This book has a pretty limited target audience, which makes it exceptionally useful for people in that group - people who lead worship in protestant churches. And with 17 years of experience, Andy Park is an appropriate person to write this book. We sing some of Andy's songs at my church, and I figured that anyone who wrote worship choruses that are so widely known must have something to say that's worth hearing. "To Know You More" provides a great mix of history, philosophy, and practical suggestions related to leading worship.
Throughout the book, Andy shares openly about the challenges he's faced in leading worship. These stories make this book inviting and helpful. I see that many of my insecurities and second-guesses are not so unique. Page after page, I found myself saying, "Yeah, I've been there. That's exactly how I felt." There's comfort in knowing that I'm not the only one to wonder if I'm really up to the task of trying to create an environment that enables people to have an encounter with God.
I appreciated the history of song styles that have been used in worship. I didn't realize that hymns were just as ground-breaking and controversial in their day as contemporary worship songs are in some churches today. In short, today's style of worship is culturally relevant and legitimate, even though there is and will continue to be resistance. In 50 years, church-goers may have an entirely different style, and may have the same opinions about today's worship choruses that we have about traditional hymns. That won't diminish the value of either style.
Andy writes about how to pick songs, rehearse, develop other worship leaders, and part ways when it just isn't working. He also writes about the various roles of worship leaders and song writers, who serve to varying degrees as priests, prophets, healers, teachers, and evangelists. To me, this was the best part of the book. Many people think the worship leader is like a choir director for the congregation, but there's so much more to it than that. Park defines the complete picture of what a worship leader is.