To formally introduce myself; I am Simon Forbes and I come from the land of green fields, leprechauns and the land of Guinness… You may have guessed, Ireland. I am from Northern Ireland in a small city called Belfast. I am 22 years old, finished my studies doing a 3 year degree in Theology and currently one of the worship leaders at my home church; Newtownbreda Baptist Church.
I always had a love for music, and I guess I am still wondering why till this day. I enjoy singing and playing some guitar, music is my vice. I have been attending my local church for 7 years as I became a Christian at one of their summer camps and started my journey of faith in 2006.
Slowly but surely I listened to a lot more worship style music and began as a lead player (oh the joys and fun that is electric guitar). I had played acoustic in the background and sang in my bedroom and was never ashamed to play at church talent shows and all that fun stuff. So over the years I had maintained three different instrument styles: Vocals, electric and acoustic and progressed through church services and being with other worship leaders who pushed me.
In regards to my calling into lead worship, it began back in January 2012. I was doing a college placement out in Florida (of all places to go) and served in a church that I knew one of the pastors from back home. Mean while in the midst of that, God was doing amazing things back home in Belfast that I never would’ve imagined. One of our previous worship leaders, Jonny Wright (who is currently studying at DTS) approached me when I returned and informed me that he feels the Lord is calling me to step up within the church music ministry and was willing to push me over the next few months.
My excitement was overwhelming but there was no way I was starting in church. I began doing one song in youth fellowship out of the set to get comfortable. Later in April of that year, Jonny more or less threw me into the deep end and asked me to oversee worship at our church Easter camp. This was 5 nights of the week, every night, same times, with the same people and I was the guy who was asked to step up. Like Peter, I decided to get out of the boat and aim to walk by faith. Eventually I didn’t start out in church services (leading worship) until the summer of 2012.
Through there, I had lead worship at summer camps, weddings, church services, young adult events, etc. Currently I oversee worship for the youth and young adults within my church, and the first year (September 2012 which I was the guy to head up the ministry) I can strongly say I failed in a lot of places. It wasn’t down to ability or lack of practice, it was the life behind the worship leading.
I am a guy who finds it hard to say no to things and can be a push over and this got the better of me. Trying to maintain a part-time job as a youth worker, full-time studies of the final year of my degree, family, friends, ministry, call upon for prayer meetings… It all got the best of me. I reached a burnt out stage, within 3 months of starting out, to which I fell into the trap of hating what I was doing. But more importantly of all things that weren’t maintained well was my relationship with the Lord.
Yes within worship (no matter what instrument you play) your skill is important, practicing hard, being pushed to new limits is needed as a musician, however the one thing that is the rock of everything is having a heart of worship. Worship can eventually become about us as we receive praise and thanks for an awesome worship set or playing the right songs, worship should always be about the Lord. I learnt this lesson the hard way and the responsibility you have as a worship leader is to lead people into the throne room of God, that is massive.
One of my many verses that help me to be true to people as I am on and off stage is Proverbs 27:19 – “As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true person”. This was crucial for me. I can sing about the truths of the Lord but not discover or remind myself of them when I don’t engage with the word and prayer. This was how I was encouraged to know that “the worship set” is a small percentage of what you actually do, the life you lead, the people that you shepherd has more weight to carry.
Over this year I have been encouraged so much in regarding to ability and my own walk with the Lord from church elders, worship leaders, friends and even visitors. There is something about encouragement that overwhelms you and you can’t refuse to stay there. The beauty of it all is when someone points to you of your giftings, but you need to walk in it. If I didn’t do anything when Jonny encouraged me, I would’ve still been wondering what I am supposed to do with my life.
I am still within this ministry at my local church and it is a privilege to go to other churches and lead worship as it’s an honour to do so. Compared to Jonny, I had an easier opportunity as Jonny paved the way for guys like me and the opportunities I have had were amazing. I couldn’t think of anything else I would want to do, plus I get to do it for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
That is a brief part of my worship leading testimony as I am still learning and getting by through all that goes all within church life and within my own. If there are specifics I can engage with over the next while, I will be honoured to help out with those who helped me. Worship leading is never easy and I believe it was never meant to be. Just remember, to all worship leaders and other musicians, we are to lead people to the throne room of God and let the Lord minister to his people that gather in worship, but we have to aware that we need to be ministered as well. Don’t let “worship leader” become a title that defines you, but let the Lord and your fruits define you.
In the Middle of the War