To Know You More: Cultivating the Heart of the Worship Leader [Hardcover]

Andy Park (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2002

Andy Park writes, "I've learned through the years that becoming a worship leader involves far more than developing a set of skills--it's all about developing a life in God." Here's your opportunity to sit at the feet of one who has for twenty-five years led contemporary worship services in the United States and Canada. In Park's book you'll get an inside look at how this leader has learned to follow the leading of the Spirit as he brings others into God's presence. And you'll find practical advice, experienced counsel and inspiring ideas on a variety of issues like

* songwriting

* pulling together a team

* staying humble

* planning the flow of worship

* what to do in times of dryness

* working with the pastor

* and much more!

Above all, Park will help you discover what it means for you as a worship leader to be first and foremost a worshiper.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"In Paul's first letter to Timothy, he reminds him, "Watch your life and doctrine closely" (1 Tim 4:16). And as it happens, that would be pretty good advice for anyone involved in leading worship too. Andy Park's book does just that in such a wonderful way. He reminds us of the importance of living lives of worship, gives us an insightful look at the theology of worship and for good measure, throws in loads of helpful, practical advice on how to lead worship. I don't think I've ever read a book quite like this before. Park writes on so many different aspects of worship and does so in a refreshingly transparent way." Matt Redman, worship leader, songwriter, and author of The Unquenchable Worshipper: Coming Back to the Heart of Worship

"Andy Park will always be a hero of mine, not because of the songs or acclaim but because of his humility in his lifelong quest to be God's friend. He is the genuine article, and we can all benefit from reading the real thing." Martin Smith, lead vocalist, Delirious

About the Author

Park is a worship leader at the North Langley Vineyard in North Langley, British Columbia. He has led worship in small and medium churches as well as in megachurches and at large conferences. Park is also a songwriter with more than 90 works to his credit, including "The River Is Here," "Only You" and "In the Secret." He has led worship on numerous Vineyard recordings, including Blessed Be the Name and All I Need.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: InterVarsity Press (July 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830823204
• ISBN-13: 978-0830823208
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #949,242 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Andy Park is an author, songwriter, worship leader, and teacher. He has served on the pastoral staff of several Vineyard churches for over 20 years. Andy travels widely throughout the United States and internationally to teach, lead worship and lead church retreats. He has visited 29 countries in his ministry travels.

Andy's first book "To Know You More - Cultivating the Heart of A Worship Leader," was published in 2002 by InterVarsity Press.

Among Andy Park's best known songs are IN THE SECRET, and THE RIVER IS HERE. His latest recordings are called Wonder Working God, Unshakable, and Maravilloso Dios, a worship project in Spanish. (See www.andypark.ca for more information). Andy is a contributing writer for the Compassionart CD released in January 2009 (www.compassionart.tv).

Andy has a passion to teach on issues of worship as a lifestyle, receiving and sharing the blessings of God's present kingdom, and God's heart for justice among the poor.

Andy and his wife, Linda (who is in training to become a licensed midwife), reside in Surrey, British Columbia and have eight children: Zachary, David, Michael, Jessica, Benjamin, Isaac, Ian and Elizabeth.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Book on Worship, August 23, 2003

By 

Mark D. Roberts "markdroberts-dot-com" (Boerne, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To Know You More: Cultivating the Heart of the Worship Leader (Hardcover)

Among the many books out there on worship, this is one of the best. Andy Park is a mature, bright, theologically-solid, and experienced worship leader. He shares with the reader the fruits of many years of faithful and inspired worship leading and song writing.

Perhaps one of the most engaging aspects of this book is Park's personal openness. As you read, you won't feel like some expert is preaching down at you, but like a wise friend has come alongside to help you become a more effective leader, for God's glory.

Park's church experience is largely in the Vineyard. His writing reflects this experience (naturally), but is also relevant to those of us who are not part of Vineyard (or Vineyard-like) churches. Park's wisdom transcends his particular denomination.

I learned many things from this book and it also touched my heart. I have been encouraged to be a stronger worship leader and, indeed, a more faithful worshiper of God.

Now that I have read this book, I am ordering several copies for friends who lead worship. They will profit richly from this book, and so will you.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A valuable resource for current and future worship leaders, August 18, 2004

By 

Gary Mull (Milan, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To Know You More: Cultivating the Heart of the Worship Leader (Hardcover)

This book has a pretty limited target audience, which makes it exceptionally useful for people in that group - people who lead worship in protestant churches. And with 17 years of experience, Andy Park is an appropriate person to write this book. We sing some of Andy's songs at my church, and I figured that anyone who wrote worship choruses that are so widely known must have something to say that's worth hearing. "To Know You More" provides a great mix of history, philosophy, and practical suggestions related to leading worship.

Throughout the book, Andy shares openly about the challenges he's faced in leading worship. These stories make this book inviting and helpful. I see that many of my insecurities and second-guesses are not so unique. Page after page, I found myself saying, "Yeah, I've been there. That's exactly how I felt." There's comfort in knowing that I'm not the only one to wonder if I'm really up to the task of trying to create an environment that enables people to have an encounter with God.

I appreciated the history of song styles that have been used in worship. I didn't realize that hymns were just as ground-breaking and controversial in their day as contemporary worship songs are in some churches today. In short, today's style of worship is culturally relevant and legitimate, even though there is and will continue to be resistance. In 50 years, church-goers may have an entirely different style, and may have the same opinions about today's worship choruses that we have about traditional hymns. That won't diminish the value of either style.

Andy writes about how to pick songs, rehearse, develop other worship leaders, and part ways when it just isn't working. He also writes about the various roles of worship leaders and song writers, who serve to varying degrees as priests, prophets, healers, teachers, and evangelists. To me, this was the best part of the book. Many people think the worship leader is like a choir director for the congregation, but there's so much more to it than that. Park defines the complete picture of what a worship leader is.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome, March 19, 2006

By 

Carl Sousa (Fayetteville, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: To Know You More: Cultivating the Heart of the Worship Leader (Paperback)

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in being a worship leader. I have found it to be very informative. It is an awesome book.