John L Young

Music of Faith

Singles

In Bethlehem cover, John L. Young featuring Johan Liebenberg
With thanks to Fr Justin at Sanctus Studio for permission to use this image. Intellectual property remains with Fr Justin.

The single

In
Bethlehem

John L Young

Featuring Johan Liebenberg

The story behind the song

It began one Boxing Day at my wife’s piano: a song celebrating the birth of Christ, arriving in a moment I can only describe as divine inspiration. Years later, “In Bethlehem” has found its voice.

Read the story & acknowledgements ↓
Meet the songwriter ↓

In Bethlehem / The video

In John’s words

A song born
of wonder.

The story of “In Bethlehem”

It only seems like yesterday.

One Boxing Day, all alone, I sat at my wife’s piano. I cannot play the piano, yet that day my hands moved effortlessly over the keys and I began to sing. A song celebrating the birth of Christ filled me with the Holy Spirit. To me, it was divine intervention.

All these years later, I’m reliving that moment with a sense of wonder. I feel blessed to have written this song. Encouraged to return to it, I began rebuilding the music with friends, and it gradually found its way from those first notes to a recording in Cape Town.

Hearing Johan Liebenberg’s vocal brought the song alive. It was everything I had hoped for. The timing feels right: there is something true and honest in “In Bethlehem”, and I’m grateful to everyone who helped me share it.

John L Young

Acknowledgements — the people behind the song

With heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped bring “In Bethlehem” to life.

Adele · Nuelight Music Publishing
For encouraging me to revisit the song. Without her encouragement, I might never have recorded it.
John Calebrese
My good friend, who helped me rebuild the song.
Shayne Savic
For his sensitive guitar parts: a Martin and a Taylor, panned left and right.
Byron Keno
For his input, bringing collaborators into the project in Cape Town, and his professionalism in creating the final mix.
Sez Adamson
For pedal steel playing that captures the magic of Christmas.
Johan Liebenberg
For recording a vocal in Cape Town that was everything I wanted and brought the song alive.
Fr Justin · Sanctus Studio, Liverpool, UK
For kindly granting permission to use his artwork for the cover. Intellectual property remains with Fr Justin.
Vicky-Anne Serfontein
For her graphic design skills and for sensitively bringing the cover together.

The collection

Stay close to
the music.

More Worship Music is planned for early 2027, featuring guest artists.

Another side of John’s music

Discover Minerva Street.

Electronic textures. Unhurried rhythms. Explore John Young’s electronic and chillout project, with music and videos from Western Australia.

Explore Minerva Street