This is part of our bi-monthly interview series of Pastors in 2025. Pastors of various churches will share spiritual reflections and insights on their journey with God and their role as shepherds of His people. For November 2025, I have Pastor Andrew Yeo (“Ps Andrew”) to close this interview series of 2025.
You might also like the interview series with various Christians sharing their past, present and future.
Who is Ps Andrew Yeo?
Ps Andrew is the worship pastor of Cornerstone Community Church Singapore (“Cornerstone”) and also the Executive Director of FOPx, a Youth Ministries Initiative under Festival of Praise Fellowship Singapore (“FOP”). FOPx gathers communities of youth pastors and leaders from all denominations to pray and be equipped, while FOP is an annual inter-church worship event for youth.
From the time Ps Andrew was a teen, he has written more than 100 worship songs and has led thousands in worship in national events and stadiums around Asia. He has also released two worship albums, “All Things Beautiful” and “Seasons”, with the latter being his commemorative album for his 25-year journey with God.
Pastor Andrew is married to Lynette, who serves full-time in the Children’s Church. Together, they are blessed with three wonderful children—12-year-old twins and a 9-year-old.
The Past
Looking back…
How did you come to accept Christ?
I was a really naughty kid, and in local terms, I was a true-blue Ah Beng. I would often get involved with street gangs, and life felt pretty meaningless. One day, a schoolmate invited me to church, and to be honest, I only attended because there were many pretty girls there.
But that day changed everything. In the middle of the service, for the first time in my life, I felt this overwhelming peace come over my stormy heart. And then I heard a voice, as clear as day, saying, “One day, you’ll be like the man on stage.” He was leading worship, and I didn’t even know what that meant at the time.
That was the day I gave my life to Christ at the age of 15… and the rest is history.
How were you called to be a Pastor?
I never set out to be a pastor. Honestly, I just wanted to serve God and stay faithful where He placed me. My plan was simple — use my gifts, lead worship, love people, and maybe help behind the scenes. But God had a completely different plan.
In my early years of ministry, I remember being content to serve quietly, setting up chairs, playing in the band, and helping wherever needed. I loved His presence, and I thought that was enough. Then came a season where everything I was doing for God started to feel like God was doing something in me.
There were moments I couldn’t shake off, like random people would come up and say, “God’s hand is on you for something greater.” I brushed it off. But deep inside, I started to feel a burning desire, not just to lead songs, but to lead hearts to Jesus.
One night after a youth service, when everyone had left, I stayed back at the altar. I remember saying, “Lord, if You can use a donkey, you can use me. Use my life for something beyond myself, I’m Yours.” It wasn’t a thunderous voice, but a whisper in my spirit, clear and unmistakable: “Feed My sheep.”
I wept. Not because I felt worthy, but because I knew I wasn’t. Yet somehow, I also knew this was it. God was calling me, not because I was the best, but because He chose me. From that night, doors began to open.
Leaders affirmed the call. Pastor Yang, the founder and Senior Pastor of Cornerstone, invited me to be a pastor. Mentors trained and stretched me. There were tough seasons, moments I wanted to walk away, but every time, the Holy Spirit reminded me of that night, that whisper, that call.
25 years later, I’m still standing here not because I figured it out, but because His grace carried me. Being a pastor for me isn’t a title. It’s a calling to love people the way Jesus loved me. And to carry His presence wherever He sends me.
What are the most memorable lessons you had (as a pastor)?
Honestly, when I first started in ministry, I thought the goal was to build something impressive — big crowds, big moments, big impact. But over time, I realised that the real goal is to host God well. You can impress people from afar, but you only impact them up close.
Some of the most meaningful moments in my life didn’t happen on stage — they happened over coffee, in the stillness of early morning prayer, or just being there when someone’s world was falling apart. One such moment was walking alongside Jeremy and Amanda through the heartbreak of their miscarriage. As they tried to conceive again, we prayed together and believed God for a miracle. Months later, Amanda conceived, but their joy came with a lingering fear of loss. Yet I witnessed how peace filled her heart as God met her with a Word of promise from Lamentations 3:21-25. Today, their strong and healthy son is a beautiful testimony of God’s faithfulness.
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
Lamentations 3:21-25 (NIV)
Such moments reminded me of how He is the God who redeems, restores, and writes stories more beautiful than we could ever imagine. I could also relate to their experience because a doctor once diagnosed me as infertile. I’ve whispered prayers through tears, prayers no one else knew about. God answered, and I’m now a father of three. He is the miracle-working God who still heals, still restores, and still gives good gifts.
How is your music journey as a Christian artiste like?
Making albums has always been special to me, both then and now. Back then, it was all about passion and discovery, wanting to capture what God was doing in our hearts and in the room. Now, it’s more about stewardship, learning how to tell stories through songs that can serve the church and the next generation.
I remembered being 15, praying to Jesus and telling Him, “My English isn’t great, but I want to write songs for You.” I wanted to see people encountering God through the songs. He answered my heart’s desire, and since then, I have written over 100 songs.
I was signed with Integrity Music at 19, during a time when platforms like Spotify and iTunes didn’t exist—so my songs were never released digitally. Over the years, I received countless messages and emails from people asking for my music to be made available on these platforms, but I hesitated, thinking it wasn’t necessary.
Then, in 2021, my youngest son, Judah, asked me out of the blue if my songs were on Spotify. I didn’t know how to answer, and I could see he was disappointed because he wanted to hear them. That moment stirred something in me.
As I prayed, I felt led to commemorate the 25 years of God’s faithfulness in my songwriting journey and to leave a legacy for my children. I’ve named this album Seasons because every song I’ve written or co-written has a story and reflects my journey with Christ in the last 25 years—seasons of trials, celebrations, and precious encounters with the Holy Spirit. I hope you will encounter Him through these songs.
🎧 You can hear the album here: Seasons on Spotify
There were definitely struggles in making music albums, from budget limitations, long nights in the studio, to seasons where inspiration felt dry. However, those moments taught me that songwriting is less about perfection and more about obedience. Sometimes the song that impacts people the most wasn’t the one we thought would. To anyone who’s writing songs or dreaming of releasing on Spotify: don’t despise small beginnings. Start where you are, stay authentic, and write what’s real to you. God doesn’t anoint trends, He anoints truth.
If given a chance to return in time, is there anything you would do differently?
Maybe worry less and trust God more. In my early years, I often felt the pressure to perform and to prove myself worthy of the call. Slowly, I learned to let go of striving and trying to prove myself, and simply rest in His love. It is not what I do, but who I belong to matters.
Looking back now, I realise God never asked me to impress Him; He just asked me to walk with Him. So if I could go back, I would tell my younger self: “Don’t rush the process. God’s timing is never late, it’s perfect.”
Anything to make you say “God works all things good”?
Oh, so many. There were seasons when ministry felt like breaking, when people left, dreams fell apart, and I questioned if I was good enough. But now, looking back, I can see how every setback became a setup. The things I once prayed away were the very things God used to deepen my roots. Truly, “God works all things together for good” — not because everything is good, but because He is.
In 2014, I woke up blind and was shocked to the core. I could see a little in my left eye, but my right eye was in complete darkness. My wife rushed me to the hospital, where the doctor told me I needed an urgent surgery or I’d go blind. The blood vessels in both eyes had burst due to complications from my diabetes. The surgery was really painful as six needles were poked into my eyes. After the procedure, I was still in deep pain and struggled to sleep. To make things harder, I had to lie face down in the hospital for three days and two nights to recover. I still couldn’t see, and the doctor said I needed about six to nine months to recover vision.
I went back home really discouraged, and it got worse as each day went by without healing. Ps Yang called regularly to pray with me. I went to Kingdom Invasion, hoping for a prophetic word or miracle, but nothing happened. I began to wonder if God had heard me at all. I was scared, what if after nine months I still couldn’t see? I got really depressed to the point I started to justify with God, I said, “God, you know everything I did for You. I go to church, and never missed a service. I tithe, go on mission trips, pray for the sick, preach the Gospel, do outreach, and make albums.”
During that painful season, I listened to the audio Bible daily, and one night, it read Acts 16 about how Paul and Silas, despite their circumstances, chose to praise and worship in prison. As the story ends, the Holy Spirit suddenly spoke to me after more than three weeks, “Andrew, will you choose to worship me now despite what is happening to your eyes?”
I was very honest with God and told Him I can’t because I don’t know what my future holds. What if I’m blind forever? I can’t read the Bible, I can’t preach, I can’t do music. But God was patient and asked me every day. When good things happen, it’s easy to worship. But when bad things happen, worship becomes hard.
It was so hard to bring a sacrifice of praise to the Lord, but since God asked every day, I thought I would just sing a chorus from the song ‘10,000 Reasons’ for Him. Nothing happened, no angels, no thunder, no wind, but pure silence. But after I sang to God, I felt God walk straight into my life and commanded the storm that was brewing in my spirit to be still and quiet. A supernatural peace came unto my spirit.
I also started to see how listening to the audio Bible had taught me to pronounce difficult names in the Bible, such as Melchizedek. I also realised how I took my vision for granted and didn’t read the Bible when I could. Now I lost it, I yearn to read it. I told God to heal my eyes because I really want to read the Bible with my own eyes.
The next day, when I woke up, I could see! I went to my doctor to check my eyes, and he was surprised to see me when it’s after only one and a half months, because he was expecting to see me only after nine months. The doctor checked my eyes and said, “Wow! Andrew, your eyes are completely healed, and there are also no more scars, which is a miracle.” I told the doctor about my prayer to read the Bible, and was healed the next morning. He was a backslider and became amazed by how real Jesus is. A week later, I saw my eye doctor at church — he had decided to return to his faith!
The Present
Looking at now…
What is the “job scope” of a worship pastor?
To me, being a worship pastor is more than leading songs, it is about leading hearts. It’s to help people encounter the presence of God, and not just enjoy a good setlist. It’s also to build teams, disciple worshippers, and raise the next generation of voices who carry both excellence and anointing. A worship pastor is part shepherd, part coach, part intercessor, but above all, a worshipper first.
There are definitely parts of ministry that aren’t as “glamorous” as what people see on stage. A big chunk of my week isn’t just preaching or worship, but administrative work, meetings, planning, budgeting, emails, follow-ups and counselling. These parts used to frustrate me when I first started, because I thought ministry was all about the “spiritual” stuff — praying, preaching, and worship. But over time, I realised that administration is a ministry too. It’s about stewardship and creating structures so that people and their vision can flourish.
Still, there are days when I wish I could just write songs or pray all day and skip the spreadsheets, but I’ve learned that faithfulness happens both on the stage and in the spreadsheet.
How do you prepare for Sunday worship?
Preparing for Sunday worship isn’t just about picking songs. It includes preparing my heart. Usually, I start early in the week by asking the Holy Spirit, “What will You be saying to the church this weekend?”
Sometimes it comes through the sermon theme, other times it’s just a sense of what God wants to do in the room. From there, I’ll build a set that tells a story — usually moving from invitation to revelation to response. I try to choose songs that connect both lyrically and spiritually, so people aren’t just singing to God, but with Him.
Practically, we also rehearse as a team, but I always remind them that preparation is not just musical, it’s spiritual. We don’t just rehearse transitions; we pray, we wait, we align. Because the best worship sets aren’t the most polished ones, they’re the ones where heaven meets earth.
Were there moments that made you feel like giving up (on being a Pastor)?
Yes, many times.
I had a season in which I seriously questioned my calling, not because of conflict or burnout, but because I wondered if what I was doing really mattered to God. Everything on the outside looked fine, ministry was growing, events were full, people were being blessed — but inside, I felt empty. I started to ask myself, “Am I doing this because I’m called, or because I’m just good at it?” That question haunted me for months.
I remember one night after a big event, standing alone in the carpark when everyone else had gone home. The lights were off, and it hit me. I had been so busy doing things for God that I forgot how to just be with Him. I broke down and told God, “If this is what ministry is without Your presence, I don’t want it.”
That night was painful, but also freeing. God reminded me that my true calling was never to build platforms, but to host His presence. That’s when everything shifted. I stopped striving to prove myself and started learning to rest in who He called me to be.
The other times I felt like giving up were when criticism felt louder than encouragement, and when the weight of expectations became too much. There were days I told God, “I don’t know if I can do this anymore.” But every time, He would remind me of why I started, that night when He called me, that whisper, that fire. And somehow, His grace would meet me again. I’ve learned that you don’t survive ministry by being strong, you survive by staying surrendered. Slowly, I began to understand that peace isn’t the absence of problems but in the presence of Jesus.
How do you deal with difficult people or people who don’t like you?
Haha! You mean, how do I try to deal with them? The truth is, not everyone will understand you, and that’s okay. I’ve learned not to take it personally. Sometimes people react from their own pain or insecurity, and as pastors, we get the front row seat to that. I remind myself: “My job is to love them, not to convince them.”
At the end of the day, I answer to God, not to opinions. And honestly, learning to love people who misunderstand you, that’s one of the most refining parts of ministry.
What are the joys of being a Pastor?
Seeing lives changed, that’s the greatest joy.
When someone you’ve prayed for finally encounters God, or when a young person you mentored steps into their calling, that’s priceless. It’s watching broken stories become testimonies. And seeing my own children love Jesus, that’s my biggest win for me.
In this season, what is God speaking to you about or teaching you?
God is teaching me about rest and realignment—that my worth isn’t measured by output, but by obedience. He’s reminding me to slow down, to lead from a place of overflow rather than exhaustion.
At the same time, He’s stirring a deep burden in my heart for the next generation: to raise young pastors, youth leaders, worship leaders, and creatives who pursue the Holy Spirit more than the spotlight.
What fruit of the Spirit do you think God is growing in you?
Definitely patience and maybe gentleness. I’m a doer by nature. I like to move, fix, and lead. But the Holy Spirit keeps teaching me to wait, to listen, to respond instead of react. He’s showing me that true strength isn’t found in control, but in surrender.
What is your bible verse of the season?
Be still, and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
It’s a reminder that I don’t have to strive for what He has already promised. When I’m still, I can hear Him more clearly. When I trust, I see Him move.
The Future
Look forward…
How has the worship scene changed from the past to the present, and be different in the future?
The worship scene has definitely evolved over the years. In the past, worship felt more local — each church had its own sound and its own unique expression. It was simpler, maybe less polished, but incredibly sincere.
Today, worship has become more global. A song written in one part of the world can be sung by millions the next week. Production and creativity have grown so much, and that’s beautiful. However, at the same time, the challenge now is to keep the heart of worship pure in a world that values performance and visibility.
Looking into the future, I believe worship will become more decentralised and multi-generational. Worship won’t be about stages or spotlights, but will rise from homes, schools, and the streets. We’ll see worship that’s raw, authentic, and deeply united, not led by celebrities but by communities who truly love Jesus.
What’s one piece of advice for young pastors?
Don’t try to be impressive, just be faithful. You don’t need to be loud to be anointed. Stay humble, stay teachable, stay close to Jesus. Everything else, the doors, the influence, the fruit, will come in His time. Your calling isn’t to build a name; it’s to carry His presence.
Where do you think God is leading you next – your purpose, dreams and visions?
I sense God leading me into a season of equipping and empowering the next generation. To help young leaders discover their voice, ignite their passion, and deepen their intimacy with God.
Beyond that, I dream of a creative revival, where worship, media, and missions converge to impact the city. I want to build wells of His presence, spaces where people encounter the Holy Spirit in real, transformative ways.
Fun question: What would you be doing if you did not choose the path of a pastor?
McDonald’s Manager.
Editor’s Note
We thank Ps Andrew Yeo for sharing his journey and insights into being a pastor. As I listened to his story, I was reminded of what Jesus said when He heard Lazarus was ill in John 11:4, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Because of what Ps Andrew went through, miracles could shine through as testimonies. And because of his valleys, he had a deeper revelation of what the sacrifice of worship meant and was thus able to lead in a sweeter aroma of worship. If this post speaks to you, leave a comment or send us a message to encourage Ps Andrew.
If you liked this, you may enjoy reading other interviews too: shema-rhema.com/blog/category/interviews
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