(c)1992 Integrity Media

Closing out what was probably Integrity Music's best year in terms of album successes would be this Christmas release titled "Bethlehem's Treasure". The second official Christmas project for the label (following a 1990 Don Moen album titled simply "Christmas"), this album was recorded at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA (pastored until his retirement earlier in 2022 by Rick Warren, who would, a few years later, become known for his "Purpose-Driven Life" and "Purpose-Driven Church" series of books) and featured a mixture of traditional Christmas carols, new Christmas songs and some familiar praise and worship choruses from the time.

Lead vocals were provided primarily by Bob Fitts, a Hawaii-based music minister who had long been part of Youth With a Mission there. Fitts began his recording career in 1985 with the album "Take My Healing to the Nations" for the obscure Earthmovers label; with three of that album's songs appearing elsewhere over the next few years and getting him noticed ("He is Lovely" would appear in the 1986 "Praise 8" album by Maranatha, the title track would be recorded the same year by Terry Talbot and the best-known of the songs, "Blessed Be the Lord God Almighty" was used in the 1987 David Butterbaugh Integrity release "I Will Rejoice"). Fitts would release his first of 6 Integrity releases with 1989's "The Lord Reigns" along with 1991's "The Highest Place" while also releasing a live album with Maranatha. This album marked the first Integrity project for Fitts recorded in the contiguous 48 states vs. his home state of Hawaii.

While Fitts was the main vocalist for this album, he would be joined by several others including Rick Muchow (a longtime worship leader at Saddleback until he passed away in 2021 from a brain tumor); Scott Wojahn and Integrity background regulars Leonard Tucker, Rita Baloche, Lenny LeBlanc, Kelly Willard and Leann Albrecht.

TRACKLIST
1. How Great Our Joy
2. Rejoice and Be Exceedingly Glad (previously used in the 1987 David Grothe album "Arise and Sing"; which I had a cassette copy of and always thought had a Christmas-like sound)
3. Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella
4. We Three Kings of Orient Are (joining Bob on lead vocals are Rick Muchow and Leonard Tucker)
5. Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (duet vocals by Lenny LeBlanc and Rita Baloche)
6. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (lead vocals by Kelly Willard)
7. Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (lead vocals by Scott Wojahn; done as a medley with...)
8. Away in a Manger (sung by Saddleback's Super Kids children's choir)
9. Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (Reprise)
10. For Unto Us
11. Good Christian Men Rejoice
12. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
13. Sing a Song of Bethlehem
14. Birthday of a King (lead vocals by Leonard Tucker)
15. O Little Town of Bethlehem (lead vocals by Lenny LeBlanc)
16. Bethlehem's Treasure (duet vocals by Bob Fitts and Kelly Willard)
17. More Precious Than Silver (the Lynn DeShazo composition previously appeared on LaMar Boschman's 1986 "Glory to the King" album; though unlike that version, this version includes an additional verse. Featured vocals by Leann Albrecht)
18. Glory to God (Kendrick) (one of two songs with an identical title to close the album out. This one was penned by British recording artist Graham Kendrick)
19. Glory to God (Paris) (second of two songs with an identical title to close the album out. This one was penned by American recording artist Twila Paris)

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