WOODWAY—Through his music and message, worship leader Art Wellborn hopes to help students and young adults realize the importance of connecting with a local church and being encouraged by a community of believers.
During his teenage years, Wellborn developed a love for music at an early age and was involved in various ministries at First Woodway Baptist Church, on the outskirts of Waco.
Little did he realize when he began leading worship his musical journey would come full circle as he entered vocational ministry.
“In high school, I began to really develop a passion for music,” Wellborn said. “By my junior year, I was leading our youth ministry in worship, and our youth pastor, Bob Johns, decided to hire me onto his youth staff right out of high school.
“I’m not sure how high of quality it was in those early years, but it was without a doubt where the Lord developed a deep passion within me for leading others in music.”
After graduating from Baylor University in 2015, Wellborn moved to Dallas and joined the staff of Community Life Church to begin leading worship at their campuses in Forney, Sunnyvale, Kaufman and Rockwall.
A year later, Wellborn felt God calling him back to First Baptist Woodway when an opportunity opened up to become the congregation’s worship minister.
“Serving through the years at First Woodway has been one of the biggest blessings,” Wellborn said. “The Lord has orchestrated timing, roles and so many other things perfectly according to his time.
“Maybe I’ll write a book about it someday, but in the short version, he has used the community at Woodway to walk with me through times of grief dealing with the loss of both my parents and also joyous times. They have been with me through so many situations, and my time at Woodway has shaped me more than anything into the minister I am today.”
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Wellborn acknowledges his experiences at First Woodway have shaped him “in ways I probably don’t even know because of my time here and the people who have poured into me, and I am just so thankful.”
Today, in addition to his staff role at the church, Wellborn frequently leads worship for DiscipleNow weekends, youth retreats and summer camps around the state including Sondays Camp at Mount Lebanon Baptist Encampment in Cedar Hill and PowerPlus Camp at Pineywoods Baptist Encampment in Woodlake.
He has also led worship for Vertical Ministries, a collegiate Bible study at Baylor University.
Wellborn especially enjoys ministering to youth and college students because of the critical influence these years present, he said.
“Getting to lead worship for Vertical Ministries is such a gift, because it was during my college years at Baylor where the Lord did some major work on my heart and developed me as a worship leader under guys like Jeff Johnson and Logan Walter,” Wellborn noted.
“Our God is such a loving Father who loves us more than we could imagine, and he is so kind and faithful. Life can be hard, but Christ is no stranger to it and has walked on this Earth, too. He knows every bit of our suffering and will redeem it all. I believe that with everything that is within me.”
As he leads worship at events around the state, Wellborn believes one of the most exciting things is watching people respond in worship.
“I love seeing people genuinely and freely worship,” Wellborn said. “I tell our team all the time that while we prepare to lead excellently, there is no power unless the Holy Spirit shows up to move.
“Our prayer is that Christ would use whatever aspect of the event to touch someone. Our job is just to be obedient in our role and let the Lord do the eternal work.”
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