Empowering Worship: Sarah Kroger's Journey from Stage Fright to Inspiring Thousands

Sarah Kroger, a 37-year-old Catholic singer-songwriter and worship leader, has captivated audiences with her powerful voice and heartfelt devotion. Her journey from a shy child to a confident performer has been a testament to the transformative power of music and faith.

Igniting a Spiritual Awakening at the National Eucharistic Congress

When 50,000 Catholics gathered in Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic Congress, Sarah Kroger's voice was one of the driving forces behind the powerful praise and worship music. Invited by Bishop Andrew Cozzens, who spearheaded the U.S. bishops' National Eucharistic Revival, Kroger knew she wanted to be a part of this momentous event.

A Profound and Transformative Experience

Kroger was initially unsure of what to expect, but the experience left a lasting impact on her. "I think I didn't fully understand what we said yes to before going. I don't think any of us did, maybe, as is often with the Lord, just the whole thing was completely mind-blowing to me," she shared with CNA. Reflecting on the event, Kroger emphasized the palpable sense of hunger and readiness among the attendees, who were "excited and truly there for Jesus."

Unifying the Faithful in a Shared Encounter with the Eucharist

Kroger described the congress as a profound and unifying experience, where the attendees were "all together and unified and in the same space and going after the same goal, which was just to encounter the Lord in the Eucharist and truly just be transformed by that and be filled up so that we could be sent out into the world as new creations." She believes the impact of this event will be felt for a long time to come, as the "ripples" continue to spread.

Embracing the Call to Lead in Worship

Kroger's journey to becoming a worship leader was not without its challenges. As a child, she was part of the children's choir at her church and took piano and voice lessons, but she was plagued by stage fright and struggled to sing in front of others. However, a transformative experience at a Catholic camp during her junior year of high school changed everything.

Overcoming Fear and Embracing the Gift

It was at this camp that Kroger encountered contemporary worship music for the first time and learned to develop a personal relationship with Jesus through it. A powerful moment during a speaker's message resonated deeply with her, as he challenged her to use the gift that God had given her. "If you have a gift from God and you're not using it, you're denying the glory of God within you," the speaker said, and Kroger felt convicted. From that moment on, she embraced her calling and began cantering at her parish, despite her fears.

Redefining the Role of a Worship Leader

Kroger's perspective on her role as a worship leader is unique. She doesn't love the term because she sees her role as one of "leading prayer" rather than simply leading worship. "We're up front and we're on stage a lot of times but it doesn't mean that I'm the one that knows all the answers in the room," she explained. "It's more like I'm a student just like anyone else in the room. I just happen to have a microphone and I can sing and I know how to lead a moment of prayer, but really what I'm trying to do is just lead people into an encounter with God and lead myself and in the same way and make space for God to do whatever it is that he wants to do in the room."

Worship as a Transformative Experience

Kroger's understanding of worship goes beyond simply making people feel good. She believes that worship should "challenge us and should change us and should make us really take a good hard look at how we're living our lives and confront whatever is unholy in us so that we're challenged to leave that place of worship … and change the world." For Kroger, worship is about repentance and a call to live differently, to point to God and transform the world.