Women in Worship by Debbi Barnett Worship Leader December 13, 2006

As a new worship leader, I felt an unusual call to remain at my church for about two years and not visit other churches as some of my friends were doing at the time. It seemed as though every weekend someone was telling me of a place to go to hear this worship minister or that worship minister, to hear this choir or that singer, or to see how they worshiped over here at this church. I would hear constantly how the Spirit of God was moving at the church across town. God was moving at our church, but somehow I wanted more for our congregation.

Sometimes I would feel that God had His favorites in churches, and I really wanted to go. I just did not have a release to visit and see ‘the mighty workings of God’ in the other churches. In hindsight, I’ve learned that God wanted me to not glean from the other churches at that time, but that I needed to depend on Him to birth something indigenous, local and original, for our congregation.

It was not easy finding the right niche for our church. At first we tried every style we could and patterned ourselves after this group or mainstream praise and worship artist. If that did not work, we tried throwing in a country song, a rock-n-roll feel, a Gospel song here and there - you name it we tried it. I felt because of the cultural diversity of the congregation, we needed to sing songs from all styles just to walk on everybody’s street, if you know what I mean. Believe me, the journey of listening to different music styles is a labor of love in itself and it did something in me. It is a necessary thing to do as a worship leader because you want make it as easy as possible for your people to connect with God through music. I learned a valuable lesson because I really do like all styles of music now. I’ve been set free!

Within my time of “musical attitude adjustment,” I was so tired of all the music I was listening to and I wanted music to sing to Him alone. He gave me a chorus…that’s it, just a chorus without any verses. I believe I had that song for about one month, when He told me to give it to the church. Selfish me wanted a song that only I could sing to the Lord, but He told me to take it public. Little to my surprise, the verses came and an “indigenous” song was birthed in our church, and the congregation learned the song very quickly. Through this act of obedience we have birthed many “indigenous” songs. More and more, I began to introduce songs over the years and these songs have proven to be the songs the congregation holds on to.

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Bloom Sister Debbi,I praise and thank God for using you to speak to me as well as to other worship leaders. I am encouraged and blessed by your articles and the timely relevance they always have for me as a worship leader. This article has reminde...more Submitted by: Dasha Location: Richmond This Article This article spoke directly to me. We are in a interesting place at church, not ideal but very interesting. We have a variety of musical tastes represented, but still a few who hold out that theirs is best. Nevertheless, we have a very happy and ...more Submitted by: Sylvia Location: Kentucky Bloom Dear Sister Debbi:Thank you for a wonderful article. I am all for expression of diversity in music ministry worship. This is how I order my personal praise and worship time daily at home.I am very much a Richard Smallwood, Daryl Coley, Kirk ...more Submitted by: Alice Location: Newark/ East Orange, NJ

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