Welcome back to part two of Rich’s interview at Consuming Worship.
Rich Kirkpatrick
You recently moved from Redding to Temecula. Tell us a little about your journey, specifically the ways you saw the Lord leading and directing.
Back in February 2007 I was questioning what my next steps might be after recovering from a major surgery. I was burnt out, tired and physically not in my game wondering if I would sing the same again or have my health back. Also, I worked many hours in a setting that was very successful and growing. All this hit at once. In prayer, I knew God wanted a change and so I assumed I should leave ministry or resign. So, I decided to explore that idea.
Little did I know that resigning and giving up was exactly what God wanted of me. Yes, I could achieve a lot and do a lot. However, it was me that God wanted, not just my hard work. In giving up, I eventually ended up considering ministry again. My confidence returned and God put me on the road to a new bend in the road.
In Redding I had the gift of friends and success. These friends and co-workers in ministry prayed with me about what I might do next. In southern California I had no idea that there was a church looking for a worship pastor that had my name given to them from at least two independent sources. The pastor at Sunridge read my blog and knew one of these individuals fairly well. He did not act on anything however until he happened upon a business card of mine at a conference and saw that as a sign that God might be leading him to contact me. A few months later my family moved 650 miles south to new life and ministry.
Obviously God orchestrated the timing of this all. I am confident he led me to my new ministry, however, life is full of uncertainty and you can never feel completely sure about every decision you make. What I am certain in is that God is with me and my family in our new life.
Back in 2006, you went through an ordeal with your thyroid. Tell our readers who don’t know your story what happened, and about the days of uncertainty you went through.
It started as a lump on my neck and the feeling of fatigue. When I saw the look on my doctor’s face at her office I knew this was not just a swollen gland and a cold. My thyroid was failing and had tumors growing inside of it. My doctor, after many tests, could not rule out cancer and so I had the prospect of major surgery to remove my thyroid. As one who earns his living by speaking and singing, this surgery dissects right on the vocal chord nerves meaning that even the slightest mistake could permanently damage my voice. Also, the nature of thyroid issues is that you become hormonal. Yes, that is right…hormonal.
I lived with this uncertainty for most of the summer of 2006 and finally the week after Thanksgiving I went into surgery. This would be the only way to find out if it was cancerous or not. The surgery went great. God supplied the best doctor possible. In fact, I found out that he operates on opera singers from San Francisco and is tops in the field. Phew. No cancer. And, the dream of missing Christmas services did not pan out either. It took months to get my voice back, but God was faithful in taking me through that ordeal.
How did this ordeal change you?
I was changed because I realized that I was not as strong as I thought and that I had physical limitations and boundaries. Before going into surgery, I lost 50 pounds by exercise and dieting. I actually am not sure if I changed more from that or the surgery, however, I know that I am not the same person after going through the last half of 2006 to the first half of 2007.
God has been showing me that I need to focus more on what he made me to do and not try to fight it. Often when you are an artist, ministry leaders do not take your thinking seriously. You are given a prophetic ministry that shapes people and sometimes that scares and challenges people. Now I embrace that. Took 40 years, but I am getting just a little bit closer to really thriving in how God made me.
Anything extra you want to tell us?
I think that artists and worship leaders need to think like leaders, too. Often, we are cornered into a box. We are put in a place that constricts and restricts rather than supports and nurtures us. My dream is to be that kind of support to as many as God puts in my path–but, especially to artistically minded leaders. Our culture needs us. We know best at times the language spoken of our culture.
What’s your number one piece of advice for newbie worship leaders?
Don’t try to prove anything to anyone and get stuck pleasing man rather than God. And, God does not care about CDs and photoshoots. Christ loves His Church, and so should you. As a leader in the church, love the church more than your artistic career. And, pace yourself for the long haul by finding community and safe people who you can speak honestly with and who shoot straight to you as well. Also, work hard at this–its a craft worthy of lessons and training and constant learning.
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