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An Audience of One:
Worship leader
passionately pursues
God
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“As worship leaders, we
create an atmosphere in which to commune with God. We
facilitate the congregation’s journey into the presence of
God." |
An actor couldn’t ask for a meatier role than
that of Marine Col. Nathan R. Jessep in A Few Good Men.
In the film version, Jack Nicholson created a memorable moment
and popular catch phrase with the line “You can’t handle the
truth!”
So it’s
understandable that the part of Jessup is a favorite of John
Warden’s among the many John played in Huntington stage
productions while en route to a bachelor’s degree in theater
performance in 2001.
Nowadays,
John is playing an even bigger role—and promulgating the
truth quite well—as director of media and creative arts and
associate of worship at Hope Evangelical Free Church in
Mason, Ohio.
A native of
Napoleon, Ohio, John came to Huntington as an
art major and
ran track for the Foresters during his freshman and
sophomore years. After his freshman year, however, he
switched academic tracks and became a theatre major. As a
junior and senior, John was the coordinator for Joyful
Noise, the student-led worship team. He also took part in
several mission trips under the auspices of the University.
After
graduation, John landed a two-year acting gig with Sight and
Sound Theatres in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he
participated in a wide of variety of productions.
John’s solid
background in theater—both as a student and
professional—made him a great choice for Hope Church when it
was searching for a worship leader, a growing field that
utilizes skills in music, theater, and multimedia. The
rapidly expanding church, located just north of Cincinnati,
hosts close to 2,000 people for worship celebrations every
Sunday.
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Setting the
stage for the glorification of God is now John’s favorite
role. “As worship leaders, we create an atmosphere in which
to commune with God,” John says. “We facilitate the
congregation’s journey into the presence of God.
“Worship is
a two-way communication between believers and God,” John
continues. “In real worship, we carry on an exchange of love
with the God who is present, the God who speaks to us in the
now, and who has done and is doing marvelous
things. Heartfelt praise, reverence, adoration,
thanksgiving, confession, repentance, and commitment are all
aspects of worship. Providing an atmosphere for believers in
Christ to commune like this with God is vital in today’s
worship services.”
To create
that atmosphere, John uses a variety of approaches. “We
often present dramas to add another dimension,” he says. “It
could entail monologues by Bible characters or mini-plays
with three of four people. But it could also be music or
dance, such as painting a picture to a song. Regardless the
form, it’s presented in support of the message of the
sermon.”
Although
John found his niche without the benefit of Huntington’s new
major in worship leadership, he’s excited about the
prospects for Huntington students now and in the future.
“Having a
program that emphasizes this priority of worship will be a
great asset to the spiritual development of students at
Huntington,” John says. “We need to have people trained to
understand how the spirit moves. A huge area for growth for
me was through Chapel. Now students can grow toward worship
leadership careers in the classroom, too.”
Worship
leadership is a calling that carries great responsibility.
“Understanding and knowledge are always good tools to have,”
John says. “As leaders, we’ll not only be held accountable
for what we teach and preach, but we’ll also answer to God
for how we have or have not prioritized worship among the
people of God. Are we doing whatever it takes to make
worship as God-honoring, fresh, culturally accessible, and
excellent as it can be?”
And what are
the traits desirable in worship leaders? “Genuineness,
passion, pursuit, and obedience—and a desire to dwell in
God's presence and listen to His voice,” John says.
The reward,
however, is much greater than the effort. “The reward is to
know that God is being glorified in your worship. Audience
of One is my motto. I may be leading, but my audience is
God. Anytime you pursue God with passion you will be
rewarded.”
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