Student worship leader followed circuitous rout_40504

Posted: 4/02/04

Student worship leader followed circuitous route to ministry

By Leann Callaway

Special to the Baptist Standard

ABILENE–Earning an MBA and teaching international economics at a university might not be the typical career path for a worship leader, but Jeff Berry believes God used every step and misstep of his journey to prepare him for ministry.

Berry felt God leading him into vocational ministry when he was in high school. But as a student at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, he took a different route, earning his undergraduate degree in business administration.

He went on to receive his master's degree in business administration from Baylor University in Waco, where he was asked to join the faculty, teaching international economics and entrepreneurship and serving as the assistant director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.

But at Baylor, he also attended Choice Bible study, led by Louie Giglio.

“It was during this time that God began to really speak to me about his plan for my life,” Berry said.

He soon realized his true calling was to connect students to Christ through music.

To him, it was a smooth transition from a college professor to full-time musician and worship leader. Looking back, Berry believes God used his sojourn into the classroom and business world to prepare him for ministry.

Soon after he committed to full-time ministry, founders of Grace Bible study in Abilene asked him to lead worship for their new collegiate ministry. They explained Grace was designed to help students encounter Jesus Christ and be deeply challenged by the Scriptures.

Ten years later, Grace draws about 1,000 students from three universities and area high schools to University Baptist Church in Abilene each Tuesday night. Many students and leaders have gone on to serve on church staffs, establish their own ministries and even plant new churches.

“I believe one of our great legacies will be that God used Grace Bible study to help equip students for ministry literally to the ends of the earth,” Berry said. “When I began leading worship at Grace, I was unsure of my future, but God used Grace to help secure my understanding of the calling on my life and to move me into the area of ministries that I'm in today.”

In 1995, Berry founded CrossWind Ministries as a platform for his worship ministry.

“When we began Grace Bible study and CrossWind Ministries, it was similar to beginning a new (business) venture,” he explained. “So I was able to utilize the knowledge that I had gathered while teaching and working with other new ventures. I am thankful for the business training that I received at Baylor because it helped me understand how to more effectively manage the ministry that the Lord has entrusted to me.”

CrossWind Ministries has developed into a multi-faceted organization comprised of Grace, Jeff Berry Worship Ministry, Curiously Strong Music Publishing, Stonewater Sound Production, Green Room Studios and Reality Weekends.

In the last two years, Berry and Baptist youth evangelist Wes Hamilton have led more than 25 Reality Weekends, which are like an “instant Disciple Now–just add students,” Hamilton said

“We provide the speaker, worship, sound, lights, video, T-shirts, curriculum, promotional materials and small-group leaders. Our desire is to create the excitement and teaching of a weekend conference but still provide the personal relationship that comes from small groups.”

The Reality Weekends are reaching students all over the world.

“Last Christmas, we had the opportunity to do a Reality Weekend in Germany for the children of missionaries who serve in Europe,” Berry explained. “These are kids who have typically lived their life away from American soil and away from the comforts we take for granted, including fellowship with other believers. Once a year, these students get to gather together to fellowship, worship and encourage each other.

“It was an incredible privilege to lead worship with them and to see how God has not just called their parents into the mission field, but he has put a calling on their lives as well. My thought initially was how much fun it would be to go to Germany and lead these kids, … but my thought returning was how much the Lord changed my understanding of life on the mission field and my role as a supporter of these servants.”

In addition to leading worship for Grace Bible study and Reality Weekends, Berry and his band have led worship at a variety of conferences for youth and college students, including Focus, Youth Evangelism Conference, Hot Hearts, Passion and Super Summer.

They have even performed at a coffee house in Istanbul, Turkey.

During his travels, Berry says, he loves spending time off the platform, interacting with people and hearing about what God is doing in their lives.

“Leading anyone into the throne room of the Lord is a privilege,” he said. “Music has always played an important role in every culture, and when music is combined with the truth of Scripture and the perfect focus, which is God, then the connection becomes even more powerful.”