Thanks, all... a lot to respond to. Thanks, Leeneia for your comments on singing lead with a choir or chorus. I think the main thing that you touched on is freedom. When you are singing in a choir or chorus, you have to listen as much as you sing. My Male Chorus Director puts it simply. If you can't hear the person next to you singing, you're probably singing too loud. While that isn't necessarily a sure-fire rule, it's a good awareness to cultivate. As it turns out, the man I stand next to is in his 80's and has a very soft voice. He's also about five feet tall, and can no longer stand erect, and I am six feet one. I can't even tell IF he is singing, unless I lean over.
When you're singing lead, you may have the freedom to improvise or decorate the melody and subtly change phrasing .. as long as you still are "leading" the song so the rest of the singers know when to come in. In more formal, written music, that freedom may be sacrificed so that more intricate arrangements and harmonies can occur. Singing lead with a black gospel chorus is much like singing lead on sea chanties or work songs. There is enough room to express your emotions by playing with the phrasing and melody. In black gospel, many songs allow space for improvisation, by having the lead sing "over" a repeated phrase, improvising lines as the spirit moves the singer. Improvising was a major stretch for me for awhile, as I was used to just singing the words that were written down. It's a wonderful experience, though..
I wanted to copy about stretching yourself by picking up instruments you have no familiarty with, as commented on by Peter T. That' ll wait though (I agree 100% with Rick's approach).