Mo Crawley is a worship leader who has been involved in Bristol Organic Worship, a movement that has had a big impact on the city and its students.
What is Bristol Organic Worship?
We hold evenings where people can come and focus on spontaneous worship without set songs. A band will just start playing chords and start a rhythm and then if anyone has song they will sing it out. Often a song with a simple message will last for about 45 minutes which is really amazing. It’s a form of worship I hadn’t experienced before.
A bunch of songs came from those evenings and so we went away for a weekend and recorded them. We created an album called His Love Endures.
What has God done in your city though Bristol Organic Worship?
It’s created a strong movement of united prophetic worship. Students from different churches have come together to lead worship nights. Organic Worship has been involved in Unite Bristol, a time for churches in Bristol to come together to worship and pray for the city. I grew up here and it’s only in the last few years that I’ve become properly aware of people in other churches. It’s amazing to know there are so many of us.
What advice would you give to students who are just starting to lead sung worship?
Don’t be afraid to take risks. It’s in the times that I’ve taken the most risk that I’ve really met with God and grown in worship. For example, Andrew (who leads Bristol Organic Worship) would call me out and ask me to sing a song in front of however many people and for me that was one of the most scary things - my knees would buckle - but I’d do it anyway. In those time I really felt God’s presence. I’ve grown loads as a worship leader and what it looks like to lead people into the presence of God. It’s not about us, it’s about how we can honour (God’s presence) and usher it in.
Pursue excellence with your vocals and your instrument. Since trying a lot harder with learning songs and putting more effort into the practical things, that’s made leading people into his presence a lot easier because the practical stuff is almost out of the way.
Why should students prioritise worship?
The sooner you start, the better it is, the deeper you go, the quicker you learn. Don’t get to 40 and think “I wish I was here in my faith.”
God does a new thing in each generation. It’s really exciting see what’s happening in Bristol, to be involved in what’s going on in our generation as students and to grow in it and push it. We can learn from the generation above and teach the generation below. We’re missing out on part of the story if we don’t worship.
His Love Endures is available online: http://calltofamily.co.uk
