Michael Bethany is an award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, and recording artist with Gateway Music, based out of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, where he leads dynamic worship at services and conferences. He has been involved in global worship ministry for over 15 years, collaborating with musical greats including Fred Hammond, Mitch Wong, Leeland, Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, Tamela Mann and more. Michael loves leading worship, teaching, and mentoring the next generation, and is passionate about creating worship experiences that activate an overflow of intimacy with God.

Overflow is a collection of songs coming out of Michael’s personal overflow of intimacy with God. Songs of high praise like “Ask Me Why” and “Already Done” will make you want to dance and sing, while songs like “He is Lord” and “Fill the Room” will usher you into the throne room of God’s presence.

Your first solo album in 7 years is out today! We love the joy and confidence in this album. How does it feel? Were you more focused on other aspects of ministry during your hiatus?

It’s an amazing feeling because God put this album in my heart one year after my release in 2016.

I’ve been getting this download from God this entire time and to see it finally release is like giving birth to a dream that’s been growing in my heart all these years. I’d been focused on my worship pastor role in ministry and I had a major transition to Gateway Church which took time to settle my family into a new life rhythm. I kept recording and releasing music with other artists and ministries along the way.

You are currently serving as an associate Pastor of Worship at Gateway Church in Southlake, TX. Were any of these songs a reflection of what your congregation has been learning or wrestling with?

In one aspect yes, because as a member of Gateway, God has definitely used my time there to cultivate some things in me that are directly reflected on this album. At the same time, this album had a slightly different journey because it’s more focused on music God has given me more personally, and I get to steward that as a Gateway Music artist.

Tell us about your passion for teaching and mentoring the next generation through your pastoring and music.

It’s probably even more of a passion to invest in people through discipleship than creating music. God’s love for His children has filled my heart and it’s one of my highest privileges to come alongside ministries and individuals to help them understand the heart of God for them and release them into their God-given purpose.

Tell us why you led this project with the singles: “Ask Me Why” and “He Is Lord.”

“Ask Me Why” is an exciting song about my testimony and it’s filled with so much joy.

I wanted to start these releases with a song that people could sing in their own personal spaces and also sing in congregations to rejoice while reflecting on God’s goodness.

“He is Lord” is a Christ-centered song that is at the heart of every believer’s profession of faith. I also truly believed that releasing this song as one of the leading singles would provide the Church with a song that would focus our worship on the Lordship of Jesus.

I love declaring the power of Jesus through miracles or provision, but His lordship is the greatest thing you could ever declare according to Philippians 2:9-11.

If you could choose one song for the Church to begin using in worship services regularly, which song would you choose and why?

I would definitely choose “He Is Lord” if I only had one choice.

When we get a revelation of the lordship of Jesus we usher in all that God has for us all. It’s because of the Lordship of Jesus in our lives that we have the right to inherit all the precious promises from the Father.

Michael Bethany