Audrey is a fascinating person to talk to! I first met her in Canada, back stage before we both led worship at a youth event. We hit it off right away, talking about everything from our testimonies, to what music we like, to why she decided to become a Catholic. I could tell straight away that she is a deep, deep soul with much to give and share. Her lyrics are moving and poetic, and she is a joy to be around!
Back in December Audrey went out on tour with Chris Tomlin. Her song “Winter Snow” was on Chris’s “Glory In The Highest” Christmas record. There’s a video at the bottom of this post, of her singing the song backed up by Chris’s band on one night of the tour. It’s a stunning song.
So I asked Audrey to answer a few questions for us here at WIWN!
Vicky: “How did your journey as a worship leader begin?”
Audrey: “I didn’t grow up around praise and worship music–we were the hymn-singing sort–so the concept of praise and worship in general was foreign to me as a young teenager. I moved to Florida in 2001 at the age of eighteen with my family and met a guy at school who found out that I played and sang, and asked if I would come help lead worship at the new young adults’ ministry he was forming. The phrase “lead worship” was equal parts mysterious and terrifying–but something (the Holy Spirit, I’d postulate) made me say yes. So I printed out a few chord charts for some songs I had heard, and brought my guitar to the church lobby where they were meeting on Tuesdays, and strummed the chords whilst staring down at my papers on the floor, trying to stick to the lead sheet as well as I could. It was a timid beginning…but shortly thereafter, God spoke unmistakably to me and I knew that writing, singing, and praying songs of worship was a large part of my call in life”.
Vicky: “Did you have female worship leader role models when you were starting out in your ministry?”
Audrey: “Very early on, I was introduced to the Passion movement, and so of course Christy Nockels was influential. In those first few years, Misty Edwards began to be an influence as well.
Vicky: “What advice do you have for girls and women who lead sung worship or sing on worship teams?”
Audrey: “There is a darkness that would love to choke out a woman’s gift of worship. I have, at times, walked through what feels like fire and ice trying to muster up the courage to step out and really lead people in prayer. To this day that battle still rages; I am at odds with the voices that would insinuate how unworthy I am of this post. That insinuation is, of course, a warped truth. I am unworthy, and yet the mad, glorious way of God is to take unworthy people and declare them to be suited for ministry; and through their lives, reconcile the world to Himself. In the midst of so much deception and fear, I can only be equipped to lead God’s people in sung prayer and worship if I abide in the heart of the Father, take up the cross of Christ, and receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit. These three attitudes of receptivity to God are integral to my ministry; receptivity is a great gift of being feminine; and like Mary, mother of Jesus, we receive Him in order to then “birth” Him into the world…in other words, in receiving God, we can give Him to others”.
Vicky: “What do you do to have fun?”
Audrey: “I love Scrabble and Boggle and any other word game I can get my hands on! I love to read…there are many, many books to go on my list, which never ends. I love to cook, hate to clean, and my perfect Saturday would be spent in a hammock in 75 degree weather with a book, a blanket, and a box of kettle-cooked potato chips. (love them!)”
To keep up with what Audrey is doing, check out her website http://www.audreyassad.com/ and her tweets! http://twitter.com/audreyassad
I’ll leave you with two videos…Winter Snow and Love Is Moving:
Audrey Assad – Love is Moving – Cornerstone Chandler – Worship from brianwurzell on Vimeo.
