He’s been in music ministry for the last 20 years but with seven years since his last solo project, Charles Billingsley felt that now was the right time to make an album that would speak to this generation.

Never Forsaken is a unique collection of songs that offers his take on some classic songs like Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge “Over Troubled Water” and Phil Collins’ “Another Day in Paradise”, to more intimate autobiographical tracks like “Baby I Blinked” and truth-telling songs like “God So Loved the World”.

“It’s time to do a record for my generation,” he says.

The album, out on March 6, drew much of its inspiration from a mission trip he made with his family to Guatemala.

They travelled with humanitarian organisation Causelife, a journey that took them through many villages where fresh water is in short supply.

“Never Forsaken”, the album’s title track, is especially inspired by his visit. A

nd such was the impact of his time with Causelife, that he has begun a major project to build a community of 12 houses, a school and a church.

The total project is expected to cost around $160,000 and more than $40,000 has already been raised.

He explains: “The song ‘Never Forsaken’ is for those people in the world who are hungry, lost, afraid, malnourished, thirsty, who cry out every day for something called hope. They won’t hear this album. This record is for the people who will hear it to do something about it.”