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LAPLACE — Dylan Newton, worship pastor at First Baptist Church of LaPlace, recently released his debut book, “A Worship Leader’s Journey,” to offer valuable insights into living a Christian life and navigating the challenges of ministry with grace.

Newton is a current graduate student at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, pursuing a master’s of divinity with a focus in worship ministries. 

After previously interning at a church in Birmingham, Alabama, Newton had the opportunity to transition into a pastoral role when his family moved to LaPlace in October 2020. His father, Shane Newton, became the senior pastor at First Baptist Church. Two months later, Newton was invited to come on staff as a worship leader. 

In addition to handling social media updates, Newton also began filling in on the pulpit at only 19 years old. Every opportunity presented to him became a learning experience, and two years into the role, God laid it on his heart to write a guidebook that other new and aspiring worship leaders could look to for inspiration. 

Newton dreamed of becoming an author long before he stepped foot into the ministry, but it was God’s will and the influence of his favorite author, Louie Giglio, that motivated him to finally put pen to paper. 

“Louie Giglio is one of my heroes in faith, and just reading his work encouraged me to write a book. I chose worship because that’s what I am passionate about,” Newton said. “When started my journey to becoming a worship pastor and a worship leader, something I really wanted was a how-to guide. There’s a ton of books on worship, but most of them focus more on a congregational type of worship.”

A recent review proclaimed the book to be a “great source of ideas,” whether one is a seasoned leader or just starting out in the ministry.

While the book is reflective of his experiences in the church, Newton believes the lessons contained within the pages are applicable to all Christians, wherever they may be in their journey.

“It focuses on worship ministry, being a worship leader and navigating situations that arise in a Christ-like manner, but it also talks about being an everyday, average Christian,” Newton said. “I hope this book is an encouragement. Of course, it doesn’t have all the answers. No book does, other than the Bible, but it’s a way to get your feet planted and headed in the right direction in worship ministry.”

Released in summer 2023, “A Worship Leader’s Journey” is now available on Amazon.

On his website, Newton offers signed copies of his book as well as devotions and other resources for a Christian life. For more information, visit dylannewton.org.