 This month we found Bridget Willard who happens to be a 34 year old worship leader and lives in Dana Point, California. You can read a little about her and her thoughts on our 5Questions.Mentored as a worship leader by Chris Falson , Bridget’s passion is intimate, powerful corporate worship as well as worship evangelism.
She believes that worship brings holistic healing body, soul, and spirit.Bridget is the worship leader at Calvary Chapel Seaside in Laguna Beach . Since 1996 Bridget has taught children, teens, and women and has lead worship for those groups as well as prayer meetings, outreaches, home groups, retreats, and coffee houses.
Married for 14 years to her husband Mercier, a pastor, their marriage and ministry have been synomus. Their passion is the motel outreach in Anaheim, California, called Pardoned Prodigals that has been reaching out to the downtrodden, discouraged, depressed, dejected, and the lost since 2001.
Her debut CD “Come Away“, produced by Australian singer/songwriter and worship leader, Chris Falson, has something for everyone. The sounds for each song are entirely different.
As well as a worship leader and teacher, Bridget is also an author; her first book Bagel by the Sea is currently available. Bridget is currently writing a devotional journey for worship leaders entitled ON THE MOUNTAIN, hopefully available soon.
1. What does worship mean to you?
Worship is what we were created to do. Worship is the outward expression of an inward devotion. We worship something. We worship money or cars or careers or success or ourselves. We make a choice on what we worship. I choose to worship God. When my light is dim, and circumstances around me are unbearable, I choose to believe in Jesus and I choose to believe in His Goodness and I choose to worship. Worship is an act of the volition.
2. What do you think is the result of worship?
God doesn’t change because of our worship to him or lack thereof; He is never failing, never changing. WE change. Our perspective changes. Our outlook changes. In Colossians 3:1 Paul tells us to set our eyes on things above, not earthly things. When we set our eyes upon Him, toward the goal, toward Heaven, all of the lies of the world, the flesh, and the devil fade into oblivion. In worship we are healed. We are healed physically, we are healed emotionally, we are healed spiritually, and we are healed mentally.
3. What causes you to worship?
An answer to prayer, a great time in the Word, a moment of enlightenment, hearing a testimony, giving a testimony, desperation, anxiety, grief, fear: in all of these circumstances, I am inspired to worship–I choose to worship.
4. How can worship be displayed in your life?
Acts 17:28 says that in HIM we live and move and have our being. Worship is a lifestyle. All aspects of my life (outwardly) should reveal my inward devotion and outward worship. Also, in worship we are given HOPE, PEACE, and JOY. These attributes of God that infuse our very beings change our outward behavior. We are being transformed from glory to glory.
5. How has worship impacted you?
Truthfully, I am totally desperate for God. Maybe it’s my bent? Either way, all of my life circumstances I have had a choice: drown in my sorrow, forget God or worship Him for who HE is and what He has ALREADY done. Through the loss of our business, our miscarriage, several ministry breakups… I have been healed entirely through worship. Something special happens when as a body we come together to worship our Savior. People have been healed physically and that builds up our faith. Worship comes from reading the word and knowing the One in the word–and yet, the more you worship, the more you want to read. Worship has caused me to dive into the Bible–especially the Psalms and seek Him. “When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Psalm 27:8 |
