Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Justin Hunter
Shawn Stinson never planned on being a worship leader. However, God would not let him run away from it. Celebrating over a decade’s worth of service at Jasper’s Northside Baptist Church, Shawn reflects on how God led him to this point.
Growing up just outside of Birmingham, Alabama, Shawn discovered his love for music early on. As a teenager, he formed an acapella singing group with some church friends, eventually branching out into a praise and worship band. He then had the opportunity to become worship leader of his parent’s church plant.
However, Shawn never felt called to be a full-time minister. He was set on pursuing a career in marketing while serving in different churches on the weekend. But he soon came across a full-time ministry position God would not let him ignore.
“I was working at Westwood Baptist in Forestdale as the bi-vocational minister of music while I had a sales job, and I got an email from a lady here at Northside Baptist looking for a full-time minister of music,” Shawn recalls. “I immediately replied, ‘I don’t know of anyone, but if I think of somebody, I’ll let you know.’ But after a few days, God wouldn’t let me stop thinking about that email. So, I sent in a resume, and here I am, ten years later.”
As the Minister of Music and Outreach, Shawn plans worship music for each service, directs the adult and youth choirs, and incorporates a blend of traditional hymns and contemporary music, allowing each churchgoer to worship in a way that is special to them. Shawn also handles social media, web design, planning outreach events for the community, and any odd jobs.
Shawn recalls a vital piece of advice given to him by a friend who has encouraged him over the past ten years – the 3 Ls: listen, love, and lead. He says, “When I first started, my goal was to listen to the church’s concerns and not push my ideas on them. Then, I learned to love them, let them love me, and began leading them where I felt God was taking the church. I want to have a positive impact on people. And hopefully, it’s through introducing them to Jesus and helping them grow in that. That’s the force behind everything I do.” WL
