For the last few months, there’s been a song that has been resonating within our hearts and that we’ve been playing while working away in the office. That song is ‘Hosanna’ (Be Lifted Higher) which was featured on Israel Houghton’s latest album ‘Love God… Love People’.

We love the song so much that we interviewed Indonesian worship leader Sidney Mohede, (the writer of the song) to learn more about the song, his life and his other music endeavours.

Sidney was born in Indonesia but spent a large amount of his childhood and early adult years in the Western world. Two very different and contrasting way’s of living that many don’t have the opportunity to experience.

“Growing up in Indonesia was a great experience. I was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia until the age of 10 years old and spent my childhood like any normal kid. I climbed trees, flew kites and got into a lot of mischief. Then my parents got a divorce and my two sisters and I followed our mom to start a new life in the United States. This was back in the early 80’s. Needless to say, it was a tough transition growing up as a child from Indonesia living in Southern California. But I made it through alright. haha”

Moving to a completely different part of the world is a lot for any child to take in. Experiencing the break down of family (as you know it) must also have been hard for the young Sidney. When any person gets taken out of their comfort zone it can be hard to re-adjust and settle in to a new life.

“After we moved to America, I had a tough time growing up and became quite rebellious in Junior High and High School. By the time I was 16 I was getting into a lot of trouble, doing things that were destructive to others and myself. By 17, I knew I needed someone to rescue me, and since I’d been to church when I was younger, I made this simple prayer to God, ‘If You truly love me, like everyone says you do, then show me, because I need help.’ Not long after that, I was invited by a friend to come to a church (which I hadn’t attended for the past couple of years prior to that phone call).”

It’s amazing that no matter what we do or where we go that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Even when we turn away from Him… He doesn’t turn away from us. What’s awesome is that even though Sidney wasn’t involved in an active relationship with God; because of an earlier Christian foundation; he knew what to do when there was nothing else to do… Read this in full HERE!