Here is a subject that I am very passionate about – "Women Worship Leaders". What a blessing it is to be able to come before the Lord with songs of praise, and to lead our church in worship. I have been a worship leader for over 13 years and I can tell you, there is nothing more satisfying to me than seeing those of our congregation in a state of worship of our Creator God!

But it hasn't been all bliss though. Through the years I have come across individuals who are against women in the "worship leader" role. Some have even gone so far as to threaten to leave the church because of me being a worship leader. A pastor of mine told me about an experience he had with someone threatening to leave our fellowship if he didn't remove me from a leadership role in worship. Here is what he asked this person:

Do you know who the very first worship leader was? The man scratched his head and said, "You know…I don't recall". The pastor replied…."Miriam"! God didn't have a problem with her leading worship so why should you? The man blustered and said….but women shouldn't be in the position to teach or even pray; they are not supposed to teach men! Pastor replied….this woman is not teaching us anything other than to become a better worshipper of our heavenly Father and I can't see God finding fault with that. If you feel that you can't continue with this fellowship because of your issue with a "woman worship leader" than I will be sorry to see you go.

The man decided to stay but these issues crop up from time to time and can even push someone that is called to the position to leave. DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN. Preserver and do not fret because in the end you will KNOW whether you were called to the position or not.

I find that a woman, while leading worship, can reach a heart and be effective on a different level than a man. I have found that woman have the ability to move people into that deeper place of worship by the tone and softness of her voice. What is music? I feel that music is a strong conduit to our memories and has always had the ability to take us back to places that are dear to our hearts; it could be that when you hear a certain song it will take you back to a place of remembrance like high school or your wedding day.

Worship on the other hand takes us to the Father. The definition of worship is "the reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object". The purpose of worshiping God is not to experience the hand of God but to see the face of God; it is FOR God and all TRUE worship has God at the center! In singing our love songs to Him during a time of worship, He in turn blesses us with His love, peace and understanding and opens us up to hear the Word.

My hearts desire is to mentor women who are gifted worshipers to move into a worship leader position; whether they play an instrument or not. There are always ways to be a worship leader without knowing how to play a guitar or keyboard. Back up tracks can be used or seek someone out on the worship team that plays an instrument.

Being a worship leader is a calling and not only something that you have a desire to do. God has to choose you for the position. God choose me for the position. Did I seek it out? NO! If I had my way, I would have stayed firmly worshiping God with everyone else in the congregation, not on the front lines leading the congregation in worship!

When I first started in worship leading, I was a back up guitarist for our women's retreats (I was shy back then). Then they heard me sing and wham, I was pushed into the leadership position for all of our women's retreats, bible studies, etc. That evolved into leading worship for the mid-week study, which later evolved into leading worship for two Sunday services.

I am now a worship leader at my home church and leading worship for retreats and events and I go out to Christian Coffeehouses and "lead" worship at those venues. Keep in mind also that as a worship leader, we need to live a life that is pleasing to God. We as humans are not perfect but we have to strive to live our lives as though we live in a glass house and everyone that passes by can see how we, as a follower of Christ, really lives.

If you feel that God is calling you into the position of "worship leader" pray and seek answers in His word, He'll show you the answer. And when you DO step into that position, here is a scripture that has always kept me grounded….

Ephesians 4:1-3 says: I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

If you keep that scripture in your heart and apply it to your daily walk, you will go far as a worship leader.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Kat