Congratulations Terrel Stewart of
Woodland Park Baptist Church, Hammond, Louisiana
on winning the Travis Cottrell/NWLC Conference Drawing!

Terrel and his wife, Michelle have won two airfares, registrations and hotel room stays at the National Worship Leader Conference as well as lunch with Travis Cottrell.

Name:  Terrel Stewart            Spouse's Name:  Michelle Stewart    Years Married:  21 years Children:  Megan (16), Katelyn (14), and Lauren (12) Church Name and City and State:  Woodland Park Baptist Church, Hammond, LA Denomination:  Southern Baptist Years leading worship:  15 ½ years (full time) How many active members:  550-600 Favorite worship song:  Too many to name; probably "Here in Your Presence" by Jon Egan Instrument/Instruments you play:  Keyboard Last two books read:  Return to Worship by Ron Owens and Jan McMurray Leading from the Second Chair by Mike Bonem and Roger Patterson WL: Please briefly tell us about your worship journey. Terrel: My journey began years before I felt God's calling into the ministry.  I have always loved music and always loved to sing, even though no one else in my family were musicians or singers.  I sang in choirs during Elementary, Junior High and High School and was very involved in Youth Choir at church. I have a Bachelor of Music degree and a Master of Music degree and feel both have been instrumental in training me as a musician, but I have learned the most about being a worship leader by reading and watching other worship leaders, going to conferences, and leading worship each week. WL: How did you get where you are? Terrel: I enrolled in a Business Management programs at a university in my hometown, but I had such a strong desire for music that I took music classes for electives.   I quickly discovered that my heart was in music and not in business, so I changed my major to music. I will never forget the night I knew the Lord was calling me into the ministry of music.  There was a guest leading worship for our revival services and each night before the service, we would have choir rehearsal.  I really admired the leader's abilities in leading worship and leading the choir.  On the last night, I realized I had been wrestling with the Lord for years.  He had been trying to tell me He wanted me to surrender my life to Him to be used in ministry through music, but I kept resisting.  I surrendered to Him that night, and since then, I know I am where God wants me to be. WL: What were some struggles and joys along the way and where do you want to go in your journey? Terrel: One of the biggest struggles is working with volunteers.  I love working with them, but their schedules or their commitment levels can be trying at times.   I really love leading music in worship.  The joy of leading is seeing people connect with a great God Who loves each and every one of us.  Besides seeing someone coming to know the Lord as their personal Savior, there's no greater joy than to see people respond in worship.  There are times that our band, praise teams, and choirs rehearse and the music goes well during our services, but I love it when we may have not had a great rehearsal or may have had a conflict in schedule and were not able to rehearse and God's grace is given in our worship set on Sunday.  It is just so awesome to be just a part of what He is doing. I've been at Woodland Park Baptist Church for 8 ½ years.  I love my Pastor, staff, and church family.  So many wonderful things are happening:  Our people are being mobilized through missions and we have four mission trips scheduled this year (several Jerusalem trips, one Judea trip, one Samaria trip and one "Uttermost Parts of the World" trip); financial giving has been tremendous; worship attendance has also been great; and response in worship has been more engaging and more encouraging than when I first came to Woodland Park. It is also a joy to pour myself into other people through one-on-one discipleship and mentorship.  I really wasn't mentored in my earlier years of ministry but I pray that I can make a difference in other people's lives.  WL: Why are you looking forward to the conference and what do you hope to get out of it? Terrel: I love leading worship and am constantly trying to grow as a worship leader.  I love watching other worship leaders and trying to find ways to improve myself.  Music conferences have always been helpful in my ministry but also serve as a time of refreshment.  One of the worship leaders that I really enjoy is Travis Cottrell.  I get so much mail and email from different sources and I cannot remember if it was on my Facebook or through an email that Travis was coming out with a new CD but I knew I wanted it.  I also dismissed the idea immediately that my name would be entered for a drawing because I have never won anything.  I even got the CD in the mail and it never occurred that I would win.  When I received the call that I won the trip the National Worship Leader Conference, I was so amazed and ecstatic!  I am also excited that my wife gets to attend with me.  This summer is packed with some great things:  a family vacation, a mission trip, and being a chaperone at children's camp.  Since I didn't plan the conference on my calendar, I can't wait to see what the Lord has planned for me during that week.  Whatever the Lord wants to teach me and do through me, I am open and ready! What is a sample set this from a service of worship?: "You You are God" (Walker Beach) "Mighty to Save" (Reuben Morgan and Ben Fielding) "King of All Glory"  (Jon Egan) "Your Name" (Paul Baloche and Glenn Packiam) "Here in Your Presence"  (Jon Egan) For more information on Terrel, or Woodland Baptist Church, click here.