Hi Beth!
So…how did you get started in sung worship ministry…what journey led you to where you are now?
As a child, I was classically trained on the piano, but I’d always wanted to be able to sit down and play my favourite worship songs from memory. So it took a lot of practise to break away from sheet music and learn to improvise with chords. And this became my worship to God. Most days I’d get home from school and sit down at the piano for an hour to play!
I used to played keys and sang backing vocals in our youth band, then later in the church worship team. I never really wanted to be a worship leader, but one night at cell group I didn’t have a choice. The guy who usually led worship was on holiday, so it was left to me, a guitar and a few cheat chords!
God has taken me on a real journey since then – one which I’ve often been reluctant to take. But He’s shown me time and time again that this is what He’s called me to, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else right now! Recently God’s been teaching me loads about what it is to be a leader, and I have learnt nearly all of it through a few amazingly faithful and affirming people in my life who have believed in me and spurred me on.
How do you put together a set list?
I don’t really have a formula – it’s different every time. Sometimes when I’m praying about a time of worship, God will give me a sense of what He wants to do whether its a phrase, a verse, a picture and so I’ll fit the songs around that. Lately I’ve found it really helpful to play through the song as though I was leading it and then ask the simple question, “where do we go from here?”. Some songs will naturally lead us to a place of celebration, others to a place of pouring out our hearts to Him. I’ve found it’s all about taking people on a journey!
When you write songs, what comes first – words, music or a bit of both?
I’m really at an infant stage when it comes to songwriting, but all I can say is: you never know when a moment of inspiration will hit you. A melody line might come to you while you’re in the shower, a phrase might jump off the page while you’re reading the newspaper, or you might find yourself repeatedly singing out a spontaneous phrase in a time of worship. Once you have the initial inspiration, it’s all about the hard slog!
What encouragement and advice do you have for the girls and women who belong to this online community? Many want to grow in worship leading, and are keen to know how they can grow in their gift and heart…
Know the truth. About God, and about yourselves. As worship leaders, it’s so crucial that we get this. When we fully grasp our identity in Him, there will be no need to inflate our egos and no need to write ourselves off either. We will be far better worship leaders if we are secure enough to get out of the way and ultimately, point others to Him.
What do you do for fun?
I’m definitely an extrovert, so hanging out with my hubby/friends is always fun. And if I have to be on my own, then I love DIY projects. Making things is always satisfying.
Thanks for hanging out Beth! See you soon!
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