Breaking Barriers in Worship
Thrive Worship’s Heart to Reach Diverse Audiences
Worship is a universal language, bringing people closer to God and each other. For Thrive Worship, diversity is an intentional reflection of God’s kingdom. Band members Corbin Phillips and Charmaine Wells shared why they purposefully create an inclusive worship space where everyone can see themselves represented, no matter their background or life story.
Diversity in worship reflects God’s vision for His church. Revelation 7:9 gives a beautiful image of heaven where “a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language” stands before God, worshipping Him together. This is the picture Thrive Worship wants to see throughout their ministry.
Charmaine Wells, one of the band’s vocalists, passionately believes in the power of representation. “It’s super important for them to see somebody like me,” she explained, referring to how her presence as a Black woman on the worship team helps others feel included. “I get a lot of girls that approach me that look like me… they feel like they can because I’ll understand them.”
For Charmaine, her presence on stage helps to break down barriers so everyone knows they belong in God’s presence. Seeing diverse people in worship leadership shows that God’s love and grace are for all people, no matter their race, background, or story.
Breaking Down Barriers through Relationship
Fostering diversity requires intentionality, and one key way Thrive Worship strives to accomplish this is by building deep relationships within the team. Charmaine talked about the importance of “relational equity,” explaining how spending time with people from different cultures builds understanding. “The more that we have spent time together… it’s created a deep understanding that they would not have understood had we not spent time and had relational equity.”
Worship should replace fear with understanding, invite people to experience God together.
Through these relationships, Thrive Worship creates a team dynamic where differences are celebrated, not feared. “There’s less fear in that. You fear what you don’t know. It’s a fear that you don’t understand. And so when they raise that in your team and that’s shown from the stage and there’s actual relationship going on, then it kind of casts away that fear,” Charmaine explained.
By investing in relationships across different cultures and experiences, they create unity on stage, which is reflected in the congregation. Worship becomes a place where fear is replaced with understanding, and people are invited to experience God together.
A Heart for Outreach and Inclusion
Thrive Worship’s commitment to diversity is rooted in their broader mission of outreach. Their church was born out of a deep need in the community, and that heart for reaching the lost continues to drive their efforts. Corbin Phillips shared how the church started almost three decades ago. “There were two copycat suicides of teenagers, and somebody in the community went, ‘We have to start a church for these teenagers so that there’s hope for this community.’”
From the beginning, the goal was clear: “We want this to be a place that anybody can come to,” Corbin emphasized. This deep-rooted focus on inclusion shapes every part of Thrive Worship’s ministry, from their outreach efforts to the diversity on stage. They are driven by the mission to reach people who may feel disconnected from traditional church experiences, offering a message of hope and belonging.
Charmaine’s Personal Journey
Charmaine shared how she went through a time of questioning her faith but ultimately found her way back to God’s goodness. “I came to the conclusion that this God not only exists, but He’s actually good.”
Her personal journey of rediscovering faith and seeing God’s goodness is part of why she believes so strongly in representing diverse voices in worship. For Charmaine, diversity isn’t just about race—it’s about the different faith journeys and life experiences people bring to the table.
Everyone’s path to God looks different, and worship should reflect that.
Diversity enriches worship. The different backgrounds, stories, and cultures represented within the team add depth to the music they create. Corbin shared how their worship is intentionally designed to connect with people on a personal level. “Yes, we’re doing worship, and yes, we’re singing vertical songs, but we really try to be intentional about weaving story in because I think that we see ourselves in the story.”
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By weaving stories of redemption and grace into their songs, the band ensures that people from all walks of life can find themselves in the narrative. This storytelling approach, combined with their focus on diversity, allows them to reach people who might not otherwise connect with worship.
The Beauty of Unity in Diversity
By creating space for diverse voices and stories, Thrive Worship reaches a broader audience and also models the unity God desires for His church. As you reflect on your own worship experiences, think about how diversity enhances your connection with God and others.
Worship is meant to reflect the fullness of God’s kingdom, and when we embrace diversity, we create a space where all can encounter His love.
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