Worship Leader Network | Worship Leader Forum | Worship Leaders Music Discussion
Do you have a life story?
How did you become a worship leader? Were you raised in church, or did you find God later in your life? Did you start in your ministry young, or when you became older? How did you get to this point in your relationship with God? Share your life story. You might have a testimony that will touch someone's life.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by David Baroni on -
I met the Lord through a young lady I met at Kentucky Fried Chicken in Muscle Shoals Alabama where I was working at Fame studios as a session player, singer and songwriter. That young lady became my wife, Rita. (28 years now!)
I moved to Nashville to begin a ministry/career as a contemporary Christian artist. (This is the reader's digest version).
After several years of traveling, one day I asked the Lord what He wanted me to do. He replied: "The first thing I want you to do is to quit worrying about what you are supposed to do and just be!" Then He said, "Your calling is to be a vessel to honor My Name and to worship Me."
I have come to realize that that calling is more than just writing and leading worship songs, but in every area to, by His grace, show forth the Life of Jesus. It's been a great adventure so far, and like all good adventures, has come with it's share of storms, tears, terrors and triumphs.
I appreciate the topic and I assure everyone reading that they, too, have a story!
Just in case anybody wants to read more of mine, I have written a book of my story so far called "The Jazz Preacher".
You can order it on my site: www.davidbaroni.com
Godrest and Godspeed,
David B
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Permalink Reply by Deisha Day on -
Wow...I wish I knew what my calling is lol...but in the mean while, I'm doing what I can and want to honor the Lord
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Permalink Reply by Deisha Day on
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OK...I'm 14 years old. I was raised in the Apostolic church. My dad was in the military, so I moved a lot. I've lived in Ice Land, South Carolina, Washington DC, New Orleans, and sweet home Mississippi. When I moved to Mississippi, I was 6 years old and I had 2 brothers. When I was 7 years old, I sang in a Christmas play with my pastor's son. That was my first major solo. Later, my mom took over the kids drama team and choir. I have had many experiences in performing by singing, and signing. When I was 7, mom taught me how to harmonize. I was soon able to find, and hold my own part of harmonization. When I was 8, I sang in a group for our State Jr. Youth Church Camp. The next year, I took on my own solo. When I was 11, I started praise singing witht the adults and began singing in the adult choir. My pastor's daughter had a big influence in my singing. At the time being, I was in the school choir, and the school band. I learned how to read music, and sight read. Right before I turned 12, I started taking piano lessons. The teacher I had only taught me classical because he said I could play that better than all other songs. And I agree because my long fingers can easily flow up and down the piano, presssing the keys in awkward rhythms. But that's not how we would be playing at church. My church uses lead sheets, and I needed to learn chords. So I switched to another teacher, but all she would teach me was hymns and our church doesn't sing that. So I tried teaching myself. I'm still trying to memorize my chords, but I'm getting them. All the while, I was part of the sanctuary choir, the youth choir, Bible Quizzing, School Choir, and excel(gifted program) As of now, I've just turned 14. I'm in 9th grade, and I'm part of the show choir and the competition choir. I'm still learning the chords to the piano, but I'm starting to play for Children's Church. I'm part of the Children's staff, and I still sign now and then. God has taken me to wonderful heights in our relationship. God is giving me bits and pieces of what I'm called to do. Any way, this is my life story. It would have been longer, but only so much can happen in 14 years lol.
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Permalink Reply by Elman Authement on -
Since I'm 51 years old as I write this, mine would take a real long time to tell all that has happened, but if I leave out the bad parts, my story would be really short. hah
Since life begins with Jesus, I accepted the Lord at the age of 22 in the height of my drug carreer. I left work one day with a brown paper bag full of "weed" and came back on Monday with a Bible. Talk about a shock to my buddies. A couple of my friends had gotten saved and it was really upsetting me. Their knowledge of the Word was very little so they told me stuff like I would die and go to hell and I'd see my son (then 2 years old) in heaven and I wouldn't be able to talk to him. It made me so mad but then it made me think, I didn't want to go to hell. So I started going back to my church, but they didn't preach salvation quite like the Bible teaches.
A few weeks later I decided to go to one of these "prayer meetings". I smoked a joint before I went. Bob Dylan has just gotten saved and came out with "Slow Train Coming" so there I was, stoned, listening to Bob Dylan and reading the Bible. Late on they lowered the lights and asked us to pray this prayer. Well I wasn't afraid to pray, so I did. I guess I meant it because I went home, smoked another joint and went to bed.
I woke up the next morning and a strange thing happened. I didn't feel like drinking and smoking anymore. My buddy came over with some 2nd Chapter of Acts, Dallas Holms and Phil Keaggey albums. I was instantly hooked. I threw away all my secular albums (probably a dumb move now that I think about it) but at the time it was neccesary.
I played guitar so music was a big part of my life. Within weeks I began writing songs, mostly simple stuff. Ii continue today. I'm really famous... in my neighborhood. haha. My 3rd CD was named album of the year... by my wife.haha. That was 29 years ago. A lot of water under the bridge. Many regrets, many celebrations of life but here I am, fully alive and still serving the KING!
elman
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Permalink Reply by Deisha Day on
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That's wonderful...When they came to you with Acts chapter 2, that was the perfect place to start. Acts 2 speaks of how they were in the upper room and the Holy Ghost swept through. Peter preached the way to heaven which was speaking in tongues and being baptized in Jesus Name (not the titles) in verse 38. That's wonderful.
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Permalink Reply by Charles Wolff on -
Oh, these kids... no sense of history :-)
2nd Chapter of Acts is/was a musical group, very nice three part harmonies, maybe best known for working with Barry McGuire (hmm, does anyone remember him? Did "To the Bride" ever come out on CD?). "Easter Song" was one of their best-known songs, and would probably be one of those songs everybody does every year if it wasn't in 5/4 or something...
Charles
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Permalink Reply by Deisha Day on
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Oh...wow lol I feel a little, ignorant lol...sorry....
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Permalink Reply by Justin Kirkendall on -
Oh wow.
ok. THis is the short version.
I wasn't raised in church the first couple of years of my life. At age 6, my mom married my dad- and their life was radically changed by the Lord- and we started attending church.
Ever since I was a little guy (age 8), i was always fascinated with the worship portion of the service. My service started when I was about 9- I would "fight" this other girl for the chance to work the transperncies during the service. I took it very serious- I knew all the songs within the first 5 seconds- and had those songs up in perfect alignment (I told you I took it seriously).
In the back of my mind, I always thought it would be amazing if I could lead worship. but I suffered from a major inferiority complex and anxiety - that constantly put the brakes on me pursuing that dream. I didn't know how to play the piano- but i was determined- Nobody really took me seriously at my desire to play...so i decided to teach myself.
Things really took off- and we ended up being called to pastor church in a nearby city -so we did. I had no interest in anything that had to do with the church. I was saved when i was 11. At age 11, there was no musicians anywhere to be found- so i took my "talent" (use that word losely) and donated it to the church- for a short term basis. We ended up starting a church in our hometown- and again same situation- no other musician- so i donated the time and so called talent and became the Church piano dude. I had no interest in becoming a worship leader- or staying on the team for an extended period of time- I was 12. but i loved playing for the Lord.
At 15, the current worship leader had a family issue come up that caused her to have to step down from the worship leader position. It threw the church into a semi-chaotic state- because one of our church's foundations was worship- We loved to worship- It was the thing that made us stand out among all the churches in the city- we worshipped with all we had.
So, after a lengthy heated "discussion" with my Pastor (aka: dad) on a wednesday night an hour before service- it was decided that I was to fill in that position. I was so scared. Nervous. Unsure of myself. Hello? I just went through puberty- did not have the best voice in the world- could barely play and sing at the same time...and the worship leader had an amazing voice- one that I couldn't even try to imitate. So i cried that night and prayed.
Prayed hard, and I told the Lord that "I had been on the team for so long with no intention of becoming any leader or anything like that- but Lord, if this is what you want to do through me- I'm here. Take it and make it yours. and I won't look back"
I became the Worship Leader at age 15- someone who just 4 years ago- had no real intention on being a worship team; let alone being a worship leader. It was hard- I'm not going to lie. The transition between the myself and the other worship leader was hard on everybody because it was so fast and abrupt. There was alot of things that I hadn't learned yet- but alot of stuff that I had learned just by watching my dad and the worship leader and making mental notes about things i liked, things i would change, things that could be better.
Things really took off, after I became the leader...Our church grew and grew....in worship, we jumped so many levels and are at such a different place than where we were.
At age 18, i was put on full time staff at our church
At age 20, i was ordained into the ministry as a worship minister
I've learned a great deal in the past 9 years (haha feels wierd only being 20 saying "I've learned so much in 9 years")
Everything from how to move in the spirit while leading, to conducting practices, to being on key (kidding).
I'm thankful that I started when I did. At age 11. God knew what he wanted to do through me, I just needed the extra push. I am most definetly not where I thought I would be in that 12 year old's small mind. God has blown my mind. Exceeded expectation- Created them actually and then exceeded them.
I have had 2 things over the years: (1)Trust (2) Pray
God has shown himself faithful and proven himself to me in so many ways- I am thankful that He chose me and called me to minister- Words can't express my awe and gratitude. I'm excited about what lies ahead.
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Permalink Reply by David Goodwin on -
That was the short version Justin?? LOL - just kidding :-)
I keep looking at this discussion and thinking I should write my story...and then thinking I really need some more time to get it together...
So, for now, I'm going to say...stand by, I'll be back!
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Permalink Reply by Deisha Day on
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Can't wait!
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Permalink Reply by Justin Kirkendall on
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oh yeah that was the short version (haha)
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Permalink Reply by Deisha Day on
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That's amazing...maybe I need a little push lol...I'm given so many opportunities, but I don't take them...I shy away...I'm not confident with my talent yet
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