A Worship Leader (Con't)

The world of CCM (Contemporary Christian music) was brand new when I started leading worship with my peers and church community. I was enamored. I was immediately drawn into music that really spoke to me, and at the same time highly aware that not every Christian song on the radio was written for a prayer meeting, and certainly not for Catholic liturgy. (This may have been the beginning of a lifetime of inner turmoil - Ha!) Stephen Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, DC Talk, Rich Mullins, Michael English – I could not get enough. These artists, their voices and their songs were forming me. However, I quickly learned the difference between Christian music for radio and Christian music for corporate (read “collective” or “group”) worship. Langley Vineyard (Brian Doerksen, Andy Park) out of Canada, the Brownsville revival (Lindell Cooley) out of Florida, and others revealed quite readily that there was more to leading worship than just singing a song. I had already stumbled into music back-side first (I was a drummer who learned guitar out of necessity) now I was stumbling back-side first into the world of Christian music. (In that I was sometimes playing it before I even listened to it!) But I didn’t want to stumble. Good mentors showed me that before I played a note, before I turned on a microphone, before I tried to lead anyone into the throne room of God, I had to be willing to be the first person praying. All I really knew was that I wanted to speak to God in prayer, and music was the most powerful way that I could think to do it.

1992 was a long time ago, and sometimes I’m surprised at how very little Catholic music, and even CCM music has changed, other times I’m surprised how much it really has. Even in the last decade, artists like Brandon Lake, Cece Winans, Matt Maher and others have combined the worlds of corporate worship and Christian music radio, making it popular to sing church songs outside the church doors. What a blessing!

Still, I like to think that when I lead worship today, whether it’s for a small prayer meeting at someone’s house, or in front of the blessed sacrament with thousands in attendance, it’s simply a continuation of my prayer that began all those years ago. I rarely feel worthy to do it. In fact, I find myself leaning on those liturgical words more often than I care to admit: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.“ I really believe that the call is as simple now as it was then. The Lord says to so many of us, “You have a guitar, you can carry a tune. Will you serve?”

Here’s where we’ll be. If we’re in your area, come pray with us.

7/10-12: Steubenville (Atlanta, GA)

9/14-17: Writer’s Retreat (Oceanside, CA)

9/19: FestPGH (Pittsburg, PA)

10/10: Night of Worship, Hope, and Healing with Jordan St. Cyr (Deville, LA)

10/12-16: RESOUND Worship Leader Training (St. Louis, MO)

11/29-12/20: Advent Tour with Tanner Kalina: dates available

For booking info or parish partnership inquiries, head to our website or email us at info@joshblakesleymusic.com

Check out the new album “You are Lord” featuring my new song, “Freedom in His Name” and tell me what you think!

joshblakesleymusic.com

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