Integrity Direct

IntegrityDirect.com: When did you first know that you wanted to be a worship leader, and how did impulse come about?

Vicky Beeching: I first led worship when I was about 12. Mum was the church worship leader and was sick with flu. And I was the only person who could play anything, so I was automatically volunteered for the job. After that, I started leading worship at youth group, and one time I used one of the songs I had written. And as I stood there listening to people singing my words and melody to God, I knew that was what I wanted to spend my life doing.

Darlene Zschech: Never in my life did I think I would be a leader of worship. I always found much joy in helping facilitate the worship experience for the church, arranging choir, being a part of the backing vocal team, writing the occasional song for communion items etc. It was only because there was literally no one to lead one Sunday morning, and my pastor basically handed me the service after I had repeatedly declined leading worship. I just had no confidence and was freaked out by the responsibility! So only because I had decided a long time ago to serve, whatever is needed, that's when I started leading worship. Not very grand, I know.

Laura Story: I was playing bass in a worship band and the female vocalist quit. Since I was the only other girl in the band, the guys handed me a mic. At first I was terrified. But the more I lead worship, the more I realized there was really no difference in singing on a stage or singing from the crowd. Despite the fact that usually I get a microphone and a spotlight, God is one to be magnified. As the old hymn writer put it, I just ask God to “tune my heart to sing His grace.”

Kathryn Scott: I first knew I wanted to be a worship leader about two months after I started leading! I was 21 years old, and the truth is that this was never something I had aspired to be—even though I'd sort of put my toe in the water of worship leading once or twice, I was so bad at it, that I just thought it was something I would never really do (and I was totally happy with that, I think everyone else was too :). But just after I got married, when my husband and I were assistant pastors in a Vineyard church in Glasgow, Scotland, the senior pastor asked me to take over the worship in church, and I felt prompted by the Lord to say yes (with much fear and trepidation I should add!).

IntegrityDirect.com: What do you think separates a great worship song from a run-of-the-mill worship song?

Beeching: A great worship song is one that takes a universal truth that everyone can relate to and expresses it in a totally fresh and new way. There are tons of worship songs that just churn out the same ideas in the same language. An excellent song is one where you say “Wow, I never thought of God like that” or "Wow that’s what I've always wanted to say to Him but have never known how.” That kind of fresh, unusual revelation only comes out of deep time with God and discovering Him. So it all comes back to knowing Him intimately...that’s what makes a great song!

Zschech: Ultimately, the final word on whether a worship song works, which means it lifts and encourages people to encounter Christ, is not determined by the writer, or even the pastor, but by the congregation! I have heard some of the most exquisite, well-crafted songs fall so flat. They were either just too hard for the church to learn or the content was too “me” focused or the song was so groovy that people just slipped into a “soul” experience rather than a spirit experience.

Story: I think it’s hard to write worship music since so much has been said so well by those who came before us. My favorites are the ones that present the same old truth in a fresh way and then connect those words to a great melodic hook. The hook is what makes it powerful, because it gets God’s truth stuck in the listener’s head for days changing their heart and life.

Scott: I think this is largely a God thing. There are some songs that are pretty okay songs. But there's others where there’s just something about them—they have the breath of God on them. When we sing those songs, something happens—we encounter God in a different way. I think those are the greats!

The other thing that I think separates great worship songs from run-of-the-mill ones are great lyrics! I love songs that have been really well thought out—that point us towards another facet of God's character, or remind us again of how incredible He is in a way we haven't often thought through or articulated. Coupled with a great melody, those are the songs that become classics that will be around for a long time to come. Melody alone though, isn't enough. We have to have something say that will echo in people's hearts, and be reflected in their lives.

IntegrityDirect.com: What's a praise song you wish you'd written?

Beeching: I wish I'd written Matt Redman's "The Heart Of Worship" because its all about coming back to Jesus—the reason for the songs. One day when we step into eternity the music of earthly songs and CDs will fade and all of that will be stripped away, and it will become apparent who was just “worshiping worship” and who truly loved and knew Jesus on earth. I long to be someone in the latter category! It’s so easy to get swallowed up in CCM and worship music culture and suddenly realize its not about Jesus much anymore, and that its all become about who wrote which song and who won what Dove Award. "It's all about You, all about You Jesus" —may that be the benchmark we all strive for!

Zschech: Definitely Delirious’ “History Maker.”

Story: I joke with my praise team at church that if they would let me, I would sing Paul Baloche and Glenn Packiam’s “Your Name” every Sunday. I even joke with Paul that I don’t like him because he wrote such a great song. Guys that write songs like that make me want to quit my job and go back to being a cashier at Fazoli’s.

Scott: I would love to have written Marie Barnett’s “Breathe.” It's one of my all time favorites, and I LOVED singing it on the Hungry album!

Songs4Worship.com: If you were only allowed to read one book of the Bible for a year, what would it be and why?

Beeching: It would be John's gospel. In my opinion, John seems to be the one who most understood Jesus out of all his disciples. So to me it’s like reading a book written by Jesus' best friend. I love John's philosophical mind and his soft heart. Second choice would be Isaiah as there is so much about Christ hidden in there, and chapters 40 - 65 are so poetic and filled with amazing promises!

Zschech: Without thinking I automatically thought Psalms. But with more thought, I think Isaiah. I have been captivated by this book for so long on the call to pure worship, and the call to a life of bringing justice.

Story: Hmm…I’m a big fan of 1 Peter. Peter seems like one of those guys that sometimes gets it right and sometimes falls flat on his face. And I can relate to that a good bit. In all of Peter’s humanity, I am compelled by his affections for the person of Christ and challenged by his pursuit of humility.

Scott: The Psalms, without a doubt! I'm not a brilliant reader; but I could devour the Psalms. They are so real; they let us in on so much of what God connection in its grittiest, earthiest, most wonderful, and rich form looks like. I feel like I understand more of who God has revealed himself to be through the Psalms, because in them I know deeply that I am understood by Him.

IntegrityDirect.com: What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given regarding worship leading or songwriting?

Beeching: When I was 14 I sat at table with my youth group worship leader and he told me that worship ministry was like an iceberg. The part that people see onstage needs to be the tip, and beneath the surface has to be a deep, hidden life with God. That challenged and inspired me to go deep in Jesus and make sure the public part of worship ministry was just the surface and that much lies beneath.

Zschech: The best advice is that what we are doing is holy. It’s not about talent or other people's expectation of you, but in giving voice to the cry within the human condition to wholeheartedly worship Christ.

Story: As a worship leader, I always tell people to not let the stage fool you. At my home church, I lead worship in a fairly large auditorium with state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, and it doesn’t take me too long to start thinking that I am the main attraction. This usually manifests itself in me complaining about the monitor mix, being picky about the absence of bottled water or something stupid like that. I forget that I am there to serve, to serve the congregation, to serve the band and the pastor, even that one monitor guy that keeps turning up that ear-piercing snare drum. If the King of Kings came to serve, how much more should we adopt that attitude?

As for songwriting, write songs from you to God. Though this sounds simple, there are a ton of people out there trying to write the next big radio single or the next “favorite song” for your congregation. I know this because I’ve been there and God is still teaching me about this. I have had the privilege of having a few songs sung in lots of churches but some of my songs I have felt were meant specifically for my home church. And still other songs that I’ve written God has intended for just Him and me. My job is to write songs that bring glory and honor to Him alone; He will take care of the scope of the audience.

Scott: The best advice I've ever been given on writing songs is REWRITE! When I started off as a worship writer, I felt like the “way it arrived” was almost sacred, like it was wrong to tweak it. I distinctly remember Brian Doerksen saying to us “The Lord doesn't write bad songs.” And in that moment, the way I understood the writing process changed—thank goodness it did! God gives the inspiration, and we have to learn how to craft those ideas into songs that others can use.

IntegrityDirect.com: What's your favorite way to kick back after a long day?

Beeching: Well, I'm a terrible cook and always burn things! So I'm learning to cook slowly but surely!! I also love movies and playing with gadgets like my iPhone and Mac laptop. Guitar Center is also a favorite hangout spot, looking at gear. And friends are what makes the world go round, so lots of time with them!

Zschech: Put on some loud music (U2, Coldplay, Michael Gungor, or any orchestration) and start to cook for family and friends! I love this.

Story: I’d have to say eating a Mellow Mushroom house special pizza while schooling my husband in Nintendo Wii tennis.

Scott: I love sitting down with my husband and watching “NCIS” (“Naval Crime Investigative Service”). It's our favorite T.V. show at the moment.

Four Women in Worship: