An electric guitarist at Hope Church Singapore, CHEN LIBO is also responsible for discipling his fellow electric guitarists in the worship team.

What challenges have you encountered serving on stage?

Nervousness was a big problem. My fear was what people would think of me when I was playing.
When I was still new in church, two of my life group members asked if I could play something on the guitar for them. I was so nervous – my hands were shaking uncontrollably after I finished playing.

I may not have played the best or played everything right, but to know that God still moves no matter what — that encourages me to give my best in all that I do.

I was so afraid of making mistakes in front of people because I thought that if they saw my mistakes they’d have a lower opinion of me. There was a lot of insecurity on my part.

Eventually when the opportunity arose for me to join the worship ministry, I was nervous about it because I wasn’t sure if I was good enough — the fact that I was putting out my skills out there for people to see, I wasn’t sure if I could handle that pressure.

I slowly learnt that I can never be completely mentally ready to serve, so there was no point being anxious about it. Instead, by taking that step of courage to step out and serve, I will overcome those fears eventually, but more importantly, I allow myself to partner with God. I started to realise that I am serving for a greater purpose, and that it isn’t about me or my playing that will actually make a difference in the worship experience.

It also helps to hear from people that they experienced a touch from God during worship. I may not have played the best or played everything right, but to know that God still moves no matter what — that encourages me to give my best in all that I do.

Was there a time in your service that you struggled with pride?

To be honest, I think pride is always a threat. Pride arises when I take comfort in knowing that I’m better compared to others. I know I fall into pride when I become complacent in my craft, when I stop learning and looking for inspirations to improve myself.

I don’t think pride is something that I can completely overcome but rather something that I have to keep reminding myself about. I’m still in the midst of refining my craft, borne out of my identity as a son of God.

What motivates you to continue serving in the worship ministry?

When I hear stories of how people encounter God in worship, I see how worship can create defining moments in their walk with God.

I learn that even in my tiredness or my brokenness, He still uses me to minister to others when I choose to offer all that I have to Him. I don’t need to be in my best state to serve, but I need to go to Him and partner with the Holy Spirit.

Even in moments when I’m just very down in my life, I know that God can still do His work through me, with whatever little I have. This assurance encourages me to continue giving my best and my all in serving God.

You said that hearing testimonies from people encourages you. How do you handle the possible tension between receiving affirmation and remaining humble?

When I receive compliments I tend to be quick to brush them off in fear of pride arising. But I had to learn that it is not wrong to receive compliments or to be excellent.

I may not have played the best or played everything right, but to know that God still moves no matter what — that encourages me to give my best in all that I do.

When people affirm me, I receive them as words of encouragement and in a sense know that I’m on the right track in my serving — to know that through my serving God has touched people, because it’s not about me at all, but all about God.

On the other hand, when I don’t accept the compliments graciously I can potentially hurt the people who encourage me. If they choose to reach out to me to encourage me, it requires courage and effort on their end as well. So we should learn to take compliments and affirmation well, in an objective manner.

What do you think is important to hold on to while serving in the worship ministry?

It’s very important to know my identity, and to not mix up my role with my identity. When I know fully that I am the child of my Heavenly Father and I serve out of an overflow of that identity – that’s when I can have the character to support my gift.

Someone once shared with me, that our character is the cradle of our gifts. Without godly character, my gifts will be my downfall.

When I serve out of an assurance of my identity in God, my sense of self-being will not be crushed by the successes or failures of my ministry. I am driven by God’s call to me rather than the amount of approval I receive from people.

What encouragement would you give to others serving in a similar position?

Always remember that your inner life is the most important. Without a vibrant spiritual life, you’ll get drained very quickly. It may seem like a glamourous role, but the truth is that it isn’t. There’s a lot of hard work going on offstage that is not seen and recognised.

I don’t need to be in my best state to serve, but I just need to go to Him and partner with the Holy Spirit.

All the more we need to find our affirmation in God, knowing that God is pleased with us when we step out to sing of His goodness.

We should aim to be like the person in Psalm 1, whose “delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers.”

Only then can we find true satisfaction and joy in our serving, and be in a place where we can freely access the fullness of life that He has promised for us.