The Bravery of Serving: How to Pursue Your Calling On or Off-Stage With Kelli Kinney Brownlee
Is it possible to sing on big stages with legendary artists like The Clark Sisters - yet have equal respect for the work that very few people will see?
Worship leader, minister, vocalist and author Kelli Kinney Brownlee would say the answer is yes - and she has proven it by navigating her roles as a background vocalist and a leader in ministry with equal passion and dedication.
Starting from her early days growing up in a small town in West Virginia, the priority of ministry and authentic worship was ingrained in Kelli through her experiences as a young vocalist and worship leader, but she didn’t see the full potential of her gift until a stop in Detroit altered the course of her life.
Having spent years as a professional background vocalist with Dorinda Clark-Cole, Deitrick Haddon, Shana Wilson, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and countless other artists in the gospel music circle, she has seen what it takes to remain a trusted and respected part of an industry-leading musical team that demands excellence.
However, her heart for ministry was not crowded out by her inclusion in these tight-knit communities of Grammy and Stellar winning artists - instead, she finds just as much fulfillment and joy using her gifts to equip and encourage those she was called to serve at the local level.
In this heart-felt and eye-opening interview, Kelli reveals:
- The foundational characteristics of ministry she learned from her small-town beginnings
- How her original plan to move to LA was redirected and led her to meeting and working with Dorinda Clark-Cole
- Her experiences with singing with the Clark Sisters and how the relationship between artist and background vocalist develops.
- The importance of knowing your role as a support for the artist - especially in practicing discretion and exercising professionalism
- Why being on stage can’t be the only place where your gifts in ministry are used.
- How she intentionally prioritizes her family and ministry responsibilities
- How being a background singer can sometimes become a crutch under which you can hide your other gifts.
Quotables from Kelli
I never want to lead from my gifts. I want to lead from my relationship with God.
From our being, comes our doing. Not the other way around.
He didn’t give me a gift because he l
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