WorshipCentral

great to hear your story philip! I am 15 (nearly 16 though :D). Your story has really resonated with me as I have/ have had the same desires. I first led just over a year ago and have had a few more opportunities since. To answer your question I dont think there is an age that you need to be to start leading. Just keep looking to serve and through that you can get opportunities. Once place to start is in a smallgroup. I dunno how your church runs things, but at my church as part of out youth program we have smallgroups were people f same age/gender meet to study the bible, fellowship etc. This is how alot of Churches operate and it is a great place to start were you are just leading a few of your peers in a non pressure place. So maybe have alook into that.

Keep up the good work and keep seeking after god. Keeping that central is the important thing.

God bless,

Iain

hi philip,

God bless you, you sound like your going through a similar situation to many many people.

for me there isnt an age limit no. matt redman starting leading at 15 some older some younger. for now i would encourage you to not force it. if God wants you to lead worship he will open the doors for you. it might start small and not glamorous ie a housegroup but go for it and give God your all and see where he leads you.

God says he who is faithful in little will be faithful in much or something like that, and its so true. think about giving your whole life to GOd ie romans 12:1-2 and read loads of books on worship leading and study the bible as much as you can. also go to semnars and look how others lead and see waht you can learn.

i recomend these books:

to know you more-andy park
passion for your name-tim hughes
facedown-matt redman
for the audience of one-mike pilvachi
the air i breathe- louie giglio
the way i was made-chris tomlin

also look at the story of david in teh bible. he was a shepard boy then became king. he messed up along the way aswell, but had a brtually honest and intimate relationship with his father God.

above all give your self and your gifts to God and love him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbour as yourself and you wont be far wrong!

God bless,
gav.

Gav

Thanks for your comment...I am praying that God will use me. I have read the book by Matt Redman called 'The Unquenchable Worshipper'.

I am trying to write worship songs myself but its really hard I sit in my room with my guitar, capo and pick and half an hour later nothing. Anyway I pray that God will inspire me.

This coming Sunday im going to my church elder again he's called Doug, he's the one I asked can I serve in worship. Im hoping he will give me a positive answer. Praying and Hoping.

Thanks for your really encouraging words Gav, I'll get those book soon hopefully.

In Christ

Phil C

Iain

Thanks for your ancouraging words as well.

I attend my Youth group in church every Sunday but we have no worship there, the only worship im aware of that is for me in the normal Sunday Worship.

I really wanna be serve God through Worship, to me singing, playing guitar etc is only 10% of our worship the rest is behind closed doors. But for that 10% i really wanna serve God with it.

In Christ

Phil

Phil
Its great that your so enthusiatic about wanting to do stuff for God! I would agree with what people have said that there is no minimum age, however your church may have a policy on what age to use. If thats the case I wouldn't worry, if God is going to use you he will and in his own way, it doesn't mean that your not called to be a worship leader just mabye that you will have to wait to lead in church. I would start by leading in small groups and perhaps when your 'old enough' in the eyes of your church start playing in the band, if you are truely called you will find people will notice, not because you're doing anything special but because your just being you and God is annointing you. Then you will find that they might ask you to become a worship leader. Dont worry about rushing towards the end goal take your time learn all you can, get better at your instrument and when the time is right God will come calling!!! Hope that makes some sense
With love
Will

hi philip,

on the writing worship songs thing, again dont force it. if you try and write a song without something to say first then chances are it will be a total struggle or you will say something that someone else has already said.

wait for inspiration. that can come from the bible, a sermon, some cricumstances in life etc.

you can be a worship leader without writing songs aswell so be patient and be humble and see where God leads you.

even if this elder guy says no, dont be discouraged it doesnt mean it wont happen one day.
you a very young so dont wish your life away. be yourself, thats who God made you to be, not anyone else.

God bless,
gav.

Hi phillip
i know what you mean i started leading worship when i was about 14 i'm now 16.
but only in the past few months have i started leading in the sunday morning church service we have a youth of about 80 which has it's own service so thats sort of how the emerging worship leaders come up...

before that tho we lead in small groups cell groups etc.
personally i don't think that age matters as long as the worship leader has a passion for God and their heart in the right place i think. There is another worship leader my age, 2 a year older and 1 younger so it's not uncommon in our church.

All i'd say is just keep playing at home for God in your bedroom. That is where you learn the most about God and see what works and what doesn't. God will see your worship when your on your own and how you act in your life and God will get you leading worship when the time is right.

It's great to see your ambition and passion though
keep it up Jonty

Hey buddy. I can relate to how you feel, but jsut want to encourage you in it. I am 19 and have been leading worship since i was 16. Over the years, the oppurtunities have become more frequent, and have moved from small groups to large congregations etc. And the thing that sticks out most is that it has been a journey, a journey of growth, spiritually and practically, gaining knowledge, gaining experience. I look back at the time i first led worship, and can see so much that was missing that wouldn't have occuerd to me at the time!

I wouldn't say there was an age limit as such, it is jsut where you're at, and your maturity as a christian. It is so easy to discover a gifting and want to use it straight away in the best possible ways. I say embrace the oppurtunities you have been given so far, and jsut keep going with them until the next oppurtunity arises. That is how i went. Put jsut as much effort into it as you would if you were leading at soul survivor or something similar. I have been leading since i was 16 and its only really been since i had jsut turned 18 that i really felt that i was called to do this, and do more. But this year i thought, is this a craving? Like you i felt something enjoying the praise and the attention and being recognised as something and it became addictive. It wasn't until i addressed something else in my life that i realised i am not that humble. Maybe not outwardly, but internally yes. And i believe this is something to do with being a teenage guy! Popularity is important! So i thought i need to put this right, God is not going to use me or develop me further until i am ready for it. This means having a humble heart. So i questioned myself, do i really feel God has chosen me for this, or is this jsut a craving to try and be liek the people i aspire to like Tim and Al, and my honest answer was no. This is a passion, burning in me, and i will chase it and work at it until God finally decides, right, this guy is now ready.

There is a danger of confusing a passion with a craving, make sure that it is a passion. I am not making accusations bare in mind, i jsut want to share this because it happend to me and want to make sure it don't happen to you! Keep praying, reading the bible, asking to God to give you a humble heart, reading books of worship leaders and their journey's and finding where things apply to you and work on it. Then God will move you on to the next stage. Stick with what you are doing, you have done your bit in asking your pastor, when God reckons your're ready, he willl prompt the pastor to come to you. Ask yourself, am i living a worshipful life? Are you honouring God in everythin you do. Because that's worship too.

There wil be highs and lows to experience on this journey to leading worship. And sometimes you will feel discouraged. But this is God testing you, asking where your heart is, makin you rely on him and give it all to him rather than trying to control it yourself. Mate i am passionate about sharing with you because i see so clearly the journey i have been on, if you have anymore questions about what i have said do say or we can email?

Nick C

Nick C

I should probably add having jsut read another forum on how do i become a worship leader, to not jsut focus on worship leading as such to start with. Get involved with the band at church, start off in the background, get experience on playing and sensitivity, this creates another door as you have made relationships and gaind experience etc. I started off in the band, as did most worship leaders i should imagine.

Nick C

I loved what you wrote.

Matt Redman wrote a song called 'The Heart of Worship' and it is saying thats is all about Jesus.
I think that a danger of leading worship is that they are in a trap to draw attention to themself and make making themself famous.

I experienced a REEEEAAAAAAALLLLLYYY Intimate worship time with a few people at my church and I want to share that blessing I recieved.

I am gonna start small, I asked a elder 2 weeks ago can I serve in worship cause I play guitar and he said he will speak to the worship leader about it. Last Sunday unfortunately the worship leader was not in church and the elder told me to wait.

One thing I think if I am going to lead worship in the furure is that we are not meant to draw attention to ourself. All Fame and Glory goes to God.

I get proud very easily, if someone says i am gifted or something pride attacks me. I will really need to ask God to take away my pride and Humble me.

In Christ

Phil