What I mean by that is , as a worship leader , sometimes it ’ s very easy to look out and just see people staring back at you blankly . Or maybe nobody is raising their hands . It doesn ’ t look like people are engaging . I ’ ve had moments throughout my Christian walk , and we ’ ve probably all had this , you pray for someone and they look at you and it just doesn ’ t look like it has any impact . Then they come back a week later , “ Hey ! Last week when you prayed for me , that meant so much to me , that changed my life !” and I ’ m thinking really ? I could not tell at all . I think sometimes we just don ’ t know what ’ s going on inside of people .
There could be someone whose greatest expression of worship in where they ’ re at with Christ is to lift their hands in worship . But , for somebody else that ’ s going to be spazzing out in the corner dancing like a maniac . I just think all of it is beautiful and important , and sometimes people might just be taking baby steps . Someone may want to more boldly worship but they are just taking baby steps out there . I don ’ t think that God looks at all of our different forms and expressions of worship and thinks that one is better than another . I think He just loves it when we give him our worship , our attention , and our affection . So , something that ’ s been really important to me that I ’ ve learned , when I ’ m up there and I ’ m looking out at people and connecting with them , I don ’ t want to judge where they ’ re at . I don ’ t want to make assumptions about where they are based on how it looks .
The other thing I ’ ve learned as a worship leader , it is incredibly important to have a good relationship and a good connection with the team that you ’ re playing with and leading . I think those are relationships that are worth fighting for . I ’ ve been playing with the same guys for all these years . With Chris it ’ s been twenty years , and the other guys trickled in a little bit later .
Ian , my keyboard player , was a kid in our youth group ! He was just learning keyboard when we started working with him and I was one of his mentors !
All of these guys , we ’ ve been through lots together – ups and downs . Being at each other ’ s wedding , raising kids and families together . Those relationships are important and worth fighting for . They ’ re worth working on , making sure that they are strong and healthy connections . Your team is incredibly important if you ’ re a worship leader , and your team is important for those you are leading in worship . It ’ s important that they ’ re healthy and that you have a good relationship up there .
[ WM ] Which songs on Living with a Fire are speaking to you most and why ?
[ Kim ] “ Not Afraid ” is one that speaks to me a lot . It ’ s a huge declaration , or anthem of telling fear
8 September 2018 WorshipMusician . com