Today we’d like to introduce you to Alejandra Pizana.
Alejandra, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in church and always loved singing for my church community. I began leading worship at the age of 17 and at 18 I began a band called 3 Point Crossing. We traveled all around the state of Texas playing for different youth and church events while simultaneously studying Vocal Performance at Houston Baptist University. I was gaining great experience in church music as well as classical music and it has shaped the way I approach leading worship. In 2013, I was hired as the Worship Director at the City of Refuge, a multicultural church in the heart of the most diverse city in the nation.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
One obstacle I faced along the way was growing up I did not see many female worship leaders in the church and with my band, I was entering into some spaces that didn’t see women as equal. I never thought I could be on staff at a church but at the City of Refuge, I can use my skills, gifts, and talents freely.
Please tell us about City of Refuge Church.
City of Refuge is one of the most diverse churches in the city of Houston and as the Worship Director, I aim to create spaces that communicate hospitality. So, we sing songs that reflect different worship cultures and different languages.
Any given Sunday our worship team can be singing in Indonesian, Spanish, Swahili as well as songs by Joe Pace and Chris Tomlin. Some stand in reverence while others dance with joy. We recite the Nicene Creed as well as communal prayers that denounce racism.
Worship at City of Refuge is breaking the walls of “normal worship” to extend welcome to any and all.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I’m not sure I would do anything different. The failures I’ve experienced have taught me invaluable lessons that I use today. If anything, I would tell myself to dream bigger.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3150 Yellowstone Blvd.
Houston, Tx. 77054 - Website: www.cityofrefuge.org
- Phone: 713-664-5033
- Email: apizana@cityofrefuge.org
Image Credit:
Marc A. Pembroke, Jasmine Escobar, Alva Rob, Ling Harris Photography
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