There was “fire in the house” this weekend as Eric Nuzum Thomason joined Steve and Kathy Gray on Daystar TV. Long-time worship leader of the “Smithton Outpouring,” it was like a family reunion to have Eric at World Revival Church.
Eric’s first time leading worship was the historic night when revival first struck Pastor Steve and Kathy and the congregation in the tiny town of Smithton, Missouri. The revival had a world-wide impact with over 60 nations and ¼ million people visiting.
Here, Eric shares his experience of the early days of revival and how it shaped his life as a worship leader… (Interview by Elizabeth McKinley Tuttle)
Eric Nuzum Thomason reflects on the Smithton Outpouring
It’s one thing to lead worship during a typical church service. It’s quite another to be leading it for the first time when revival breaks out.
But that’s exactly what happened to Eric Nuzum Thomason in 1996, when Steve Gray walked through the doors of his church in mid-Missouri and experienced a “lightning bolt” touch from God.
“I was petrified,” Thomason said. “I had no idea what I was doing as a worship leader. I was trying to survive so the song didn’t fall apart.”
From the platform at the tiny church, Thomason watched as Steve Gray was touched by God and started jumping up and down in response, something he had never done before. The church members responded as well, running forward to join Pastor Steve at the front of the sanctuary, all of them jumping up and down and enjoying what became a historic moment in revival history.
How do you know it’s real revival
At that point, the tension eased up for Thomason as he led worship and he, too, was able to enjoy the powerful presence of God that had come into the room.
He saw genuine responses to what God was doing -- among people he had known for years. “Lives started changing. People were responding to the Lord in ways they never responded before. It wasn’t just outward,” he said.
“I’d seen people fall down [under God’s power] before, but now people were getting free of anger or other things they’d battled for years.”
God doesn’t make mistakes
Still, the fear and self-doubt about his ability to lead worship in the revival known as the Smithton Outpouring remained for Thomason.
“Dear God, you’ve made a mistake,” Thomason said.
As the revival continued, though, Eric knew he had to resolve his fears. “I finally had to come to a place where I realized that God doesn’t make mistakes and He put me in place for a reason,” he shared.
Worship from a forklift and a major recording
In the first year of revival, Thomason maintained his job as a forklift driver. Riding on the forklift during the day and leading revival services at night, worship songs began to flow.
He would hum tunes and write worship songs on the forklift that became known around the world. Thomason explained, “Worship became more than just a song to those of us involved in the revival. We put our hearts into it.”
Songs like Revival Is in the Land, Healing Waters and You Have Called Me became banner songs for the Smithton Outpouring and captured the attention of Hosanna Integrity Music. “It was raw, live music that the world hadn’t really heard before,” Eric shared.
In the spring of 1999, Hosanna Integrity Music sent a team to record the worship live during the revival services. And when Thomason recorded that album, he started feeling more confident as a worship leader and never looked back.
Don’t imitate
More than 15 years after the start of revival in Smithton, Missouri, people around the world continue to ask Thomason what if felt like to lead worship. “It’s hard to describe the Smithton years,” he shared. “It was over the top powerful. We’d never experienced anything like this before – and didn’t know it existed.”
Eric’s experiences leading worship in revival stamped his life with the power of God – and his heart with the fire of God. He continues to lead worship at Faith Christ Family Church in New Mexico, serving as worship pastor for the large congregation of 3,500.
His encouragement to ministry leaders, no matter the size of their congregation, is to be themselves and don’t be pressured to imitate others. “That doesn’t mean you can’t take ideas and songs and ways to play them,” he shared, “but allow enough room for God to mold and shape you to get where you need to be. Be who you are.”
Revival continues in Kansas City with Pastor Steve and Kathy Gray and worship leader Dustin Smith, aired live on Daystar TV to over 200 nations. “I’m so glad this revival is on Daystar,” shared Eric. “It’s doing what we always knew it would – reaching the world.”
Worship with Eric! Click here for Eric Nuzum Thomason’s new CD Ever Faithful!
Get more information about Eric Nuzum Thomason at ericnuzumthomason.com
