Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Amels.
Hi Elizabeth, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m currently serving as the Worship Director at a church in the Williamsburg, Virginia. I’ve been here for a little over two years, and it’s been a growing experience, where I get to cheer on the strengths I’ve seen my younger self possess, while also looking to mentors and leaders for advice, encouragement, and equipping. The most joyous thing about what I do is empowering other musicians and creatives to offer their gifts to the Lord, through song, creative elements, lighting, and sound, crafting moments that allows the congregation to enter to praise, wonder and awe of Jesus.
I grew up loving music, ever since I was a kid. I started playing piano at 4, and never looked back. I took voice and dance lessons, and took every creative opportunity to perform, to express, to connect with others through the arts. My biggest musical dreams would be to keep challenging myself to perform and create, while also spurring on aspiring musicians and creatives to take a chance on themselves.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This has not been as smooth of a road as I would have imagined. When you go to school for ministry, the one element that is difficult to convey from the front of the lecture is the weight and responsibility you have in ministry leadership, without being in it.
A majority of the struggles I’ve had along the way would include working with (let’s face) other imperfect people who are trying to honor God as best as they can too. And that means we fail sometimes- as leaders and team members. But at the crux of it all is the character and principle by which one responds to challenges, whether it be circumstantial, relational, external or internal. I discovered I had a lot of insecurities within the first three months of my job that talent and performance could not cover up. It was at that moment I had to choose the hard road of humility and honor. It was intriguing to know that the answer to a work-performance review would have more to do with character than output or ROI. This would later be the lesson that led me to eventually led to me being offered the Directorship role.
A second struggle would be wrestling with authenticity in a public platform role, where some may unintentionally expect “togetherness” from them at all times . Again, like I mentioned above, imperfect people work at a church. And unfortunately, some people forget that. I’ve experienced the dance between “trying to show up to do my job” and “trying to show up, wanting to experience Christ when I’m also in need of a Savior”. How do I honestly struggle with doubt and faith, while faithfully showing up to “do my job” leading the praise and worship with confidence and belief? There’s a grace that God gives us that I’m learning to receive that relieves of such pressure, to again remind me that I too am in need of grace, forgiveness, mercy, and love, all from Jesus.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a Worship Director, I cover a broad range of areas and projects. Sunday Services and church-wide gatherings prioritize my list, as I collaborate with my pastor and leadership on the service flow (order of events). The goal is to create a seamless flow of events that allows for clear communication in the Greatest Commandments: to Love God and Love Others. This is done by times of musical praise and worship, and through story telling of how the church is serving those in need and around our community. One area that I’m most proud of is creating an environment for our Young Adults to come and worship Jesus. When young professionals in their twenties want to spend hours in times of prayer, worship, and community for Jesus to be known, it’s a special to be a part of that, and I’m grateful to be used in creativity, organization, and tenacity in those moments.
One of the greatest joys I have is seeing those I lead step into their giftings with confidence and boldness. As someone who always is looking to grow in self-esteem and confidence, I’m ecstatic when I see those I’m entrusted to equip step with confidence to play, to mix, to create, to speak with authority. Not solely from confidence in skill, but confidence in identity as a child of God!
Other areas that I’ve found joy in collaboration would be throwing on church-wide events for our volunteers, brainstorming with our creatives and social media team, and pouring into our youth ministry.
I’m probably the most proud of how I desire to see the person on the other side of the craft. I care about the small details of people’s weeks and lives to make them know they are seen, loved, and valued apart from their skills. I would say that and my desire for vision communicated clearly and well are some of the things that drive me and I want to be known for.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
It sounds cheesy, but it’s okay to keep believing in yourself! I only started realizing that it’s important that you are you’re number one fan, because it’s solely going to be your job to encourage yourself in the darkest moments. It’s YOU who’s going to see all the hard hours and long nights that won’t always be celebrated on a social media platform. It’s going to be YOU who holds yourself accountable to keep showing up, when things get hard, when wins are won, and when there are new dreams to be initiate into reality. I’m grateful for numerous cheerleaders in my life outside of myself who have spurred me on with encouragement and words of wisdom, but I’m starting to learn it’s okay to being a cheerleader for myself too!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @elizabethlongli
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@elizabethlongli
- Other: https://elizabethlongli.substack.com/
