big worship, small crowds

The last couple of months in my life have done a lot to change my perspective on worship.  For the last year and a half I have had the opportunity to regularly lead worship in front of almost 2,ooo people every week.  Somehow, getting to lead for full time missionaries in Africa and in front of 15 people on Monday, though, just felt bigger.

 For our trip to Africa we took three acoustic guitars and a cajon.  We had no sound system, no amps and no confidence monitors, but we got to provide live worship for people that love it and have craved it for so long.  Our friends over there don’t get the chances that we do in the states to turn on radio or go to weekly services where worship is happening.

On Monday, we were asked to lead to close the World Vision Aids Experience; a four day exhibit that gave people an opportunity to see life as a child in Africa, affected by AIDS.  Everyone in the band came from work and got there early.  Jen came in on her day off and set up the entire stage and ran sound for us. We played ten songs (we sounded great by the way) and really worked hard to bring that whole thing together.  After all of that work and effort, 15 people showed up.  The amazing thing is that we still had an unbelievable worship experience! 

It’s so cool to me what happens when we let God strip away all of the stuff of worship; the things that we think are vital to a great set or a great experience that, in the end, are just extra things.  I think the last two months have reminded me that worship isn’t about amps or lights or huge crowds, it’s about humble hearts, and people who desire to draw closer to Jesus.

Praise God for a chance to dive in to worship and to strip away all of the stuff that doesn’t really matter.