Brooke and Scott Ligertwood Teach Children about the Wonder of God

Worship

Hillsong members, Brooke (worship leader, songwriter), and Scott Ligertwood (songwriter) teamed up with Ben (worship leader) and Karalee (public relations) Fielding to write and illustrate the children's book, What a Beautiful Name, based on Hillsong Worship's beloved Grammy-winning, chart-topping song. In this book, the authors tell the story through the eyes of little Oliver who hears his mom singing What a Beautiful Name. This leads to Oliver's adventure to discover the name his mother is singing about. Alongside Oliver is his monkey Leo. Together they journey through space, search through jungles, and navigate oceans, all the while marveling at the beauty, wonder, and power that surrounds him. As he takes the journey he remembers a book at home, the Bible, and runs to read it. In it, he discovers the name is Jesus!  

"Worship is WONDER," shares the Ligertwoods and Fieldings. “Teaching children about worship is to teach them about the WONDER of who God is. That there will never be enough words, and their imaginations will never be able to fully comprehend the goodness, fullness, and faithfulness of God.” 

The Making of the Song

After over a decade of friendship and building the church together, Brooke and Ben Fielding wrote What a Beautiful Name in early 2016 in a writing space at some of the church facilities in the Hills district of Sydney. They introduced it to the congregation some months later and were encouraged by the church’s response. From there it began to spread and the Lord did what he did. Brooke and Ben give God all the glory.

Background

Brooke Ligertwood is a Grammy award-winning songwriter, speaker, and worship leader and is the head of Hillsong Worship globally. Having enjoyed a successful 15-year mainstream career under her maiden name (Brooke Fraser), Brooke has called Hillsong Church home since 2004 and is a passionate local church girl. She and her husband Scott, along with their two young daughters, are based in Orange County where they are a key part of Hillsong OC. A fierce love for the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and people has led her to pen numerous congregational anthems such as What a Beautiful Name, Hosanna, Desert Song, Man of Sorrows as well as devotional favorites None But Jesus and Lead Me to the Cross. Their most recent Hillsong worship album is called Awake featuring the song King of Kings and our most recent single is Awake My Soul, a collaboration with Grammy-winning gospel artist Tasha Cobbs Leonard. 

Brooke says that even though she didn't grow up in a house of faith, she remembers thinking about Him at a young age--wondering where He was, what He was doing, and hoping that He was having a good day. Brooke recalls feeling very empty before coming to Christ in her bedroom at the age of 15. She decided she needed to start going to church. Her mom would drop her off at the Salvation Army in New Zealand for services and come back and pick her up afterward.

Brooke was signed to Sony music at 18 years of age and went on to make and tour six albums over 15 years, whilst also being planted in and building Christ’s church and writing worship music. She believes that, for the follower of Christ, all of life is ministry.

Scott Ligertwood is most famous for his songwriting with the prominent Australian Christian music group Hillsong Worship. He co-wrote the Joel Houston song Look to the Son. He has had a hand in the creation of a great many Hillsong tracks, such as Take It All, Break Free, and What the World Will Never Take. 

Scott did not grow up in a Christian home but became a Christian in the youth ministry of Hillsong Church in his early teens. in his later teens, he began writing songs for the youth group, which became songs for the church. His most recent songs for Hillsong Worship include King of Kings and No One But You.