Podcast Summary: The World and Everything In It Episode: The Heart Behind the Music (November 8, 2025)
Host: Travis Kercher (WORLD Radio)
Guest: Twila Paris

Episode Overview

This special weekend edition features an in-depth interview with Twila Paris, one of the pioneering artists in contemporary Christian music. The conversation explores her upbringing in a musical and ministerial family, the spiritual and creative foundations of her career, the stories behind her iconic worship songs, her perspective on faith and ministry challenges, as well as her heart for legacy and the next generation. The episode is rich with musical reflections, personal anecdotes, and practical wisdom for artists and believers alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Early Life and Musical Roots

• Family’s Musical and Ministry Background

  • Twila credits her musical inclination to her father, an accomplished musician, songwriter, and preacher.
  • “I just grew up, you know, with music in the house all the time.” (Twyla, 02:30)

• First Experiences With Music

  • Began singing in churches at age 2; recorded her first album at just 4.
  • “By the time I was four, he asked me if I wanted to make an album, and I said sure.” (Twyla, 03:21)

• Growing Up in Revival Culture

  • Traveled with parents from church to church; earliest memories involve church services “pretty much every single night of the week.”
  • “My life at that point consisted of driving from one town to the next... my question was always, do they have kids?” (Twyla, 04:38)

Musical Training and Early Songwriting

• Formal and Informal Training
  • Learned piano and theory from both her grandmother and father, who held a degree in piano.
  • “...he did teach me music.” (Twyla, 06:31)
• Songwriting Beginnings
  • Her father assigned her to write a song at age 12—her first attempt, which “demystified the process.”
  • “I came back and I’d written a bad song that, you know, I don’t even remember at this point. But … it opened that door for me...” (Twyla, 07:38)

Spiritual Journey and Calling

• Coming to Faith Early
  • Accepted Christ at age 4 but went through deeper spiritual growth as a young adult.
  • “There were aspects of my life … that didn’t even exist when I was 4. Like ambition, for example…” (Twyla, 09:08)
• Music as Expression of Faith
  • Songwriting became a way to process and express what God was teaching her.

Breaking Into the Music Industry

• Going Professional
  • Started recording original songs at 20, with her father’s encouragement; funded her first album independently.
  • “He literally co-signed for me. We borrowed some money, we went to a studio…” (Twyla, 10:41)
• Signing with a Major Label
  • Unexpected call from Zondervan Music led to her first record deal.
  • “I literally got a phone call out of the blue from Zondervan … can you be at the Christian Booksellers Convention next week?” (Twyla, 13:15)

Adjusting to Public Life

• From Studio to Stage
  • More comfortable writing and recording than performing publicly.
  • “Much more comfortable ... than I was on stage in the spotlight. That was not a natural desire for me.” (Twyla, 14:58)
• Advice from Her Father on Stage Presence
  • “If you’re God conscious, you won’t be self conscious.” (Twyla, 15:46)

Song Stories: The Heart Behind the Music

• “Lamb of God”
  • Felt it was inspired: “Did I write that? And then the answer was really quickly, no, you didn’t.” (Twyla, 17:32)
• “He Is Exalted”
  • Composed at home in a busy living room—testament to her ability to “block everything out.” (Twyla, 19:24)
• “We Will Glorify”
  • Written for worship needs: “Almost born out of … I need something like this.” (Twyla, 20:27)
• “How Beautiful”
  • Focused on the body and bride of Christ; surprised by its use in weddings.
  • “It never occurred to me that people would use that song in weddings.” (Twyla, 22:01)

What Makes a Good Hymn?

• Vertical Focus
  • Good hymns “draw our hearts up toward Him and away from and out of our focus on ourselves.” (Twyla, 23:25)

Stories Behind Pop and Encouragement Songs

• “Watch and Pray”
  • Inspired by longing for Christ’s return and “Come, Lord Jesus” mindset. (Twyla, 24:55)
• “I Can See Jesus in You”
  • Inspired by observing a child’s evident faith in a children’s choir. (Twyla, 25:37)
• “Neither Will I”
  • Written out of perseverance for a struggling family member; emphasizes God’s never-ending grace.
  • “He does not give up on us in that way. And that my responsibility was to continue to pray for her and to hope with her.” (Twyla, 27:03)
  • Powerful listener story: a woman reversed her decision to leave her husband after hearing “Neither Will I” played twice on the radio. (Twyla, 28:13)

Memorable Listener Response – “Neither Will I”

• [28:13] “She said she started bawling and weeping... and turned around and went home. So, you know, for me, sometimes the story behind the song is not as great as the story I hear from other people later about how God used the song.”

Reflections on Temptation and Ministry Scandal

• Industry Temptations
  • Acknowledges celebrity culture and temptation in ministry, but emphasizes all are vulnerable:
  • “He that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall. Well, that wasn’t just written to Christian musicians. That was written to all of us.” (Twyla, 30:21)
• Advice to Artists
  • Importance of spiritual disciplines and staying rooted in community:
  • “So busy doing God’s work that we somehow get distracted and pulled away from being God’s child.” (Twyla, 31:53)
  • Encourages artists to remain in the “soil that we need to be in,” prioritizing spiritual roots over proximity to the industry. (Twyla, 31:53)

Encouragement for Those in the Public Eye

• On Restoration
  • Message for artists facing public failure:
  • “We love you… He will never give up on you, and neither will I... It’s about getting our eyes back on him, off of ourselves… and just putting one foot behind him, one step at a time.” (Twyla, 33:39)

Musical Diversity & Authenticity

• No Genre Limits
  • “It was never about defining a genre. To me, it was just about good music is good music. If I love it, the people who listen to my music, they’ll probably love it too.” (Twyla, 35:36)

The Song "God Is In Control"

• Inspiration Amidst Uncertainty
  • Written during a time of cultural uncertainty; sees it as even more relevant today.
  • “God is in Control as more appropriate now than … when I wrote it.” (Twyla, 37:03)
• Music as Loaves and Fishes
  • “Whatever our gift is, doesn’t it feel so often like the loaves and fishes? We give this whole thing to God … and then it turns into something so much bigger ... testimony to the fact that wasn’t my song.” (Twyla, 39:47)

Reflections on Recognition and Impact

• What Lasts
  • The real reward: personal stories about how God used her music in others' lives.
  • “But when someone comes up and says, I just wanted you to know how God used this song in my life... That is what sticks with me. That is what means so much more.” (Twyla, 39:59)

Current Life & Legacy

• Present Season

  • Mostly retired, content out of the limelight, focused on family, prayer, and mentoring the next generation.
  • “Our son is 24 now. He’s a youth pastor and a worship leader. Just got married in May ... it just fills me up, you know, to watch what they’re doing and to have the privilege of praying for them and lifting them up.” (Twyla, 41:42)

• Perspective on Legacy

  • Indifferent to personal fame; wants songs to continue glorifying God.
  • “It came from Him. It goes back to him, right? Everything. When I’m gone... I don’t think I’m going to be caring about whether people remember my name or not.” (Twyla, 44:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Calling and Songwriting:
  • “It opened that door for me and said, you know, that’s not just something that only… you can go in and explore and see if that’s something that you can do.” (07:38)
• On Stage Fright:
  • “If you're God conscious, you won't be self conscious.” (15:46)
• On Song Inspiration:
  • “No, you didn't [write that]. … those ideas were living and they came alive as you started to work on them. And those were the ones that would resonate with other people and do God's work in their hearts.” (17:32)
• On Temptation in Ministry:
  • “Sometimes extremely talented people start believing that little lie of the enemy. The rules don't apply to me. I'm different. I'm special, right? And they don't start out thinking it's okay for me to sin.” (30:21)
• On Community for Artists:
  • “If you don’t have to, don’t move. … you just pulled ourselves up from the soil that we need to be in, that we need to be planted in. … more important to be in that spiritual soil, you know, to have those deep roots, to be around those people who knew you before and who aren't all that impressed.” (31:53)
• On Legacy:
  • “I don’t need to be remembered at all, but for however long my songs may stay around, I just want them to be used to glorify God.” (44:10)

Key Timestamps

• [02:30] Twyla’s early music and family background
• [06:31] Learning music and first song assignment
• [09:08] Spiritual journey and coming to faith
• [10:41] Moving from music as a hobby to calling
• [13:15] Signing with her first major label
• [15:46] Handling the spotlight and self-consciousness
• [17:32] Inspiration and meaning behind “Lamb of God”
• [19:24] “He Is Exalted” and creative process at home
• [20:27] Writing “We Will Glorify” for worship needs
• [22:01] “How Beautiful” and its use in weddings
• [23:25] What makes a hymn endure in worship
• [24:55] Pop songs: “Watch and Pray,” “I Can See Jesus in You,” and “Neither Will I”
• [28:13] Listener’s life changed by “Neither Will I”
• [30:21] Reflections on temptation and the need for accountability
• [31:53] Community as spiritual soil for artists
• [33:39] Encouragement for artists facing public scandal
• [35:36] Twyla’s musical diversity and philosophy
• [37:03] “God Is In Control” – origins and impact
• [39:59] Meaningful encouragements from listeners
• [41:42] Today: family, prayer, mentoring the next generation
• [44:10] Legacy: giving God the glory and focus on eternal impact

Conclusion

This episode paints a portrait of Twila Paris not just as a pioneering worship artist but as a thoughtful Christian who cares deeply about faithfulness, community, and God’s glory. Her humility, creative candor, and sensitivity to God’s leading offer inspiration for musicians, ministers, and believers alike. The stories behind her songs and her reflections on legacy invite listeners to consider how their gifts—however public or private—can bear lasting fruit when surrendered to God.