This Is Your Time is Michael W. Smith's fourteenth studio album, released on November 23, 1999. All the songs from this album, except "This Is Your Time" and "This Is Your Time (Reprise)", were originally recorded for his previous studio album Live the Life, but did not make the final cut for the album.[2]
The title track was inspired by the initial news report that Columbine shooting victim Cassie Bernall was killed for answering "yes" to the question "Do you believe in God?" Smith co-wrote the song with Wes King, having enlisted his help knowing that he wanted to write about Columbine but did not want to exploit a tragedy.[3] The music video features a short video clip of Bernall talking about her religious beliefs and how she wanted to spread the word of God at the beginning.[4]
Drums and percussion: Raymond Boyd, Eric Darken, Scott Williamson and Bryan Lenox
Bass guitar: Matt Pierson and Craig Young
Electric guitars: Chris Graffagnino, Mark Baldwin and Chris Rodriguez
Acoustic guitars: Wes King, Michael W. Smith, Chris Graffagnino, Mark Baldwin, and Chris Rodriguez
Piano, Hammond B3 organ, lead vocals: Michael W. Smith
Keyboards and programming: Michael W. Smith and Bryan Lenox
Uilleann pipes: Hunter Lee
Bagpipes: Jay Dawson, Mike Orrick, and Greg Cutcliffe
Strings by The Nashville String Machine; Ronn Huff: string arrangements and conductor; Carl Gorodetzsky: contractor
Additional strings by The Love Sponge Strings; arranged and contracted by David Davidson (5, 8, 10)
Background vocals: Michael W. Smith (2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10), John Elefante (2), Nik Kershaw (2), Chris Eaton (4, 11), Joanna Carlson (4), Whitney and Anna Smith (5), Lisa Bevill (7, 9), Bonnie Keen (9), Mark Pouge (9), Chris Rodriguez (9)
The "Choir" (5, 6, 8): Natalie Grant, Darwin Hobbs, Tiffany Palmer, Dwayne Starling, Terry White, Angela Cruz, Leanne Palmore, and Gale Mayes-West
The "Franklin Boys Glee Club" (3): MWS, Bryan Lenox, Fred Paragano, Terry Flowers and Eric Elwell
Production
Producers: Michael W. Smith and Bryan Lenox
Executive producers: Michael W. Smith and Michael Blanton
Engineering and mixed by Bryan Lenox
Additional engineering: Patrick Kelly, Matt Weeks, Eric Elwell and Terry Flowers.
Assistant engineers: Rob Burrell, Scott Lenox, Terry Flowers, and Ron Jagger.
Recorded at Deer Valley Studios and The Sound Kitchen (Franklin, TN).
Strings recorded by Bryan Lenox at Ocean Way Nashville (Nashville, TN), assisted by Chad Brown; The Sound Kitchen (Franklin, TN), assisted by Matt Weeks and Melissa Mattey.
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