Ben Abu Saada

Biographical Information

Spouse's name: Addie
Children: Sporty (8), Posh (4), Baby (2) (Names to protect them from you web stalkers)
Years married: 12 years
Years leading worship: 13 years
Years at current church: 9 years
Church name and location: Grace Church of Overland Park, KS
Church website: www.VisitGraceChurch.com
Denomination: Non
Instruments you play: guitars
Blog: Yes If so, where? http://babulife.blogs.com/
Is your role full time, bi-vocational, or volunteer? Full time

What are you listening to right now?

Jeremy Riddle (Full Attention), Mute Math, Hillsong United (All the Above), R.E.M. (Live), David Crowder Band (Remedy)

What are you reading right now?

Simple Church, All Marketers Are Liars (Seth Godin), Crucial Conversations (Kerry Patterson), Star Wars: Republic Commando – True Colors (A little fiction for the soul)

What's your musical heritage?

I was heavily influenced in my teen years by such groups as INXS, R.E.M. and U2.  I played the trumpet then picked up my mom’s acoustic guitar at the age of 15.  My mom was into music and I think that transferred to me.  I remember playing and singing the same song over and over for probably 2 – 3 months when my Mom (who played a huge role encouraging me) came into my room and said “Ben…it’s time to learn a new song.”  So I got a chord book and a couple of song books which equipped me to learn how to play and sing.  My sister and wife are also very musical so I’m surrounded by it.

Describe your journey to becoming a worship leader.

I trusted in Christ as my savior at the age of 18.  At the time I was fresh out of High School singing and playing in a couple of bands.  When Jesus interrupted my plan to become a rock star, everything changed.  I was saved and felt that God wanted me to give up my “religion” which was music.  Feeling convicted about my priorities, I donated all my gear (electric guitar, pedals, amps, speaker cabinets…everything) to my local church’s fundraiser for a missions trip.  I traded a couple of items in for an acoustic 12 string guitar that I could just keep around the house.  I believe strongly that was a move I needed to make in my life so God could prune me.  Two years after that, the College and Career Class at the local church I was attending asked me to lead worship.  That was in 1995 and since then I’ve continued being molded by God thru many life lessons and worship leading lessons.

What's the "DNA" of your church?

We’re a mostly mid 20’s – 40’s church.  Mostly families at the moment.  Our church is located in what is considered one of the wealthiest counties in America.  Our ethnic make-up consists of predominantly Caucasians with a few African-American families along with one half Arab….that’d be me.

Describe for us your church's worship "style" (both musical and nonmusical).

Our church’s style currently could be described as rock.  We play a lot of the Passion music including Tomlin, Crowder, Redman and then some Hillsong United.  Great question on non-musical…I think mostly through volunteering in various ministries at the church and loving one another.  I believe Grace Church is probably one of the most loving churches in our area.

How has worship leading changed you?

It has made me a more diligent follower of Christ, lover of people and stronger leader.  It is extremely rewarding…extremely exhilarating…yet extremely scary to be responsible for one of the greatest purposes we were created for.

Describe the make-up of your worship leading team:

2 electric guitars, 1 acoustic guitar, 1 bass guitar, 2 vocalists on individual mics handling much of the harmonies and leading some songs, 1 keyboardist, 1 percussionist and we’ll switch out one of the electric guitars for a violin once a month or so to mix it up and a main worship leader.  No choir yet, we’re looking at creating one hopefully this year.  We have a drama team that performs periodically throughout the year.  Our drama team recently put together an amazing presentation of a drama called “Life” as an outreach opportunity.  Huge turnout and over 200 folks professed to have received Christ that day.  We have an audio team, video team and lighting team.

Come back next week to read the rest of Ben's interview.

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