CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 15 faith ministry MUSIC BY KELLIE GENTRY There is always a delicate balance when discussing women in the workplace. Despite our own struggle between the obligation we feel to our families and our desire to pursue our personal goals, there are some actual obstacles that stand in our way. S urprisingly, one of those bar- riers might be found in the church. In the Bible, Apostle Paul writes to his church with instruction on how it is to be run—one of the most con- troversial verses today being 1 Timothy 2:12 (NIV) which reads, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet." Before the stands for feminism com- mence, consider that modern churches have different interpretations on what this means: some churches adhere to the literal translation, prohibiting women to hold any positions of leader- ship; other churches go as far to ordain females; while others allow women to lead in specific ministries. Regardless, there are three female worship leaders in Fayetteville who are taking their creative passions for music ministry and giving their congregations a truly fulfilling church experience. Katie Hash, Manna Church For Katie Hash, her purpose is serv- ing as the worship leader at the Execu- tive Place site of Manna Church. "I'm confident that I'm anointed for wor- ship," she said. "When God gives you a gi, it's something that people will affirm in your life," Hash continued. "And it seems that it is something that is con- stantly affirmed in my life." Hash said she became a Christian at the age of 13 and started playing the gui- tar aer overhearing her mom and aunt talking about missed opportunities in their youth to develop a new talent. She played the bass for her church in high school and eventually went on to Bible College in Tennessee to study music. Aer a summer internship at Manna and two more internships lead- ing youth and adult worship at a church in Indiana to complete her education in 2012, Hash went looking for a job. "I knew I wanted to be in a church. I still felt that call in my life, but I was scared to death because I knew I had multiple things working against me— lack of experience, being a woman and just all of these things that felt like 'Why would a church hire me?'" e day she inquired to her mentor at Manna Church about a job, she was hired. And even though you can find Hash standing on stage, guitar in hand and leading Sunday worship at Executive Place each week, she said worshipping for her is like that of any other member in the crowd. "I just think, I'm going to stand up here and worship like I'm a member and if [people] want to join, come on; we're in this together," she said. "ere's something really powerful about us declaring something togeth- er," she said. "It's really cool that we can sing, 'ere is no other name than Jesus' all together and that he's in the room and he is present." Hash projects a humble attitude on and off the stage and she understands that her position is not one of seniority. But to her, it doesn't matter. "I can feel entitled to fairness, but ul- timately it doesn't matter. God has still Photography by Michelle Bir faith Katie Hash of Manna Church

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