Preparing The Way For The Way Maker
- Jonathan Chan & Sng Li-Hwei
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
The song ‘Way Maker’ is perhaps the first gospel song that has become part of our congregation’s regular musical worship.
Written and sung by the Nigerian worship leader Sinach, the song had particular resonance amid the COVID-19 pandemic, crossing from Africa over to mainstream English-speaking congregations in the United States and elsewhere, and then to our own community in Singapore.
Perhaps it was the feeling of despair and isolation that led so many to cry out to God, our Way Maker, through song in that season. The song’s chorus goes:
Way Maker, Miracle Worker,
Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are
There are resonances with other songs that affirm that God makes a way in moments of uncertainty: ‘God Will Make A Way’ by Don Moen, for example. The term ‘Way Maker’ is rooted in the prophecies of Isaiah. Isaiah 43:16 describes our Lord as the one “who makes a way in the sea”, a “path in the mighty waters”. This is in turn a reference to how God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to escape from Pharoah’s army:
Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. - Exodus 14:19-22
The CCMC Gospel Choir will present ‘Way Maker’ at our 9am Service, on the 24th of May 2026, Pentecost Sunday. It will also be the service where we welcome those baptised and accepted into membership at CCMC.
At Pentecost, the same Spirit that moved over the waters (Genesis 1:2) in the beginning, came mightily and empowered the disciples (Acts 2:1-4) to spread the Gospel to all nations, providing both a redress to the linguistic fragmentation of Babel and a glimpse of a world united in worship of God.
We too can expect our lives to be transformed as through Christ, as we each become a dwelling place for God by the Spirit (Ephesians 2:22). Just as the disciples witnessed many who received God’s word and were baptised on Pentecost (Acts 2:41), we too will witness the baptism of those who have accepted Christ on 24 May.
As we renew our covenant with God and reaffirm our faith together, let us declare our praise to the Lord, our Way Maker, because He is the Great ‘I AM’.
‘Way Maker’ has also been a song crucial to the beginnings of the CCMC Gospel Choir. It was mentioned in the first article written for Loaves and Fishes to introduce our congregation to gospel music in May 2023 (‘An Introduction to Gospel Music’).
Some of our Choirs during the Easter Service in Apr 2026.
In the 3 years since, God has provided miraculously for the choir – from bringing volunteers across generations to sing, to the opportunity to unite different ministries under the shared act of worship. We have seen this most recently during our Easter Service, where the Gospel Choir, Hallelujah Chorus, Home Helpers Ministry, and Covenant Kids came together in a joyous act of praise.
Each song prepared by the Gospel Choir has been one surrendered into His hands. God has fashioned each as to how He has wanted it. Many of us are familiar with the biblical account of God creating miracles, being faithful in keeping His promise to His people.
As our church continues in its focus on the book of John and the life of Jesus Christ, we might more readily affirm that He is ‘light in the darkness’ (John 1:4-5, John 8:12), a ‘miracle worker’ (healing of the sick, raising of the Lazarus, feeding of the 5000, walking on water), and a ‘promise keeper’ (the promise of the Resurrection as described John 20:1-20, the promise of his constant presence in Matt 28:20b).
As we look back on moments of despair and uncertainty in our lives through which God made a way, through disappointment, through sorrow, through hurt and pain, can we affirm that He is indeed, our Way Maker?
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6 ESV
Reflection: Listen to the song Way Maker and spend some time reflecting on how God has been your Way Maker. Thank Him for who He is and what He’s done.
Additional reading:
1. Jonathan Chan, ‘The Effervescent Expression’, Ekstasis Magazine, 21 November 2020, https://www.ekstasismagazine.com/kingdom-meets-culture/2020/11/21/the-effervescent-expression
2. Jonathan Chan, ‘An Introduction to Gospel Music’, Loaves and Fishes, 16 May 2023, https://www.loavesandfishes.org.sg/post/an-introduction-to-gospel-music
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