On his recent visit to Stoke-on-Trent, top worship leader CHRIS TOMLIN was quizzed by Chris Mountford

Chris: Around five years ago we helped set up a church in Austin and I've been part of that church ever since, leading in different areas. Wherever I've lived I've always been part of leading a church. We'll be back this Sunday. We'll play here tonight, Netherlands tomorrow then back to the US and be back in church for Sunday. It's pretty crazy!

Chris M: With all the success you've had is it difficult to remain focused on what worship music is all about - and that's about worshipping God and honouring him?

Chris: You know I've been surrounded by people who really get it and I'm always trying to focus my heart there as well - so I don't really lose that focus honestly. People will say what they want to say they give you awards and accolades, and I'm thankful for them. But at the end of the day I need to be faithful to what God wants me to do and that is to bring worship to him. The world can really pull you in, taking that praise for yourself and saying, 'Yeah maybe I am that good.' You start thinking all those weird thoughts and the flesh starts pulling you. But you need to remember this is all for God. We need to keep humbling ourselves before God saying, 'Lord this is for you' - and I want to lead people in that way.

Chris M: What do you think is the most important key to developing a successful and anointed local church worship ministry?

Chris: I think there are so many keys. One of them is humility before God and that is saying, "God, we're dependent upon you and your Spirit. We're not trusting in our own strength, we're not trying to have the coolest, greatest new programme with the greatest lights and greatest whatever! We want to just trust you Lord!" That's a key - humility. I think you see it in King David in the Scriptures - his humility before God. He's a good role model.

Chris M: Can you tell us the story behind a couple of your most successful songs, for instance "How Great Is Our God"?

Chris: That's been the craziest one ever! That will be a life song. I had no idea such a simple song, a simple chorus I wrote in my room, could reach so many people. It's based on Psalm 104:2 which starts, "Oh Lord you are very great, you are clothed in Majesty, you wrap yourself in light as with a garment." That little Scripture started that song. I started singing that chorus out one day - "How great is our God" - and I had no idea how it would be used. The stories of how God has used this song - in weddings and funerals and every part of life, in sickness and in the best of times and the worst of times - is truly amazing. I always tell people there's no publishing company or marketing plan that's good enough to circulate songs around the world - it's the favour of God. I write songs that bring the renown of God to the people and that's what we tried to do with "How Great Is Our God".

Chris M: I understand you didn't actually write "Indescribable" but you certainly made it well known. Tell us a bit about who wrote it and your connection with that.

Chris: We were finishing our CD called 'Arriving' and were actually done and our producer Ed Cash called me and said, "I think there's room for one more song." I was like, "Man you're crazy, we've done everything we can - I think the record's finished." He said, "No, there's room for one more. I woke up this morning and I'm just hearing you sing this song that I've had demo'd here in the studio for two years and had forgotten about. It's by this girl named Laura Story and it's a song called 'Indescribable'." I was like, "Really!" And he said, "Yeah! I'd just love people to hear it." So I said okay. The first time I heard this song I thought it was incredible. So I said, "Oh yeah, we need to record this song." It was one of those great little surprises from God that I didn't see coming. We talked to Laura and asked, "Hey can we record this, can we make this our own and make a few little tweaks here and there?" She was really gracious about it and we are really thankful to have that song because it opened up a lot of doors for us.