Aaron Keyes: a worship leader with a passion for making disciples

Anyone who has been in attendance when Aaron Keyes (writer of songs such as Psalm 62, Blessing and Honour and Not Guilty Anymore) has led worship will know that his approach is unique: part preacher, part Biblical story-teller, part traditional worship leader all held together with a voice that soars and an attitude that bows down in humility.

But that is only part of the story. Aaron – as well as his wife and four young sons – are dedicated to discipling worship leaders in a profoundly sacrificial and effective way. For the last few years they have opened their home in Atlanta, Georgia to a steady flow of young worship leaders, who become a part of their family for four to six months of intense discipleship.

“1 Corinthians 4 talks about there being a plentitude of spiritual teachers but a dearth of spiritual fathers,” explains Aaron, “and so we hope to not only teach and coach, but love, serve, and guide the next generation worship leader. This turns students into sons, and where the focus used to be primarily about learning, it’s shifted to loving, and ultimately launching these young men into local churches all around the world.”

Why do it? “The biblical reason is obvious; Jesus commands us to make disciples. It’s so simple! No matter what we do, as we are doing it we’re supposed to be making disciples, who - just like Jesus’ own disciples - we fully and prayerfully expect and prepare to transcend anything we could ever accomplish in our own right.

“There is a pragmatic drive also; I get phone calls all the time from pastors and churches who are looking for recommendations for a Worship Pastor. My heart was broken a couple years ago for these churches, and I told them to call me back a year later because I’d have some guys trained up for them. We’ve been doing our best to resource the Church with guys ever since.”

It might seem so obvious, but this kind of approach is rare these days – something that Aaron has wondered about.

“I’ve asked some seriously famous worship leaders why they don’t make disciples. They all say the same thing; they don’t even know where they would start or they say 'I’m not a teacher' or 'I don’t know what I’d have to offer'. As far as I can see it’s not anything to do with their hearts being wrong or their ministries being intentionally misguided. But it may have something to do with them underestimating God’s vision (and passion!) for them to minister not just to the masses, but to the few."

Of course, this remarkable work has a direct impact on his own life. Asked about this Aaron talks of the way in which strengthening others in turn leads to our own enrichment.

“All we have are a couple loaves and a few fish, but when we surrender what we have to the Master, He’s able to break, use, and multiply to the blessing of his body.

“There’s hardly any greater joy in my life than seeing our guys soaring in their identities, roles, anointings and callings as they serve the Church in bringing multiplied glory to God. And to see them beginning to now make disciples of their own … Wow!”

Finally, in a world of battered passports and long trips away from families at hoe, Aaron talks like a man with his priorities in order:

“It really is more blessed to give than to receive. Plus, it makes more sense this way; I build into a few guys, then they can travel all over the place and lead worship to their hearts’ content, and finally, I can be home more and work on the really challenging ministry: leading my own family to the glory of God.”