Episode 42: More Than A Song
An interview with Jaleesa McCreary
Jaleesa shares her in-process story of leading & loving the people He's put in her places and spaces. We talk worship & what it means to have a relationship with Jesus and do everything 'unto Him.’
The Seeds
Name: Jaleesa McCreary
Age: 34
Where do you call home: Austin, TX
Relationship Status: Single
Season of Work: Worship Leader/Manager at The Austin Stone
Hobbies: Reading Fiction, Walking, Mystery and True Crime Podcasts, Wine, Pool, Boat, Paddleboarding
Jesus Journey: I responded to the Spirit in a very real way when I was around 13. It happened at church one Sunday when the youth group was invited to sit in. I left that day and no one followed up with me… I didn’t learn how to follow Jesus and was pretty legalistic for years. When I was 21 I had another Holy Spirit encounter at church. I was on a quest to make faith my own and thought I had it fairly figured out but that night during service I felt everything fade away and was left with one thought in my head “You have to change!” I have never been the same since. I jumped into my church, got discipleship, and learned to walk with Jesus as Lord!
The Branches
Beloved Daughter, Sister, Sista, Friend, Dream Defender, Worship Leader, Teacher, Mentor…the list goes on. In this season of life, which assignment is bringing you joy, and which has been challenging?
Most joy in being a dream defender/mentor right now. I’m leading a team of worship leaders and doing some coaching/consulting. Some are new to leading worship in a full-time capacity, and some are more tenured. Among them are goals and both spiritually and professionally that I get to come alongside and cheerlead! The most challenging assignments is probably woman and daughter. Daughter because it’s hard to rest when you carry a heavier leadership load as a woman. For the same reason…self-care and maintaining the margin to be human, cook meals, clean my house, and see friends are the first things to fall to the back burner.
You are most definitely a WORSHIP PASTOR. You bring people to the feet of Jesus, give them nourishment with the Word of God, wrapping in love and song. If you look back at the dreams, goals, and vision you had for your life, is it what you expected?
It’s for sure not what I planned. I went to school for journalism and studied classical voice for 12 years. It was a childhood dream of mine to tour and do opera full-time. I had vocal surgery in 2010 that left me wondering if I’d sing again. The doctors were pretty clear that while I had healed from surgery, it was unlikely I’d be able to sing professionally.
Losing your voice and not knowing if you would ever be able to do the thing you loved most must have been devastating. How did God meet you during that time? What did He teach you about yourself, your voice, and your plans?
In 2010 I started attending my church and in 2011 did a residency with the discipleship ministry. I fell in love. Eventually, I was invited to serve in worship for our student ministry and began leading. During that time I was in speech and voice therapy. I realized God gives us many gifts and sort of calls them forward at the right time for His glory and our good. I believe timing is everything and God’s timing is best. I’ve come to love the mystery of God and the “blank canvas” seasons where you don’t know what’s next but He does and He just wants your surrender.
On the Story Partners Podcast back in March 2023, you said something that caught my attention: “Nobody told me how to worship.” As your relationship with the Lord grew, what did others teach you about worship?
I hadn’t grown up going to church consistently. At least not consistently enough to have community and that sort of thing, so coming to “The Stone” was my first taste of Biblical community. I had a leader in the church who taught me confession, repentance, and Bible memorization. I hadn’t really done any of that growing up even though we believed in God and had spiritual conversations. My faith is the product of peer discipleship, intentional mentors, and the challenge that comes with vulnerability and transparency in those spaces. I learned rhythms of worship with those people and through serving the church.
Often we equate singing…the part at the top of a church service…as worship, but worship covers “anything we do unto the Lord.” Would you add anything to that definition? When did this change in your mind & heart?
I love that you use this phrase because I have a dear friend who I’ve led worship with for almost 10 years and he had this tradition of gathering his band in a huddle before going on stage to lead and them all putting hands in and saying “more than a song”! I loved it because it was an immediate reminder that as you go out to pick up a guitar or sing it’s so much more than that and there is so much more than that in our walk with Jesus. Around here we say worship is the full life expression (head, heart, hands) of who God is and what He has done. FULL LIFE is the key. What’s your response to Jesus from your mind, heart, and life? I think that was clear to me from the beginning of my worship-leading journey because the friend that I led with was doing a residency with our worship department and he was pretty much teaching his band everything that he was learning so I caught that quickly and it’s part of what I loved about worship leading… that it was just part of worshiping Jesus and I honestly hope and pray every week that what people experience in a worship service makes them want to worship Jesus in other ways Monday-Saturday. To rest and delight in God and his good gifts.
In light of our definition of worship, what are some ways you enjoy worshipping the Lord?
I worship through silence, solitude, walks, a day at the pool, good book, dinner with friends, mentorship conversations … just opportunities to be with God and enjoy what He has given.
At one time in your life worship was more legalistic and self-righteous. What are some boundaries/disciplines you practice to keep God on the throne?
Yeah, I really had grown up with a black-and-white view of God and didn’t encounter grace until I was in college. The idea that I was forgiven was present, but what the implications of that were I didn’t know until my 20s. I thought God was harsh. We know He has wrath and is jealous, but we also know that because of Jesus there is no wrath left for us and that jealousy means He wants my life and He’s proved worthy of it. Now, my disciplines are less rigid. I need routine and time with God but I am in a place where I feel like some seasons are for deep study and some seasons are for a Psalm a day. I think God is ok with that. I go for long walks where I talk to God and listen to Him talk to me. I try and continue to learn how to say “no” to opportunities that will leave me burnt out. I have a small group of friends that I walk with, confess to, and process what Jesus is teaching me.
Encourage the sister who is having a tough time worshiping the Lord in this season. Maybe they’ve experienced church hurt, in a difficult valley season, wrestling with their faith, or grieving.
I would say “Give God a chance to be God for you.” Church hurt is awful and it’s the brokenness of people reflected, not the unfaithfulness of God. If you’re in a time of disappointment and grief, which I understand, make space to sit with God and hand over your burdens. Cast your anxieties on Him like it says in 1 Peter and watch Him care for you and tend to you, because he won’t turn away from you when you cry out to Him. I’d also say everything is just a season and you will get past it. Where you don’t believe healing is possible, I believe in healing and a new season.
As a “Worship Pastor” what’s it like to stand on stage every week and look out into the congregation? What do you observe? How does the Lord meet you as you lead His beloved sons and daughters?
I love it when I get to be on stage and see our church. I feel like I get to see people in this intimate moment of talking to God through singing. I see tears and I see joy. It’s personal and sacred. I get to see the diversity of our church. I get to see people whose stories I know and get to pray for them as I lead. The Lord meets me by letting me watch the way He interacts with His people every Sunday. I love that I get to be part of it… it makes me feel small. I know it’s not on me to heal or produce worship… worship leaders just open the door and then sit back and watch God work.
You clearly have your voice back! How is God asking you to use it during this season?
To empower and encourage. I really feel like a teacher and a cheerleader right now.
Olive Us was created for women to share their in-process stories and be reminded they’re connected through Christ and not alone. Why is this important?
Regardless of what it may seem like, no one has fully arrived. We all need to see we’re each human with struggles and be reminded it’s Jesus who does the healing – it’s unifying!
The Olive Tree
Finish these statements:
God is…really creative.
Worshiping Jesus is…simple.
‘Olive’ our voices are”…so powerful.
‘Olive Us’ are better when…we are one.