Gil was only 15 when he wrote 'Forever and Always', a song he composed after attending a workshop put on by St Paul's to encourage young songwriters. "One night, I got an idea in my head for a melody and I put it all together in 45 minutes - it was just me saying what was in my heart," he recalls.
It was a year before Gil plucked up the courage to show his song – which proclaims the unending love of God - to anyone else, and he says he was pleasantly surprised by the encouragement he received. "I was so ready for people to tear it down or say 'you've got to change this or that'," he recalls.
But the song was one of 10 chosen out of 40 entries submitted for consideration for the CD – and was then also remixed as a bonus track on the album.
"Seeing the song develop into something bigger and wider and the potential it has to change lives makes you want to write more," Gil says.
He is one of several teens and young adults trying their hand at songwriting through St Paul's music ministry.
St Paul's Castle Hill is well-known for its music, with one album, Great is your Love already in the marketplace.
"We're in an area that's rich in the arts and recognised as a church that is gifted in creativity because of our location," says St Paul's music director, Bren McLean.
"Not everyone has the gift of songwriting, but if you do have that gift, you should develop and use it – CITY ALIGHT has been an opportunity for our people to put into practice their God-given gifts," Mr McLean says.
Gil says being able to see how others write, and receiving support from more experienced songwriters and musicians at St Paul's has helped him to develop and use his own songwriting skills.
"There are so many people here who have been willing to help me out because they are already so good at it. I feel too young to be with these people but they give me the time of day and they want us to use what we have to bring glory to God, and develop it so it is the best it can be."
Indeed three of the songwriters featured on CITY ALIGHT – Fiona Morris, Scott Roby and Niki Shepherd – have already released their own albums.
CITY ALIGHT features 10 Christian pop rock songs written, performed and produced by members of St Paul's Castle Hill.
For now, Gil will pursue opportunities to write songs with others at St Paul's and encourage those younger than him to have a go at writing their own songs.
"I'm only 18 so I've got so much more to learn, and hopefully, to give - I'll keep doing what I'm doing and learn as much as I can," he says.
"There's something about singing a melody that brings people together - it's such a great tool to unite people and develop community because everyone loves music."