CCM: Did you say that your dad had a similar worship encounter at that same youth camp?
CQ: Yeah, my dad. He grew up in San Francisco, pretty much raised himself and he was a trouble maker. Long story short­—left San Francisco, married my mother, and eventually accepted Christ, but still struggled even after that. It was around that same time I had that encounter with God, He was also dealing with [my dad].

He’d been an alcoholic and we didn’t know about it. I remember the first song I ever learned the night my sisters and I found out—I pulled out the guitar and we began to worship over him, and God began dealing with his heart. Fast-forward, at that youth camp that I mentioned earlier, I sang that song again. My dad had been volunteering in the kitchen and he came out and I remember seeing him on his knees, just weeping.

I don’t remember seeing him cry much, but that image of my dad just encountering God again, singing the song “Arms Of Love,” and seeing God work on his heart…it’s stuck in my head. Now he’s completely set free, he’s been sober for years but it’s always just amazed me what God can do in an instant when we surrender our lives and worship. As I mentioned earlier, He, in turn, shows up and sets us free—He reveals himself to us. I’ve seen Him in my life, I’ve seen Him in my dad’s life, and it’s amazing.

CCM: What an awesome story!
CQ: He’s my hero. He really is.

Chris Quilala, CCM Magazine - image
CCM: You’ve mentioned that “Encounter You” on Split The Sky is about pursuing God…what are your thoughts on how He also pursues us?
CQ: That song’s special because I put a little audio clip of my daughter in the second verse. She loves it. Every time it hits that spot, she’s says, “That’s me!” [Laughs]

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