Bassist on Creative Arts Team

At first, playing an instrument was just about the music for me, like hitting the right notes and sounding good and not messing up in front of people. I showed up to rehearsal and just went with the flow, play, leave, and not think about it much after.

Over time, it changed into something way bigger than that and my heart started to change and I started to look forward to it. I started realizing that it’s not really about me at all, it’s about worshiping Jesus and using what I’ve been given for Him. Practice is being part of something important and being around people who are all trying to grow in their faith too.

I’ve gotten more focused and more intentional and I actually care about what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. It’s helped me grow not just as a musician, but as a person. Now when I play, I think more about the meaning of the songs and what I’m saying through them, and it feels more real, like I’m actually connecting instead of just performing. It’s made me think about how I use my time and my life outside of music too, worship isn’t just on stage, it’s how I live every day.

Being part of the worship team played a part in me choosing to get baptized because it made my faith more real to me. When you’re up there leading or being part of worship, you can’t really fake it, you start thinking about where you stand and what you believe. It pushed me to take my relationship with Jesus seriously and not just say I believe, but actually live it out. I’ve also seen changes in my life like being more involved in church and thinking more about my choices and who I surround myself with. I’m not perfect at all, but I can tell I’m growing and changing and that’s what made me want to take that step and get baptized.

Vocalist on Creative Arts Team

I’m not a singer. I’m not super creative, and I can’t stand the spotlight. A singer can sing, absolutely - but are they believing the words? Have they experienced the goodness of God? Have they been set free?

For years, I relied on nicotine to get me through my day. I thought I couldn’t function without it. But God... He was calling me out of this addiction and what I thought was a substance of relief that I ran to when things got hard. I surrendered that addiction to God in June 2025 and a few months later, I felt called to join the worship team and had a vision about it.

I was leaving the original Creative Arts Meeting in July 2025 and Jaclyn asked if anyone sung and nobody responded. I heard the words “what if they have never sung before - could you use them?” come out of my mouth. I was shook. It took me a couple months, emotional moments, and visions, but I finally obeyed and signed up for an audition. I knew that if I wasn’t good, Jaclyn wouldn’t use me. I was wrong - she told me I had a stage presence she could use.

My flesh didn’t like it. My hands were sweaty, my heart racing, and I wanted to crawl in a hole. Our first rehearsal with just Jaclyn and I, I was bowing down in surrender as a worship leader. A worship leader worships from their testimony with Christ at the center. He is the reason I sing. I owe Him everything. This small act of obedience is an honor to worship God authentically to show others that there is freedom in Jesus.

I still don’t know how to hear certain notes, the in-ears still throw me off at times, but I have to rely on Him to see me through. I practice, yes absolutely yes, but my nerves hit me so bad when I get ready to lead - I have to sing to Him and only Him. That is my truest form of worship.

This small act of obedience is an honor to worship God authentically to show others that there is freedom in Jesus. Before, I dreaded rehearsals, and now I look forward to practicing the set, pumping up those around me, and posturing my heart to worship our Savior. What an honor.