At a time when most teenagers are worrying about SATs and college entrance exams, Kristin Matthews had already entered her professional career as a corporate worship leader for the 7,000+ member church, Valley Bible Fellowship in Bakersfield, CA. Kristin’s adept musical talent displayed through her powerfully anointed worship services was recognized early on by Senior Pastor Ron Vietti as he observed her lead worship for her youth group. He instantly decided that Kristin was exactly what he’d been looking for to vitalize the congregation through Spirit-driven, contemporary worship.
When asked about her effective method for leading others into worship, Kristin humbly replies, “My approach is simple, lead by example. Every time I step on stage I recognize the fact that I am nothing and God is everything. I acknowledge that I am imperfect and no more worthy of my calling than any other worship leader. I know that I am merely a vessel who’s been, for some reason or another, chosen by God to teach my congregation how to worship by worshipping with my whole being. All I have done is given back the gift of music to the Source from which it came.†Kristin describes how she occasionally looks back on video to critique herself, “ I … feel as if I'm watching somebody else on stage. Something takes over me in worship and I am not in control; God shows up.â€Leading corporate worship for the Bakersfield, CA-based church was just the beginning for Kristin. Her natural ability to draw others into a spirit of worship prompted additional opportunities for her to use her gifting in other venues. She began leading worship as a guest for other local churches in Bakersfield, VBF’s sister church in Las Vegas, NV, as well as for the popular Christian coffee-house, Station 3:16’s SOL Worship Service on Saturday nights just to name a few.
Kristin’s belief in music as a universal language that transcends race, age, gender, and social background drives her enthusiasm for leading others into an encounter with God through the form of music. Kristin realizes there is much more to music than just its ability to connect with the worshippers. Kristin describes, “A consistent prayer of mine as I prepare to lead people in worship is that God would make the songs more than words on a screen or page, more than just music; that He would make them the cries of His people's hearts. The honest truth is, I don't do anything but show up and allow the Holy Spirit to intercede and lead us into the throne room of heaven.â€Kristin’s raw talent, combined with her zeal to bring glory to God through her music, is what keeps listeners and worshippers alike coming back for more and is what eventually led her to record her first album. Infused with down-to-earth, soul-searching lyrics that challenge listeners to live beyond their immediate realities, Kristin’s dynamic vocal style and sing-along anthems will strike a chord with listeners from a broad range of backgrounds, setting her apart as an effective, evangelistic musician and worship leader.
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