Meet Ethan Granger

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ethan Granger . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ethan , we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
As a Christian artist and worship leader confidence and our self-esteem is something that we have to guard against turning into pride. For me growing up I was always taught to be humble, “I wouldn’t be where I am today if He hadn’t guided me or even given me the talent in the first place”. However, that doesn’t mean that we are supposed to shy away from the stage and hide our face so we can point them towards Jesus. Instead, we lead by example saying my confidence rest not in anything that I have done but rather I am humbled that such an amazing God would even allow me to be part of his ministry. I play from a heart of worship knowing that my value or self-esteem comes from what Christ did for me on the cross and the confidence to lead from the authority and gifts that God has blessed me with.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
For as long as I can remember I have always loved music and for me that love really began in the home. I grew up in a very musical family. My dad is a worship leader and my mom also being a musician had us learn piano at a young age, which then turned into guitar and drums for me and my brother, and then a band called Firm Foundation. God has blessed me with so many opportunities over the years that have made me into the person I am today. I am currently the college worship intern at Temple Baptist church in Ruston during the school year and have been interning at my home church, Norris Ferry Community Church the past two summers. I have had the opportunity to lead many different places but I’d say one of my main roles is being the lead singer for my band Firm Foundation. Firm Foundation was founded in 2015 with a group of middle school guys learning what it means to serve the Lord from the stage under the leadership of David and Allison Granger. Over the years God has guided them down different paths, and the band is now composed of 6 core members including my dad, brother, sister, and two close friends. For the band I organize sets, communicate with churches and venues, write music, and have the opportunity to lead along side them. I’m so grateful for allowing that God has let me be a part of his ministry and for everyone who has helped me get here. As I’ve gotten older and have begun to understand what worship truly is and why we do it has made me want to worship that much more.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I would say three really important qualities for anyone starting off would be humility, a healthy remembrance, and a heart for what you’re doing. Humility is so important for being a worship leader or anyone in a place of leading and authority. A humble heart will make people want to follow and trust in you. We aren’t where we are because of things we did but rather God has given us the talents and helped us every step of the way. We have to be constant in prayer and submission to the fact that the only reason we can stand on the stage is because the Cross of Christ says I’m worthy. Also with humility being someone who is easy to work with will go a long way. You don’t know everything and that’s ok, you shouldn’t. Learn from each other and build each other up. Second I’d say a healthy remembrance and this coincides with humility. The person three years ago only dreamed of where you are today. So many people have helped you along the way and more importantly God has been with you through it all. Don’t forget where you came from. Lastly have a heart for what you’re doing. You passion will show up in your work and the way you work. Work diligently with your purpose in mind. For those in worship ministry our purpose at the heart is to point people to Jesus and help them to worship through us worshipping on and oof the stage.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
Anytime you are in a role of leadership you will at some point feel overwhelmed. I know in my own life being a worship leader on stage I thought I had to be as close to perfect as possible. In reality that is an impossible standard that I placed on myself that I was trying to achieve. It took me a while to realize that it’s ok to not be in control of everything and to lean into the people God put around me. Surrounding myself with people that support me and are there when I’m stressed has been super helpful. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I think what has helped me the most with feeling overwhelmed is prayer and just taking a minute to refocus my attention on the Lord. He is the reason we can find joy amidst chaos and peace in the craziness. He is always there to talk to and in control and that is comforting and gives me a peace like nothing else.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Allison Granger, Kyle Mckaskle, Micah, Brittany Smith, and Barrett Strahan

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