P.O. Box 19 | Kohler, WI 53044-0019
P: 877.771.3330  Ext. 14 | F: 888.845.9996
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Michael Zehr
Senior Consultant

Worship Ministries

Since his early teen years, Michael has had many different jobs, interests, and hobbies, but they have all revolved around one ongoing passion: worship. God has instilled in Michael a fire and a strong passion for worship which glorifies and honors Him. Michael believes that worship by definition is an act of offering to God. Worship is God-centered, not people-centered, a part of our everyday lives and not limited to the church building. His experiences in music, technology, administration, and the pastorate keep drawing him like a magnet back to this one singular passion. Why? Because God is worthy of worship.

Michael’s longing to offer all of himself to God and to lead others to do the same have been expressed in many forms. He has played in several bands and worship teams, including one that travelled for a year leading youth events and happens to be where he met his wife of 25 years. He has resourced over 100 youth events both as a speaker and musician. For 6 consecutive biennial Mennonite Youth Conventions, with venues of 5,000-10,000.00. Michael was the sound technician on a team that ran lights, sound and video. In 2002, Michael switched roles which he and and his church worship team led worship for the 5-day convention. For over 20 years, Mike was a consistent worship leader at each of the churches he attended.

In 1997, the Lord led Michael into a pastoral role as a worship and youth pastor. He spent 12 exciting years at a large congregation, learning more about God and worship and defining his vision for corporate worship. Michael led the congregation in developing worship for a second contemporary service, while maintaining the original, more traditional flavor of the first service. During those years he assembled a recording studio and used it to bless musicians with studio time and to record and produce CD’s of his worship team for the church and for the 2002 Mennonite Youth Convention. He has also recorded and produced CD’s for a number of artists, one of which earned the group a nomination into the Traditional Country Music Hall of Fame.

Michael has a strong desire and calling to help equip God’s people in the area of worship. Once the church catches the fire of worship, others outside of the church will be drawn to Christ in new ways. Michael’s enthusiasm for God is contagious, making him a sought after worship leader for large and small group worship settings.

Michael hopes to bring this passion for worship to a variety of collaborative settings. Some of these might include:

• Weekend Worship Events for churches in a geographical area
• Teaching about God-centered offering-oriented worship.
• Worship led with a team of various artists from the local area, allowing participants to network with talented persons from their own area.
• Seminars and team time for local church groups to discuss together how the insights and experiences can be applied to their own setting.
• Congregational Training Events

Such events could include much of what happens in an area weekend event, but can be more specifically tailored to the needs of an individual congregation. A few examples of areas that could be covered might be:

• The logistics of effective worship planning
• The organization and leading of Music Teams
• Sound engineering techniques
• Developing healthy relationships between musicians and media technicians
• Vocal and instrumental instruction
• Congregational consulting, growing out of the input and agenda of the congregation
• “Worship Camps” to develop young artists in the field of worship leading
• Part-time and Interim pastoring for congregations
• Music leadership for any kind of worship event
• Developing a talent pool of artists to be available for worship of entertainment.
• Recording services through Live Wire Productions Recording Studio

Michael lives in Wauseon, Ohio with his wife Rebecca. His daughter Lauren is in college and his daughter Taylor is still a part of life at home.