First blog Post

So this being my first blog on this site, I would like to take a moment just introduce myself a little bit.

My name is Branden Visser. I was born and raised in Jenison, Michigan and I just turned 22 years old. I work at a church in Byron Center, MI as the Student Ministries Worship Inter. My job consists of overseeing a middle schoool band, two high school bands, and also a young adult band. Along with overseeing them, I actually lead one of two high school bands and the young adult band. I attend Kuyper College where I am a Junior in the Music and Worship program. I will be graduating next May with a degree in Music and Worship, Bible and Theology, and also a minor in communications.

As a child, my love for music was evident. I was constently singing and was even nicknamed "Songbird" in 1st grade when we were studying the Native American culture. Just as any kid with a love for music, my dreams was to become a rock star. Maybe not so much in a litteral sense, but I knew that I wanted to polay music for a living somewhere!

My love of worship however, began while I was still in high school. I played drums in my youth band at the church in Hudsonville where I grew up and it was there I realized that music could/was going to be apart of the rest of my life.

After graduating High School I took a job at a church in Grand Rapids, Mi where I help design and create a second "contemporary" service. Little did I know that this oppertunity was goign to be a great challenge, as well as an amazing learning experience. They had a handbell choir, vocal choir, organ, and a piano... As you can imagine, the sight of drums on stage was a complete shock to the congregation when we first started the "contemporary" process. After building a team of commited and talented musicians and leading there for two years, I felt like it was my time to move on.

God then opened up the doors at the church where I am at now. I have been working there for almost 2 years now and I have loved every second of it. The students I work with are not only talented, but are commited to showing the love of Christ through their gifts and talents. Not to brag or anything, but the way that they have grown spritually and musically just this year has made my job one of the most enjoyable jobs in the world.

I believe that church worship is going to take a turn, again, in the near future and we as worship leaders need to be pouring into the youth of today continually so that we can raise up new worship leaders with hearts on fire for Jesus and the gospel. To say the least, I have been blessed to work with such an amazing group of students and their potential continues to grow as the year progresses.

So, this was just a brief rundown of my life and career as a young worship leader. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me in the coming years. I look forward to having fruitful discussions and conversation about Faith, Worship, and Leadership with you in the near future.

God Bless,

Branden Visser