BRIAN NG is a worship leader in Hope Singapore who also leads the Junior College students in Ablaze, the church’s youth congregation. He is also a TCP Productions artiste and has appeared in several Mediacorp TV shows, notably Channel 5’s KIN.

What challenges have you encountered serving on stage?

I think I’m now relatively comfortable in front of people and on stage. However, for a long while I was very conscious of how I looked on stage — I was fearful how people would perceive me, if I looked ridiculous, if I looked silly.

I recently started serving as a worship leader for both the youth and young adult services. I found myself feeling a little stressed about leading worship in the young adult service – I was slightly fearful that people might dismiss me as some young punk.

However, over time I began to realise and internalise the truth that praise and worship is not a performance for men, but an offering unto God. Since then I have been able to put aside my silly self-indulgent fears to focus on Him, and on leading my fellow brothers and sisters into lifting His name and declaring victory over their lives.

What have you learnt about God and yourself through your worship ministry?

I think the basic motivation to serve anywhere for me is obedience. If He is who He says He is, if Jesus really died for me, then what other reasonable response is there but to serve Him?

On top of that, what motivates me to serve in my pastoral ministry is that I believe that we can bring Heaven down onto Earth, one life at a time. We can bring joy, peace, reconciliation, resurrection, and victory into our lives, our families, our workplace, our country and our world when we teach the next generation the Word of God.

When they are trained in the ways of Christ, I believe that we will see a generation of Word-centered world-changers rise up in our time, and so I choose to be a part of that.

In the worship ministry, what motivates me is seeing how people have experienced breakthroughs as they lift up His name in praise, how people are set free in one encounter moment. I love that freedom that worship brings, and so I want to be a part of that too.

Do people have certain expectations of you because of your role in church?

There are times I feel like there are some people – especially those who do not know me personally – who expect me to be bubbly, extroverted and entertaining, just because I’m slightly more vibrant on stage when leading worship, or because I’m a unit leader leading 30 to 40 people.

The truth is I’m really quite a quiet, laidback person! I don’t really do anything to resolve this misunderstanding though, because it’s quite harmless. Maybe I’ll try to smile more?

Standing on stage before hundreds, have you ever felt the temptation of fall into pride?

I’ve always been very aware from the beginning that pride could be a struggle for me, so I’ve been actively trying to guard my heart against this. In fact, I held off from serving in a public ministry like choir and worship singing for a while as I tried to deal with my pride as well as my perception of value and greatness.

I also try to be accountable to a couple of brothers and with my life group, which helps me to honestly evaluate my thoughts on service.

I’ve always been very aware from the beginning that pride could be a struggle for me, so I’ve been actively trying to guard my heart against this.

As I work closely with others to serve more people, it helps me manage my ego as my weaknesses and shortcomings become very apparent to me. As I serve, I’m constantly humbled by my need for His help, and by the truth that He demonstrates such amazing grace just in the act of choosing me to serve. My baptism name is Ezra, and it means helper; that’s how I remind myself to not be full of myself.

Ever made a mistake on stage?

Oh, many times! I have forgotten the lyrics many times, and one time I even forgot the tune of the song I was leading and couldn’t enter the verse. Of course it felt horrible that I was messing up and affecting others.

However, over time I realised that at the end of the day it is God who ministers during praise and worship, and if He chooses to, He can minister regardless of my victories or mistakes.

This really freed me from my fears of mistakes and the guilt of making mistakes, because I realise it’s not about me, it’s always Him working.

However, over time I realised that at the end of the day it is God who ministers during praise and worship, and if He chooses to, He can minister regardless of my victories or mistakes.

He is always the one who is ministering and moving, regardless of whether it’s in the pastoral or worship ministry. Even if we make mistakes, He can use our mistakes to breathe life into others.

Any words of advice for fellow worship leaders?

I think those who have been shown favour to have greater exposure and influence amongst men, should remember that at the end of the day what matters will not be what we have accumulated for ourselves, but the lives we have lived, the lives we have impacted.

We must always remember who we are, as redeemed sinners who belong to the King of King, the Lord of Lords, the creator of Heaven and Earth. One of my favourite quotes that I once read on a friend’s blog reads: “As we shine our little light, may all glory go back to Him.”

The more I serve, the more I realise I’m just along for the ride. He just invites me to have a front row seat.

Let’s not focus all our energy on making our name famous, but instead on lifting the name of Jesus. Stay rooted in community, remain humble by serving, and believe that God will empower us to bring the lost home, one life at a time.