Name: Grady Robinson
Location: Atlanta, GA. USA

I have led worship choirs and praise bands for nearly 15 years in a variety of venues and churches across denominational lines. Currently I am leading worship at a brand new church plant called The Midtown Bridge (www.themidtownbridge.com)in Midtown Atlanta. This has been probably the most rewarding atmosphere’s I have worked in.

There is a total dependency on God to provide people, resources as well as direction.

Working in larger, more established churches there is often a "road map" in place or a more defined routine to fall into. Starting with no history in a multi-cultural environment, the road is totally wide open. Reaching out to an area the is extremely culturally diverse takes a lot of prayer and experimentation. There is definitely a different kink of energy in a new church plant that you don't often find in a more routine-established church. I find complacency, which is easy to fall into with any size church, is nearly non existent in a new church plant. I would recommend any minister who finds them self needing to rekindle their passion for ministry to get involved in a new church plant. You can get involved many different ways.

You can choose to financially help raise money for the plant or simply get involved with the journey of the plant on a weekly basis staying current with prayer support and vested time and interest in the ongoing development of the new plant. Most importantly, get those you minister an opportunity to be involved by giving a Sunday or two every few months to help with set up, greeting, nursery, playing on the praise team and helping with community outreach events that are held. Many church members want to be involved in mission work but find it difficult to take the time off to go overseas when they are missing out on the blessing of giving of themselves to a local mission work. I have received several thank you’s from partners in the Atlanta area who have given a Sunday away from their home church to help us serve the  Atlantic Station community. Partners are so crucial to a young church plant. So with all that said, I am sure you see where my heart is at this time in my journey with Christ.

1. What does worship mean to you?
To me corporate worship is two fold and single purposed. The purpose is simply to Glorify Christ in everything we say and do; to give first to Christ as He has given to us. This begins on Monday as we glorify Christ with every aspect of our daily life. As we step out in faith to glorify Christ something happens in our heart which intensifies our boldness and gives us rest and peace in our Spirit. It also gives us direction and wisdom in our daily journey. In giving, we always receive. Finally our daily worship is exemplified as we come together as a body of believers and corporately offer up our adoration and praise to Christ. I am not inclined to believe that the more we give of ourselves in corporate worship on Sundays, the more we are capable of obediently worshiping during the week rather I have found that our Sunday worship is a direct reflection of what Christ has done in our heart as a result of our daily worship. I have found in my own personal walk full of victories and failures that God is not in the maintaining business. He is in the overflow business. As you receive from Gods Word on Sundays allow that to continue in personal study Monday thru Friday and watch how it impacts your corporate worship the following week. It will not only give you a greater copasity to give but a stronger passion and awareness of His presence.

2. What do you think is the result of worship and/or how can worship be displayed in your life
To worship is to give to Christ before giving to others or to our self. Obviously, it is easy to get caught up with meeting our own needs. It is also just as easy to find joy in giving to others. It is tangible and the need is so evident. If this supercedes our giving to Christ first there is a tendancy to receive a false sense of “I am giving enough” as well, it is easy to get weary in all that well doing. It is difficult however, to give of ourselves first to the unseen and the unheard and as a result Christ sometimes remains unseen and unheard. Christ defines this process in His Word. “Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you.” The first step is always one of faith and very uncomfortable but undoubtedly ours.  I believe when we begin making steps of faith, you know - worshiping the way our heart tells us even when it is out of our comfort zone, we find that God is true to His Word. His steps towards us will appear more like leaps that give us security and boldness to take yet another step of faith towards Him. The result is a wonderful balance in giving and receiving and the confidence in being led by Christ in all we do.

3. What causes you to worship?
Sometimes joy, sometimes hope, sometimes reverence, most of the time obedience. Psalm 73:28 "But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all Your deeds."

4. How has worship impacted you?
It has given me a sobering awareness that I am not my own, that I have been bought with a price. The closer I get to Christ the more I realize that anything good in me is a result of Christ at work in my life. The further I get from Christ the emptier and lonelier I feel. I become reliant on good works only to be let down, weary and unfulfilled.

5. Do you think the lost can worship God?
True worship will either entice those who are lost towards Christ or drive them away from His presence. I’m not inclined to believe there is middle ground here. Authentic worship begins not in the limited understanding of the mind or as a result of the outward expressions of the body. It begins as an act of obedience to an undeniable call that resonates to the deepest part of the heart where a relationship is born between the soul of man and the Creator.

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