Mandy Thompson

Mandy is a singer/songwriter/worship leader from Southeast Georgia. She grew up singing in church and has a strong background in leading the church in worship as well. She's hammered out songs for over ten years, is an independent artist who loves the experience of creating, and is working on her third album this summer.

If she's not writing or learning new music, she's spending time with her husband, working on her much-needed tan, or enjoying conversation over a cup of coffee.

www.mandythompson.com

1. What does worship mean to you?

Right off the bat, I'm going to steer this conversation away from just singing songs. If I can be completely honest, I'm not so crazy about the title "worship leader" in all its implications. I'd prefer to be called a music minister. I believe worshiping God means so much more than simply good music on a Sunday morning.

If 100 Christians get together in a building with the doors closed and the windows shut, how much will God's glory be revealed? Who's gonna "see and believe?" When I talk about worship, I talk about what it means to live a life that points to Christ - that points to the grace and glory of God. We are to be mirrors, reflecting what God is doing in our lives and in the world around us. I think this form of worship can best be applied outside of Sunday church services, in the world, where others can see it.

2. What do you think happens when you worship?

Others will be drawn to God. Others will take notice of who God is. God will be glorified, because we are magnifying Him. We are bringing attention to what He's done or who He is. I think of those stories in the New Testament of people whose lives were radically touched by Christ. Some were healed, some were radically forgiven, some were restored to a functioning social identity. In these cases, these individuals couldn't help but tell others. They were compelled to let others know what God did in their lives. They were literally shouting it in the streets. And entire towns were transformed because of it. That is what happens when we worship.