Here I am to worship – Tim Hughes

 by Chrissy Symmons

With the success of his first solo album, “Here I am to worship”, and stepping into the shoes of the recently departed Matt Redman,  Tim Hughes agrees to an interview in the midst of his busy schedule:

So, where are you at the moment and what are you up?
At the moment I'm back in England. We've just returned from a busy two months of travelling - doing festivals in Australia, Holland, Canada and America. Now I'm back I'm busy preparing stuff for this years Soul Survivor summer festival. There is also the church to be inputting into.

Are you going to take part in the Soul Survivor festival this year?
Yes

 What do you like best about the festival?
I love seeing so many young people coming together to meet with God. It's great to be a part of the worship and to wait and see what God does amongst his people.

 Do you like it when people recognise you and ask for your autograph?
To be honest it's all a bit surreal and strange. On one hand it's quite nice but there's a bit of me that can't understand why anyone would want my autograph.

 It has recently been announced that Matt Redman is leaving Soul Survivor, will you still be able to keep in touch?
Yes - I'm close to Matt, Beth and Maisey and will definitely keep in touch.

How will this affect you’re role within the church? Will you be in a bigger demand now that he has gone?
I'm now the worship pastor at the church and I guess in terms of all the ministry stuff I've taken on more responsibility. There's more responsibility and more of a need for me to train musicians and worship leaders and to take a lead in what Soul Survivor is trying to do in worship.

 Do you do any work outside the Soul Survivor church?
I'm involved in non- Soul Survivor events - such as worship together - a worship conference. But I don't do any work that's not church related.

 Would you ever consider diversifying and do something other than worship? Rock or pop music for example.
No - I know that I'm called to lead worship. I couldn't do pop music anyway because I can't dance!!

 You completed a history degree but is being a worship leader what you have always wanted to do?
I felt called to be involved in worship since about the age of 16. It was my passion and seemed to be something that God was encouraging me in. God opened up the doors for me to be involved and I so love what I do. God's been very good to me.

 How has doing the degree benefited you?
I'm not sure if the actual degree has benefited me too much. It's good to have and it was good to be disciplined in working towards. The main benefit was for me being in the uni environment. I always felt called to church work and have grown up in a church family. To therefore go to uni and spend 3 years amongst so many different people, with different beliefs and ways of doing things was a challenge. One that I'm glad to have been through. 

Where do you see yourself in ten years time?
Who knows. Hopefully still a part of Soul Survivor - serving in some way. But I will have to see what God has in store.

What advice would you give to young people wanting to do what you do?
 The thing I'd say is to be faithful in the small things. If God has called you to lead worship then he'll open up the doors. Don't smash them down yourself. There's always a danger to just look for the bigger things - but it's often in the simple things that God shapes people and equips them to then serve in the bigger things. At the end of the day just love God and serve others.