Lynwood worship leader combines faith in God and passion for music

Brian Crisman is the pastor of worship at Lynwood Baptist Church. In this week's Ministry Focus, he shares his what led him to serve as worship leader and what other ministries the church offers.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself.

A: I was born into a very musical Christian family, so music has been a part of my life and my worship of God from a very early age. I was primarily a trumpet player and planned on serving God in more of a music associate/orchestra director role until I attended seminary and began leading worship on a more frequent basis. I soon discovered that I had a passion for not only worshipping God, but leading others to worship.

It was about that same time that my relationship with God took a much more personal turn. I discovered that He wants to know us intimately and that religion is much more than a list of do's and don'ts. Since that time, about 13 years ago, I have sought to serve Him completely. My wife and I have surrendered our lives to Him. We will go wherever and whenever God calls us.

I love to celebrate. To worship God for His awesome greatness, His power and wisdom that go way beyond what we can imagine. And to praise and thank Him for His love and goodness. For His amazing grace. I can't do that quietly or rigidly. I have to move and lift my voice.

I am 38 years old. My wife, Sonya, and I have been married for 18 years and lead worship together at Lynwood. We met in the first music class we attended in college. Since I was a week late and had no books, I asked the prettiest girl in the class if we could share. Twenty years, five kids, four states, four apartments, four houses, seven ministries, three degrees, and two pets later, here we are. We have five kids from the age of 14 to 3. This year we will see a driver's permit and a high school student for the first time. We will also have four kids at different schools.

I love spending time with my family, studying the Bible, worshipping God, running and working out. Don't really have time for much else.

Q: How long have you been a member of your faith?

A: I surrendered to God at age 11, that was 27 years ago. It was a total commitment. I came to Him for salvation but also felt the call to serve Him in the ministry, even though I wasn't sure what He was calling me to. It took several more years for me to realize that my calling was in music and worship.

Q: Who or what inspired you to become a music minister?

A: The greatness and goodness of our God inspired me to become a worshipper first. His grace amazes me. I have to shout it out. The fact that He loves us no matter what. That we don't have to try and meet His standard but that He meets us where we are. These things inspired me to become a worshipper. Then God called me to lead. If I were to point to one person, it would be my wife. God has used her to shape me into the person I am today. Sonya inspires and encourages me like no other. I know beyond a doubt that I am who I am today because of the grace of God and the influence of my wife.

Q: What's the greatest blessing you've experienced in the ministry?

A: Watching God transform lives. Seeing someone get it for the first time and surrender their lives to Him. When you see someone truly set free from the bondage that held them before, it's unforgettable.

Q: What's the greatest challenge you've experienced in the ministry?

A: Balancing ministry and family. Ministry is very busy and is not confined to office hours. But my first responsibility is to my family. This is a balance that I am still working on. But I am very blessed to have a wife and children who engage in ministry with me. This helps tremendously and is such a joy.

Q: What upcoming events or sermon series do you have scheduled at Lynwood?

A: Well, Easter is the obvious answer. Easter Sunday at 9 and 10:30 a.m. we will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and take a look at how He cares for us. The service theme is "Does Anyone Care?" We would like to answer that question with a huge 'Yes!' We do and so does God.

Q: What's your favorite Bible verse and why?

A: 1 Corinthians 15:10a: "But by the grace of God I am what I am." This verse has so much meaning if you know the life of the one who wrote it. Paul had formerly been a persecutor of Christians. Not only did He deny who Jesus was, he fought the people who believed, arresting them and overseeing their executions. He called himself "the worst of sinners." But after He met and surrendered his life to Jesus, He became one of the greatest followers. He wrote more books of the New Testament than any other writer. He is proof that God doesn't need you to change, He will meet you where you are. It doesn't matter what you've done. It doesn't matter how much guilt and shame you may carry around with you. He loves you and wants to take all of that away from you. That's why He sent His Son to die for every mistake and bad decision we would ever make. This verse demonstrates the outrageous love of God.

Q: What makes your church unique?

A: Lynwood is a place where you can be at home. If you want to dress casual, then wear jeans and a T-shirt. If you feel like donning a suit, then go for it. We want you to be you. We're building a community around real faith and common purpose. So come and be yourself. Lynwood is also one of the few contemporary churches that still uses choir regularly. We love to celebrate and our services start with a lot of energy, because as sinners transformed by the love of God, who has more reason to celebrate?

Q: What ongoing ministries does your church have that people might be interested in?

A: Celebrate Recovery is one of our largest ministries. If your life is ruled by hurts, habits or hang-ups, then this is the place for you. They meet on Tuesday nights at 6 p.m. (supper at 5 p.m.). We offer Divorce Care groups for those going through the pain of divorce. We also have Bible studies for people of all ages who want to explore God's Word and know Him more. Our youth and children's ministries offer many opportunities to connect with others and grow in faith. Our college ministry is alive and growing with students of many nationalities. If you're breathing, there is a place for you at Lynwood.