NOTE: EFY has a new Program Director now and he has said that EFY will bring back the original EFY Medley: As Sisters In Zion & We’ll Bring The World His Truth for the upcoming 2013 summer!

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As some of you may know, As Sisters In Zion & We’ll Bring the World His Truth has not been a part of the 2012 EFY program. Many have asked “why”, and many rumors have been spread regarding this issue, the most common being that there is a “copyright issue”. Others have speculated that because the Especially for Youth program now has international sessions that EFY didn’t have permission to translate it into alternate languages.

Is there a copyright issue keeping EFY from teaching and performing As Sisters In Zion & We’ll Bring the World His Truth to the youth?

No. Nothing is keeping EFY from using As Sisters In Zion & We’ll Bring the World His Truth in any part of the world, in any language, as they have the past 12 years. I’m truly sad when I hear from disappointed youth, counselors, and session directors that they didn’t get to sing it together.

So why is As Sisters In Zion & We’ll Bring the World His Truth not part of EFY this year?

The short story: EFY chose not to use it this year and instead, tried out a new medley.

The longer version: Last fall, the program director for EFY reached out to me. He wanted to secure all rights to use the As Sisters In Zion & We’ll Bring the World His Truth medley however EFY wanted, including making it a free download at their web site and the Church’s website. As a music publisher, this proposition really scared me. The idea of encouraging free music downloads promotes a principle that I do not support (but that’s a different discussion all together). So I had to decline the proposal. But, I also made it clear that EFY could continue to use As Sisters In Zion & We’ll Bring the World His Truth just like they have the past 12 years.

The program director elected to move on and had a new medley written.

I have always let EFY use my arrangement to sing and have never charged them anything to use it. I would love for them to continue to use it as long as they feel it would bless the youth of EFY.

I love EFY.  I was a counselor for 5 summers (1996-2000).  There is a special place in my heart for the youth.  I hope EFY will want to use As Sisters In Zion & We’ll Bring the World His Truth again in the future. If you feel the same way, reach out to EFY and let them know.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me: mike@michaelrhicks.com

Sincerely,

-Michael R. Hicks

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UPDATE: EFY has a new Program Director now and he has said that EFY will bring back the original EFY Medley: As Sisters In Zion & We’ll Bring The World His Truth for the upcoming 2013 summer!