Tom Read

Growing up in the cosmopolitan city of Hong Kong, Tom was exposed to a wide range of different cultures, and it was this blending of global cultures that helped to shape him into the worship leader he is today.

"Growing up, my youth group had people from all over the world", explains Tom. "We all just got along together and everyone brought their own cultures and influences into the mix. I would never trade my upbringing, it's made me into the person that I am today and I feel so blessed to have been able to experience so many different cultural ways of life."

At the age of sixteen, Tom began to start leading worship at his youth group. "I remember thinking at the time how awesome it was to be together with people from all over the world singing praises to God", says Tom. "It really brought a new meaning to the phrase 'every tribe, every tongue, every nation'. Tom continues, "There were some nights when I really could feel the power of that statement when we worshipped. There was a real sense of freedom when we worshipped, and it was during those times at youth group on a saturday night that I really started to fall in love with God. It was also at that time that I learn't what it meant to really worship God.

After attending university in London, Tom returned to Hong Kong once again to take up the position of Worship Director at his local church, The Vine. I was only 22 at the time, and there was a sense of 'am I ready for this?' says Tom, But I knew it was where God was leading me, and the faith and the belief that the church leaders had in me to do the job was amazing. It was at this time that Tom started to write his first worship songs; I've always believed that God wants to birth new songs within the church that are relevant to what God is doing at a specific time and place. Songs that will cause a higher response in worship, because they are God breathed for a specific reason." A good example of this is the song Desperation Song. "We were doing a series in church called The Desperation Series, and we were really crying out to God in desperation. It was during an all night prayer and fasting meeting, that the words and the tune started going in my head and I knew it was God's word for us."

So what does the future hold for this young worship leader living in South East Asia? Tom shares, "I've been blessed to have been given the opportunity to lead worship at various events over the past few years, both in Hong Kong and overseas, but I've told God that I'm willing to be used where ever and when ever He wants and needs me. If that means staying in Hong Kong forever and leading worship at my local church, then thats where I want to be."