying to the far corners of the earth, with the band touching down in as many as twenty-five different countries in a single year. The multiplication factor of the kingdom of God soon kicked in, and they began to reproduce themselves. Every time they took to the stage or put out a new record, they inspired many other musical worshippers to turn up the spiritual amplifierand find new ways of being creative for the name of Jesus. I count myself privileged to have been one of that crowd. Watching Martins life and listening to his songs sharpened my resolve to live for Christ and dream up new ways of adoring and announcing God through music.

I knew Martin before the songs went global and the spotlight fell on him. Hes the same guy today he was back thena thoughtful friend and an inspiring worshipper of Jesus. I remember dreaming together about how all this new worship music could change the world, and him speaking many brotherly words of encouragement over my life. He does the same today. Jesus model of ministry involved some huge crowds but also meant discipling the Twelve and looking out for the individual. Ive witnessed that same pattern in Martins life. Hes brilliant on a stage, but hell also speak Gods truth into your life over a killer homemade cappuccino.

Martin is a devoted husband to the fantastic Anna, and together they have danced upon injustice and dreamed some big dreams. Hell tell you so in this book, but spend a few hours around Anna yourself and youll realise theres no way hed ever have pulled this whole thing off without her at his side. There are six lovely Smith kids, who ensure that their home is never a dull place. Theres always someone doing a cartwheel, dressing up as a superhero, or banging away on a drum kit. Boring is not a word you could ever use in connection with their home. And yet what blows me away is theres always room for more peopleIve seen many, many guests over the years invited through their doors and shown the most amazing gift of hospitality.

Beth and I have spent many precious moments in the company of Martin and Anna, and its always more of the sameJesus is consistently the main topic of conversation, and we never fail to walk away inspired to run well in His kingdom. Martin has been entrusted with standing before millions, and his songs have inspired multitudes. But at the end of the day, dont let those dazzling white stage suits fool you. Hes still the musical space cadet wholl offer you a cup of tea, get it started, and then wander off into dreamland while the bag overbrews and you grow increasingly thirsty! In other words, hes just an ordinary guywho walks in obedience on an extraordinary journey with an amazing God.

Over the years, Martin has been a mentor to many, near and far. And in this book he will likely do the same for you. The message here is loud and clearjust like the music always has been. Martin points us to Jesus and reminds us that when we find ourselves jumping into His story, its just possible we might make some history together.

Matt Redman

INTRODUCTION

BY CRAIG BORLASE

Whats the point of this book?

Thats the question I asked Martin yesterday as we spent time putting the finishing touches on this book. The same question Id asked him at the start as well, when we met in a converted crypt at the bottom of a cavernous London church. That place was so big, with so much history and influence, that it only increased my sense that this book must resound with a greater purpose.

On both occasions, Martins answer to the question came in three parts. First, he wanted to tell a story of Gods grace: