Carlos Whittaker was a full-time worship leader at pastor Andy Stanley’s Buckhead Church, one of North Point Ministries’ six campuses in the metro Atlanta area. Then he and his family were thrust into the national spotlight in 2010 when video of them singing Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” turned to tears—and the clip went viral, eventually winning a People’s Choice Award. Whittaker went on to record albums and lead worship for President Barack Obama at the White House Easter breakfast in 2014. He then changed the focus of his career toward speaking and writing.
Now Whittaker has a new trajectory for life, confronting the fact that he lived so long without true freedom. He openly shares his story in his new book, Kill the Spider: Getting Rid of What’s Really Holding You Back. I sat down with him at Catalyst Atlanta a few weeks ago and talked about anxiety, everyday lies and confronting our culture.
Why is your book important for Christian leaders?
A spider is a lie you’ve made an agreement with. So at some point in leaders’ journeys, they have made an agreement with a lie that has then defined their leadership, their charisma, everything. A cobweb is a medicator that brings false comfort to that lie.
