One of the voices behind one of worship music's biggest anthems is opening up like never before.
Chelsea Plank, worship director at Southeastern University (SEU) and co-writer of the widely sung worship song "What a God," recently joined Rich Wilkerson Jr. on his Mature Me podcast for a candid conversation about ministry, songwriting, and the surprising lessons God has taught her behind the scenes.
While thousands know Plank for leading worship, she revealed that stepping into ministry wasn't part of some carefully crafted career plan.
"I didn't pray for this," she admitted, explaining that she simply kept walking through the doors God opened while following His peace rather than chasing a platform. Looking back, she now describes serving as SEU Worship's director as "the joy of my life."
One of the biggest revelations she shared was a lesson that completely reshaped how she leads worship.
Growing up, Plank believed worship should always be spontaneous. Arriving at SEU challenged that mindset.
Instead, mentors taught her that preparation is itself an act of worship.
"Preparation is a sign of expectation," she said, explaining that carefully preparing songs, Scripture, and every aspect of a service isn't the opposite of trusting the Holy Spirit-it demonstrates faith that God is going to move.
Plank also pulled back the curtain on the songwriting journey behind "What a God," revealing the now-popular anthem was written nearly four years before it exploded across churches.
She recalled a writing session with Roosevelt Stewart, Brunes Charles, Kenzie Walker, and Bobby McClellan that was marked by an unusual sense of God's presence. At the time, no one anticipated how widely the song would eventually be embraced.
"It didn't gain the reach that it has now until a couple years after it was released," she said, describing the delayed success as a reminder that God often works on His own timetable.
The conversation wasn't all serious, however.
Plank had listeners laughing as she recounted one unforgettable ministry moment at a youth camp where a student came forward to testify after receiving prayer for healing.
Instead of announcing he'd been healed, the teenager bluntly declared, "It got worse."
The worship team then had to immediately launch back into a celebration song.
"It was terrible," Plank laughed, calling it one of the most awkward ministry moments she's ever experienced.
She also reflected on the vulnerability of songwriting, admitting that learning to collaborate meant letting go of ownership over every lyric.
"You can't be married to an idea," she said, explaining that some of the best worship songs emerge when writers lay down their egos and pursue what God wants to say instead.
Throughout the interview, one theme surfaced again and again: ministry isn't sustained by talent or gifting but by God's grace.
For Plank, that's the real secret behind leading worship, writing songs that resonate with the Church, and serving faithfully long before anyone notices.
