IHOP-KC Staff Interview – Luke Wood
I recently sat down with Luke Wood, a senior worship leader at the House of Prayer and teacher of Songs of the Old 
Testament, a class for the Forerunner Music Academy, to talk about life as a worship leader.
Nathan: How long have you been leading worship now?
Luke: I’ve been leading worship since 2002, and I began leading at IHOP–KC in 2003.
Nathan: What have been the most challenging and rewarding parts of worship-leading for you through the years?
Luke: I would definitely say that the most challenging aspect of it is in consistently going deep in worship as a lifestyle as opposed to leading songs on a stage. It is impossible to lead people into worship if I am not going deep in God. There are so many temptations to just settle back and coast on the music or ability, but I have to constantly push through all that and reach for God. As far as what is rewarding, I would say that I haven’t seen that in fullness yet. I’m still hoping for the “Well done good and faithful servant” from the Lord after all this is over. In a small way, it has been rewarding to feel His pleasure while I’m leading. When it clicks and the band is flowing in the prophetic I feel the Lord touch my heart. It might only come once every few weeks, but when it does it is one of the highlights for sure.
Nathan: What have been some of the most inspiring passages of Scripture as you have read and sung through the Word?
Luke: Song of Solomon has been one of the most priceless books to me in my walk with the Lord. Without it, it would be impossible to stay steady and keep the faith It is beautiful to experience God in this book, and to learn that He likes me and enjoys me.
Nathan: How much has your style changed and evolved through the years? Is that something you consciously work on or do you kind of just let flow what flows? How important do you think style and creativity are to worship?
Luke: Well, when you first start writing and singing it generally tends to be more of a “me” focus and about what “I’m” dealing with. It goes from being me-centered to not analyzing the struggles so much, but looking beyond ourselves to the grandeur and majesty of God. As far as style goes, I think it is pretty important to be true to yourself as far as what you can do and what your style is naturally. If you strive too much to go beyond your means, creativity can shut down.
Nathan: Right, because God has made us all uniquely. Part of His creativity and character comes out through us in what we do artistically.
Luke: Yes, exactly.
Nathan: What are you studying r
ight now, and how is it fueling your prayer life?
Luke: I’m teaching a class called Songs of the Old Testament right now, and it’s really creating a healthy fear of the Lord in me.
Nathan: Really? How so?
Luke: It’s causing me to consider both the goodness and severity of God in how He leads His people.
Nathan: Is there a specific Old Testament song that you’ve been stuck on and have really enjoyed?
Luke: Yes, definitely Deuteronomy 32, the song of Moses. I feel like it’s uniquely holy ground. It reminds me of the passage in Job 36:26 that says, “Behold, God is great and we do not know Him.” That’s what I’ve been getting out of this song. I don’t know God like I think I do, and it makes me hungry for more.
Nathan: Who has been a source of inspiration to you among your comrades here and why?
Luke: That’s a hard one; there are so many of them.
Nathan: OK, narrow it down to two.
Luke: Marcus Meier, for sure. He is so humble in how he leads and relates to people. I would say Clay Edwards as well. He leads and serves on the NightWatch in secret. He has been so consistent in leading and shepherding his team.
Nathan: If you could give an aspiring worship leader one piece of advice, what would it be?
Luke: Fuel your prayer life by long hours of studying and praying the Word. It’s the only way to cultivate a prophetic spirit. Unless you give yourself to the Word it’s hard to maintain vision. Studying the Word makes you want to know God; it makes you hungry for the One who all the songs are about.
Nathan: Do you have any current projects you’re working on and, if so, when can we expect to see another CD from you?
Luke: I am writing a lot right now. It seems like all the songs that are coming are about Jesus as the Son of man and the Son of God. It seems silly to say, but you d be surprised at how many songs are not about this.
Nathan: Are you going to break new ground with your next CD or will it be like Sound of War?
Luke: I think I’m still breaking ground to figure out what sounds best. I’m anxious for a new sound from heaven. I think it will have elements of The Law and Prophets and Sound of War. We’ll see.
Nathan: Great, sounds good. Thanks, Luke.
