1.    When did you first realize your desire to lead others in Worship?  I distinctly remember the first time as a sophomore in college in 1989. The light went on as I’m playing freshly learned chords in a Wednesday night dorm worship gathering of 60 students with two other guitarists.   I was a complete novice but I had this overwhelming sense that God had designed me to lead. 

2.    How would you best summarize your relationship to God?  That I am fully his child, totally undeserved of His grace and mercy, but so very confident in his love through the saving power of Jesus Christ who died for my sins.  I worship God because He is who I live for, and He is the one I love.   I worship because I am in Christ and he is in me. 

3.    What are ways you tend to your own spiritual growth?  Scripture study is primary, as well as singing, praying, and listening.   I also grow through missional moments as I talk with people about who God is and what He has done.  Praying and reading scripture with my family awakens in me a sense that God loves me more than I love my own children, and it refocuses my priorities.  I also read books, magazine articles, and blogs, and talk with other Christians.

4.    Tell us of a redemptive time in your journey walking “in Christ”.    If I understand the question correctly, I experienced a redemptive time in St. Augustine, FL, on a weekend get-a-way a few years ago. We were walking down the main street where all the little tourist shops were, and a homeless man walked up to me rather quickly.  I got ready for anything, except his question.  He asked, “Can I ask you a question?”  And my first answer was “no”.   He said “OK, thanks.”  As he walked away I was shocked at my own answer.  Now, I usually give homeless people money or food, whatever I have with me.  We kept walking, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had completely disowned Jesus.  I was then completely ashamed.  After listening to my wife’s gentle questioning, I turned around to go find him, and he was gone. To this day I don’t know what his question was going to be.  I took a guess and assumed that he was going to either rob me or ask for money, and I didn’t want to be bothered.  The Holy Spirit hit me between the eyes with my own sin, and I had to repent of my selfishness and lack of love.  I will never forget that moment and it serves as a reminder to me to always love others, regardless of how inconvenient or disruptive it may be.

5.    Describe your understanding of “team” or “collaboration” when it comes to worship teams.   Team is individual people joining together as a group towards a defined purpose or goal.  Collaboration is when everyone on that team adds unique input or value towards that common purpose.   A worship team is a group of skilled artists: musicians, vocalists, visual media techs, sound techs, etc…working together for the purpose of bringing glory to God.   Worship teams are comprised of people who bring different gifts and abilities to the table, and some have multiple gifts.  From a planning aspect, there is usually a person or team of people that look at the theme of the service, scriptures related to that theme, and then build an experience for congregational worship using the arts: music, videos, paintings, pictures, backgrounds, tapestries, lighting, acting, etc…  And in a band, a team leader that provides musical leadership such as cues.  All members (including tech team) are worship leaders.  Everyone on the team has responsibilities and expectationsto see that God is glorified, both in and out of the church walls.  A strong worship team grows in faith together by prayer, study, worship, fellowship, and supporting each other.

6.    What are your thoughts on Art in the context of the Church?  For the Christian, every square inch of our lives is worship.  So when the Christian artist makes art, he or she does it to the glory of God.  Art is a powerful expression of the artist that reflects the Creator of the Universe.  God has made us in His image, imago Dei. As image bearers, authentic worship can only be in Christ, because Christ is in us.  Worship is all that I am and all that I have.  The making of Art is an act of worship.  The Arts do not aid or enhance our worship, but worshippers enhance the arts by their worship of God. Harold Best says that “we make and offer art because we worship; we should not make art to lead us into worship”. 

Art does not need to be limited to Christian art to be used in the Church.  Some examples of Art might be literature, poetry, dramatic readings and cinematic film, dance, sculpture, paintings, drawings, engravings, music, etc…  Art can function freely in that its purpose is to point us to God.  A dance may not say directly “Jesus Is Lord.”  But the dance can draw people into an understanding of the Artist, a reflection of His beauty.  Because of the subjectivity of Art, it can quickly become idolatry.  Art should move people to think more deeply and to feel more deeply.  And I believe that artists who are Christ followers are in the process of joining the Holy Spirit’s work of restoration and making all things better.

7.    Describe a healthy relationship between sr. pastor and worship leader.  Good communication: clear expectations.  Timely interaction, respect, and trust.  Clear expressed vision and goals, leading to a common purpose and a shared responsibility.  The sr. pastor is the main worship leader.  And the worship leader and sr. pastor need to be completely unified.

8.    What things do you love most about church ministry?  Being a catalyst for life change.  Working with other people for God’s glory.  The challenge.  The rewards of seeing someone come to believe.

9.    What things about the church frustrate you? When sin rears it’s ugly head. People can be self seeking, petty, prideful, consumeristic, inward focused, gossipers, etc…  Lots of wisdom and prayer is needed.  When churches cease to be change agents.  Or when churches become unbalanced in focus or purpose.  When tradition is placed in too high of a position.  When scriptures are improperly used to prove the point or taken out of context to fit that point. 

10.  What are your thoughts on intergenerational worship?   Can it happen any other way?  Jesus has called both young and old to worship in Spirit and in Truth.  As Christians we cannot help but meet together, multigenerationally.  We are hard wired to meet with each other in community to talk about God.  Both young and old learn from each other in community, in the unity that only the Spirit of God can bring.

11.  Please describe your theology/philosophy of worship?  God created all things good.  But all things have fallen from that original goodness.  God provided a way through his Son Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection redeemed all things, and will eventually restore them.  So we join in the Holy Spirit’s work of restoration by seeking to make all things better.  Worship permeates all of our life. Our life, every square inch, is a reflection of the glory of the creator God, the author and perfecter of our faith.  Worship is an engaging work and it requires our full attention. Worship is being a good father and a good husband. Worship is about loving people, and caring for the poor and needy. Worship is doing the best we can in our jobs.  Worship is reflecting the glory of God, and involves every aspect of our lives. Worship is not about the lyrics we sing, but it is a matter of the heart and mind. It is not relegated to something we do during the "worship service" on Sunday.  It is 24/7.  Our lives are interwoven with God's grace and mercy, and are inseparable from his sovereignty and his directionin our lives. A person who understands grace cannot help but worship God. Out of the mystery of grace we give our lives to God giving honor and glory to his name.   My passion in this life is to worship God for the grace He has shown and for what He has done and will continue to do in my life.

Bob Kauflin sums it up well: “A faithful worship leader magnifies the greatness of God in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit by skillfully combining God’s word with music, thereby motivating the gathered church to proclaim the gospel, to cherish God’s presence, and to live for God’s glory.”   Our worship of God is satisfactory because of the blood of Jesus poured out for us on the cross.   Harold best calls it “continuous outpouring”. And a gathering of Christians for worship is generally focused around fellowship, praise, instruction, and edification. 

12.  How would you describe your worship leading style (on the platform)?   I try to model worship and worship God while leading: while singing, reading scripture, or calling God’s people to worship, and then challenging people to take worship into the world.  I try to leading through example.  I try to help people make connections in the time of worship, using scripture, or by observations or exhortation between songs and during songs.   I tend to avoid putting on a show, although I need to be engaging enough to lead.

13.  What are your top spiritual gifts? Wisdom, creative ability, and shepherding.

14.  What are other areas of interests/experiences/skills besides music that will enhance your ministry.   I have been to Seminary, earning a MA in Educational Ministry.  I have been a Dir. of Junior High ministries, a youthpastor, a campus pastor, and have worked in a group home in Colorado Springs.  I have a home recording studio and know how to use ProTools and Apple Logic, and have written a variety of songs.  In my lifetime I have had experience in multiple denominations: Vineyard, Calvary Chapel, Assemblies of God, Presbyterian, Christian Reformed, Lutheran, and Baptist.   And I have a great wife and family.

15.  How would you describe your leadership style (aside from your platform worship leadership)?  Quiet confidence, hardworking and thoughtful, efficient with time, reflective, evaluative, and I appreciate things done well.  I try to accept others where they are.   

16.  Would you describe yourself as a designer/creator, developer, or manager (or any combination)?  I like to design and create, come up with new ideas, visualize, and dream.   Then I like to develop the ideas further, but then delegate and give the details away and have other people use their skills in making it happen.

17.  What do you need from the pastor in order to create an effective corporate worship experience?   I would need to know the main point or main idea of the pastors’ message or series, or a theme/ topic that is fairly flushed out with scripture texts.   

18.  Describe your musical style and skills.  I choose mostly modern worship songs, but also utilize the rich history of music within the church.  I grew up learning hymns and the “new” contemporary praise songs of the early 80’s and 90’s, but my default preferred style is aligned with the sound and style of Hillsong United, Desperation Band, Passion (Crowder, Tomlin, Hall, Redman), Paul Baloche, Lincoln Brewster, Gateway Worship, to name a few.  But I aim at diversity, both in style  and sound.  I believe it is less about the time period of the song and more about the lyrical content.   I tend to choose more mainstream songs that are congregationally friendly.  I am not really into southern gospel music, although I just wrote a gospel song.  LOL

Musical skills include playing the guitar, piano (by ear), bass guitar, vocals, tuba, baritone, trumpet, hand percussion (bodhran, djembe, shakers) tin whistle, and harmonica.  Other skills: being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in worship, a passion for musical proficiency and ability, and a desire to see heart and life change in people.  I have the ability to plan thematically with a concern for balance and flow with a desire to maintain a Trinitarian emphasis in worship.   I strive to be sensitive to the needs of the congregation.  I have over 14 years of experience, and have a young mindset. 

19.  What will be your strongest contribution to a church ministry as the worship leader?  My integrity.  My passion for God and my worship of Him.  Musical leadership.   And that I will lead with authenticity and skill.