The Local Church Is Where It’s At! // Part 1

Have you ever been to a major worship event and felt swept up in the joy and excitement that come when a huge gathering of believers meet together? I certainly have. Something special happens when believers from different churches and nations come together to worship God and hear His Word.

I have been impacted by events like these; and in fact, I’ve had the privilege of leading worship at such events. It has been so much fun and so encouraging to know that people will leave inspired and equipped to serve their local churches.As worship leaders, worship pastors and musicians passionate about worshiping God such events are bliss to us—everyone is there to worship and everyone is “going for it.” So when we return to our local churches and are again faced with the challenge of leading our congregation and pastoring our worship team, it can be easy to feel discouraged, and we can be tempted to hold those events on a pedestal because the times of worship at our local church may look different or feel flat in comparison. But let me encourage you: Even with all the excitement and powerful times of worship that are experienced at such events, the local church is where it’s at! The local church is the main event.

My husband Paul and I have been leading the worship team at our church in Jacksonville, Florida for over three years, and I can honestly tell you that it has been one of the most rewarding things we’ve ever done. However, it’s come with some challenges. We came from the UK, so our experience of church was quite different from the experience of those here in the US, particularly in the South. I was used to leading worship for youth and university students, whereas our church here in Florida is filled with believers of all ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Previously I had been used to leading in environments where people passionately expressed worship to God, but when we first moved here, many had come from church backgrounds where worship was not a focal part of the service. So even though they were hungry to worship God, many didn’t know how to express their worship to Him. Much of our focus has had to be on teaching our congregation about worship, being Spirit led, and encouraging them to express their worship to God.

We had also come from a church that had a large pool of musicians, and when we moved to Florida, our worship team consisted of only a few. As a result, we have had to be really intentional about recruiting and training new musicians, both in the practical and spiritual aspects of leading worship. Thankfully God has provided the most amazing servant-hearted team, and we are so grateful for them!

I really want to encourage you if you are leading worship (both worship leaders and musicians/singers) or pastoring a worship team week in, week out—it takes time, but it’s worth it! We are not all going to be at the same church from the day we become a Christian till the day we die—God moves some of us around for various reasons. But one thing I know to be true is that change and growth take time, and the only way to see God move in the lives of those around us is to be committed to them and to be patient, pushing through the times when it seems like nothing is changing. Paul and I have had the great privilege of seeing God transform the hearts and minds of those in our church and on our team in such a powerful way over the past year. It’s been amazing to see. There were many times in the previous years when we felt discouraged because we weren’t seeing the fruit we were hoping for. However, we know now that God was moving powerfully all along and that it just took time for all that He was doing to break through to the surface. Our church is still very much on they journey of learning how to express their worship to God and finding total freedom in that, but its amazing to be on that journey with our church family.

There is so much joy to be found in committing to and serving your local church. We not only find love, support, and community, we also get to be that for others. And we get to experience the exciting journey of following Christ together, seeing His kingdom come and our communities transformed by His love and power!

Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Lex and her husband Paul now live in Jacksonville, Florida where they head up the Worship Department at River City Church. Lex previously worked for Soul Survivor Ministries in the UK as one of their worship pastors, has sung on albums such as Matt Redmans Facedown and released an EP with Survivor Records, Through the Valley. Lex is the happy mother of Bella and Finn.