WORSHIPPING WITH THE YOUTH CHOIR

Worshipping with the

When anyone asks me what life is like as a youth leader, I always have the same answer: I’m not a youth leader! I’ve always found that God has a funny way of placing you where you didn’t actually intend to be, but rather where He needs you to be.

I joined the ECC staff three years ago, thinking I’d mostly be working directly with the Worship Team, and yet time and time again, God has proved Himself faithful and opened doors for me in other areas. Running the ECC Youth Choir is by far one of my favourite roles, and it’s a privilege to support our youth in their relationship with Christ, worshipping Him together as a family.

I began the Youth Choir back in August 2017, after speaking to Pastor Sam Blake about young people missing on the Worship Team. I was 21 at the time, and yet I was the youngest singer on team. When I joined I was 16, so where had all our 16 to 20-year-olds gone? We both decided this was something that needed addressing, and the idea of creating a Youth Choir was formed.

Originally, I was terrified about working with young people. Not because of the stereotypical image of a rowdy, backchatting teenager, but rather an insecurity in whether I’d be able to manage a group of young people, and teach them not only to sing, but to cultivate their passion for Jesus.

For our first week, I started with just three teenagers between the ages of 11 and 14. The three who attended are still regular members of the Youth Choir, and it’s been amazing watching them from 2017 up until now. Where there was a lack of assurance, there is now a joy in worshipping together. By December 2017, I had eight teenagers,

with up to 14 the following year. Jade Aygei-Kyeremateng and Priscilla Mesaque have been instrumental in running the Youth Choir alongside me, and I am so thankful to them for not only supporting me, but also encouraging and instilling confidence in our youth. Getting the Youth Choir to where it is now is not because of anything I’ve done, but because these teenagers are looking for somewhere to be, where they not only have fun, but can also open up about their relationship with Jesus, and share in a weekly devotion together. It’s so important that we ‘train up a child in the way he should go [so that] when he is old, he will not depart from it’ (Proverbs 22:6). When I think about how God has guided me up until this moment, I always think of and commend my parents, Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, and aunties and uncles in the church, who have encouraged me through my teenage years. You are so important in the lives of our youth, and they will remember what you’ve done for them. It really does take a village to raise a child! At the start of 2019, both Pastor Richard Buxton and Pastor Sam Blake championed our young people, by giving them space to serve in our Sunday morning services. The Youth Choir have since sung onstage with the Worship Team every three months, being led by, taught by, and being invested in by the wonderful members of our team. It’s a fine line between performing and worshipping, and it’s sometimes very easy to find yourself crossing between the two if you’re not careful. Hebrews 12:28 says: ‘Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably, with reverence and awe’. Worship is not about how we feel or what we do, but rather that we place onto God the honour that He deserves. We are called to minister to the Lord, just as the Levites were in the Old Testament. Our Youth Choir have grown in their understanding of what worship looks like - whether that’s on stage, in our Youth Choir meetings, or in their bedrooms at home. Knowing what true worship is, means we can experience a freedom and joy in giving God glory. The youth thoroughly enjoyed their first Limitless Sunday on 1st September 2019, where they led ECC in worship for the first time. Despite their worry in not being able to lead worship for 30 whole minutes, they gave it their all and worshipped