originally posted on 10/2/16
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I put an abridged version of this on Facebook a while ago. But it was a moment that I cannot explain in the detail that it happened. However, I am going to try at this time.
Several years ago I was on a worship team for a local church that I used to attend. I know many of you might be shocked at that first sentence. But it’s true. I can carry somewhat of a tune. So I guess you could say I have a hidden talent.
I enjoyed my time on the worship team. It was a blast serving God in a different way. There were a lot of people who were surprised that I wanted to get up in front of people and sing. It was fun.
One of the things that I have always enjoyed is hearing people sing back. The church was a smaller church, so they didn’t have the fancy in-ear monitors and stuff. They were still doing old school with the big speakers on the stage so you could hear yourself. This allowed me to hear the crowd. (Now in saying that, I have never used in-ear monitors, so I don’t know what all you can hear with in-ear monitors.) When the music was quieter, you could hear the people singing back, and it was AWESOME!! I thought there was nothing better than that. That was until I experienced worship at Launch. (In a nutshell, Launch is a program at my church that helps transition 5th graders to 6th grade.) But with what was going on in my life at the time, I debated even going to serve in Launch that night. But, I am ever glad I did.
When I arrived at the church that night, the students were just arriving back from one of the activities that they had been doing. The students moved some stuff around and we went into the auditorium for worship. They sang some songs and then heard a message. But this is where it got real.
After the message, they sang a song (link provided below). At the end of the song, the worship leader decided to go back and sing the bridge of the song. They sang it through a couple times. Then the worship leader said: “Now only you guys sing.”
I knew that was it. These are the words that they sang (and you can go and listen to them at the link below).
“I won't let the storm weather my heart
Won't let the darkness beat me down
Sing in the night my hope alive in You
I'll walk through the fire and not be burned
Pray in the fight and watch it turn
Jesus tonight I give it all to You”[1]
The chills that came over me in those few moments as God ripped through that place cannot be put into words. As I mentioned above, I have heard the adults sing back before, and it was amazing. But this time it was students. This time it was about 50 students (5th graders) singing back to Jesus. Why was it so amazing?
The students had just finished talking about the transition into middle school and some of the fears that go along with that. (That is another post for another time). Then right after that, I heard them lift their voices to Jesus about not being beaten down by the storms (fears) of life. God was present in that place during that time.
So far, this is one of the highlights of my year. It was amazing!!! What a God moment!! It was a moment that I needed to experience.
[1] “When The Fight Calls” by Hillsong Young & Free
Songwriters: Michael Fatkin / Aodhan Thomas King / Melodie King / Scott Ligertwood
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