LOOP COMMUNITY
PASTORING WORSHIP LEADERS W / MARK HARRIS | Matt McCoy
Mark Harris , the Worship Pastor at Gateway Church , sat down with Loop Community Founder Matt McCoy to talk about pastoring worship leaders , fatherhood , and Gateway Worship ’ s latest albums .
WORSHIP LEADING VS . ARTISTRY
[ Matt McCoy ] I ’ ve talked to a lot of worship pastors who have always dreamed of being an artist and touring , like you did with 4Him . Now that you ’ ve done both worlds , how have you balanced those two things ?
[ Mark Harris ] They ’ re very different , but they ’ re alike because God uses both of those worlds . God uses the artist that have songs that challenge and encourage people . And God uses the worship pastor whose primary purpose is to be on platform and point people upward . I explain it to worship pastors that talk to me about artistry , as an artist I had a message to sing to people that was encouraging , sometimes challenging , sometimes a sermon in a song . I would sing that song and draw them to me so that they could get the message I had . Worship is not like that at all . Worship is , I have one hand up and one hand out . The goal is to get them to Him .
[ Matt ] Yeah , worship leading is like me being a father to my kids . If I just sat down on the floor and played Lego by myself while they watched , that ’ s not it . They want me to play with them . Let ’ s build things together instead of them just watching me .
[ Mark ] Yes , that ’ s great . I want the people that I ’ m in front of when I ’ m leading worship to feel like they ’ re in the living room with me and we ’ re having fellowship time with God . If they feel like they ’ re separated watching me or in a theater watching a movie , then there ’ s a disconnect . It ’ s a delicate balance , because I do think that to lead people into God ’ s presence you have to be willing to go there first .
ADVICE FOR WORSHIP LEADERS
[ Matt ] What advice would you give a young worship leader if they want to be a songwriter ?
[ Mark ] I ’ d say we really don ’ t own anything . We ’ re just stewarding what God places in our hands . Never make it so much about you . If you focus on Jesus and others , you ’ ll easily love yourself because you ’ ll get so much fulfillment out of that . Never be afraid if you ’ re a young worship leader or songwriter to celebrate the success or gifts of others . It never minimizes you . Be willing to push others forward . That person will always shine . I ’ ve learned that you can ’ t go low enough , you can ’ t walk in enough humility . The more willingness I have to humble myself , God always takes whatever I offer there , and He gives me more joy , fulfillment and more peace . I ’ ve met so many people that struggle there because their identity is not healthy . Keep your eyes on Jesus , focus on others , be that person that gets so much joy out of lifting others up , and you will never have to try to push yourself forward .
Click HERE to watch the full interview . You can get all the Master Multitracks for Gateway Worship ’ s new album Crowns Down on LoopCommunity . com .
Matt McCoy Matt is a worship leader , songwriter and Ableton Certified Trainer from Chicago , IL . He has been using Ableton and tracks in worship since 2002 . He ’ s passionate about creating new products and teaching worship leaders and artists how to use technology in live performance . www . LoopCommunity . com 32 December 2023 Subscribe for Free ...