An Old Testament Prayer Dads Should Pray Every Day

October 14, 2023

You can improve at almost anything in the world the more you do it. Whether it’s basketball, playing the piano, or managing a budget, the more you do something the more comfortable you will feel doing it. And in almost every case, you can reach a reasonable level of proficiency.

Everything except parenting.

It seems to me that the more time I spend as a parent, the less confident I am that I am doing it correctly. I don’t think I’m alone; in fact, at the heart of most parents, I think there is a lurking fear. A nagging doubt. A still small voice that says, in various ways, I don’t know what I’m doing.

And the older the kids get, the more challenging things seem to become. Consequently, so also grows the sense of being out of your depth and over your head as a parent.

In light of that feeling, there is an Old Testament prayer that has become very precious to me, although it’s somewhat repurposed for the context of parenting. It’s the prayer Solomon prayed when the Lord told him that he could ask for anything. Now consider that for a moment.

What an offer. The God of the universe, He of infinite power and resources, gave this man a no-limit request to make. So what did Solomon ask for? He asked for wisdom. Here’s how it happened:

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask. What should I give you?”

And Solomon replied, “You have shown great and faithful love to your servant, my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, righteousness, and integrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today.

“Lord my God, you have now made your servant king in my father David’s place.Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership. Your servant is among your people you have chosen, a people too many to be numbered or counted. So give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?”

Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. (1 Kings 3:5-10)

Solomon had watched his father, David, rule the kingdom. Perhaps he had even been in some introductory “ruler in training” classes. And yet when it came down to it, when the crown finally passed to him, he knew he was in over his head. He was, even at this moment, wise enough to know what he didn’t know.

So what did Solomon do when he sensed his great weakness? How did he respond when he knew how much he lacked? He didn’t fake his way through it. He didn’t remind himself of how talented he already was. He didn’t think positively. He asked the Lord for wisdom to help him steward what had been given him well.

10 Signs of a Healthy Children’s Ministry

Dale Hudson

October 14, 2023

Is your children’s ministry healthy? Here are 10 signs of a healthy children’s ministry.

1. Volunteer team.

The success of your children’s ministry rises and falls on the strength of your volunteer team. A healthy children’s ministry has a solid volunteer team.

2. First-time guests.

A healthy children’s ministry will have first-time guests on a regular basis. Most often it is because kids are excited about their church and are consistently inviting people to come with them.

3. Guests return.

Guests will consistently return because of the great experience they had on their first visit. The national average for guest return is about 7%. But a healthy children’s ministry will have 20-30% of guests return for a second time.

4. Engaging teaching strategy.

The lessons are engaging. The lessons are relevant. The lessons have a specific learning pathway that disciples children at their age level (check out Connect12 curriculum for a discipleship pathway).

5. A solid parent connection. The ministry recognizes that parents are the primary disciple makers. They spend as much time investing in parents as they do children. They create ways for the lesson and teachings to be brought into the home during the week.

6. Good ratios. Here is what that looks like:

Infants – 1 to 2 (1 to 1 ideally)
Crawlers – 1 to 3
Toddlers – 1 to 4
2-year-olds – 1 to 4
3-year-olds – 1 to 6-8
4-year-olds – 1 to 8
5 year-olds through 5th grade – 1 to 8

7. Smiles.

You see lots of smiles. Volunteers are smiling. Parents are smiling. The kids are smiling. You feel a sense of warmth when you are around them.

8. Growth.

Anything that has life grows. A healthy children’s ministry is a growing children’s ministry.

9. Spiritual growth.

There is evidence of personal spiritual growth among the kids and parents. They are being challenged and equipped to have their own personal walk with Jesus and they are stepping up to the challenge.

10. The children’s ministry is impacting the entire church. Its influence is felt throughout the church. It is helping the entire church grow. The church is becoming known as the place in town for kids and their parents.

How healthy is your children’s ministry?

As you have read through this list, have you been challenged in any of these areas?

Now is the time to take some steps and help your children’s ministry get healthy.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

The Secret Pain of Pastors

Philip Wagner

October 14, 2023

Peter Drucker, the late leadership guru, said that the four hardest jobs in America (and not necessarily in order, he added) are:

The President of the United States

A university president

A CEO of a hospital and

A pastor

Is that true? Pastors love God and love people. They get to pray for people, lead people to a faith in Jesus Christ, and teach the Word about God.

That’s the dream job. You can read the Bible all day, pray, play a little golf and preach. I want to do that!

Here is the secret. Being a pastor is hard work. It’s not for wimps.

This is the reality—the job of a pastor can be 24/7 and carry unique challenges.

Some pastors wear themselves out trying to help people. Some wound their families because they are so involved in ministry. Others flourish in their ministry and personal life.

Approximately 85 percent of churches in America have less than 200 people. Sixty percent of churches are under 100 people. The average size congregation in the U.S. is 89 people, according to The Barna Group. Staffs are small, and needs are great. In many situations, the pastor needs to be a Bible teacher, accountant, strategist, visionary, computer tech, counselor, public speaker, worship director, prayer warrior, mentor, leadership trainer and fundraiser.

Who can be all of that?

90% of pastors said the ministry was completely different than what they thought it would be like before they entered the ministry.

70% say they have a lower self-image now than when they first started.

Personally, I love being a pastor. I have a great staff. We have great people in our church. I am content whether going through good times or difficult seasons. Of course, it’s a lot easier to be “content” when things are good. I have great friends who are pastors. My marriage is strong. I am a better man because of my time in ministry.

Some of the unique problems that pastors face are:

Andy Stanley Tells Unconditional Conference That Rosaria Butterfield and Christopher Yuan ‘Have Nothing Helpful To Say to Parents’ of LGBTQ Kids

Jesse T. Jackson

October 13, 2023

ChurchLeaders obtained unpublished audio of a Q&A session featuring North Point Community Church pastor Andy Stanley and licensed counselor and ordained pastor Debbie Causey at the controversial Unconditional Conference hosted at North Point last month.

Causey is North Point Community Church’s Director of Care. Her responsibilities include the overseeing church’s Parent Connect ministry, which facilitates “groups and events for parents of LGBTQ+ children.” She is also a mother whose youngest son, according to her website, “came out in high school” and has been “on a journey to discover what God has to say about the topic of homosexuality and gender identity issues and the LGBTQ+ community for the past decade.”

Causey’s website describes her ministry as one that is “for parents of LGBTQ+ children who are desperate to learn how to love their children well and discover God’s purposes for them on this journey.”

During their conversation, Stanley told pastors in the room that “if your theology limits who you can minister to, you definitely don’t have the theology of Jesus.”

Stanley then explained that Jesus left this world “unfixed” when he ascended to heaven. He reminded parents of LGBTQ+ children who have prayed for God to “heal” their children that their prayer might not be answered: “He doesn’t always.”

“So what’s the church supposed to do with parents who have unanswered prayer?” Stanley asked. “And how’s the church supposed to respond to teenagers and college students with this unanswered prayer?”

Stanley said, “If the church doesn’t know what to do with people with an unanswered prayer, we’re just not much of a church.”

“Every gay man I’ve ever met, regardless of age, once upon a time, was a little boy with a secret and an unanswered prayer. And I say to pastors that if that doesn’t break your heart, you shouldn’t talk about it,” Stanley said, going on to share that he tells pastors, “One of these days you’re gonna love an LGBTQ+ person. And in that moment, you’re gonna change, but you don’t have to wait until then.”

Stanley clarified—after Causey questioned him about Jesus healing LGBTQ+ children—that he didn’t mean that LGBTQ+ people are sick. Rather, Stanley was attempting to describe how “Jesus loves us.” Stanley followed that comment by mentioning that the behaviors the Apostle Paul called “sin then, were sin then. And those are sin now because serial sexual relationships are bad for everybody involved, right?”

So this isn’t a matter of not taking these verses seriously, he said. “We take them very seriously. But again, this is different. This is different. And we’ve got to make space and create new vocabulary.”

‘Sparks Fly’ Over The Gospel Coalition’s Latest Article About Taylor Swift

Stephanie Martin

October 13, 2023

The Gospel Coalition (TGC) removed its latest online article about Taylor Swift after it led to bad blood among readers. In an Oct. 12 post, Blake Glosson shared “7 Things Christians Can Learn From Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.” The pastoral resident and MDiv student, who attended one of the pop star’s concerts this summer, wrote that “the spiritual connections were vast.”

After critics mocked Glosson, his article, and TGC, the group removed the post, leaving blank space in its wake. In response to the “Well, this is embarrassing…” error message users now receive upon clicking the Taylor Swift article link, someone commented, “[to be honest] TGC should just make this a permanent header.”

The Gospel Coalition: Fearless Comparisons Between Following Taylor Swift & Christ

Glosson’s article was timed for the premiere of Swift’s “Eras Tour” movie, which is drawing crowds of enthusiastic viewers. He explored comparisons between the singer’s fan base and Christian living, such as “We were created to be seen and known” and “The object of our greatest affection will be more beautiful than we imagined.”

Glosson admitted feeling “sad joy” the day after seeing Swift in concert, realizing the much-anticipated experience was over. By contrast, he noted, the joy of the Lord contains nothing sorrowful (see Proverbs 10:22).

Glosson also wrote about Swift’s attire and her fans dressing up to attend her shows. In comparison, “We were created to shimmer as jewels on the crown of Christ’s head,” he said.

Referencing numerous Bible verses, Glosson emphasized that “only Jesus” can “ultimately satisfy our longings.” And only our Creator deserves “worshipful praise.” He concluded, “Our souls were created for full and eternal joy, which can be found in Christ alone.”

Taylor Swift Article Leaves Some Readers Seeing Red

Reaction to the The Gospel Coalition article was swift, with comments highly critical of both the organization and the author. “This is where trying to be ‘relevant’ leads you,” someone wrote, claiming that TGC is gaining a bad reputation. Earlier this year, TGC heard complaints about an article by Pastor Josh Butler regarding sex.

Joel Berry, managing editor of the satirical Babylon Bee, reposted the article on social media, writing, “Need to call TGC and see if their editors will let me republish this entire article word for word in @TheBabylonBee.” Other comments took aim at the author. “How effeminate can evangelical men get?” someone asked.

To get people to calm down, some commenters defended the author’s intent, if not the end game. “I like the concept but don’t like the idea of ‘lessons we can learn,’” someone wrote. “But it is true that people at those concerts experience worship…of an idol. The article could have been written on that fact and how we should truly worship Christ with all we are—as many of her fans do.”

Texas Pastor Found Liable for Giving Woman Herpes, Ordered To Pay $2.45 Million

Dale Chamberlain

October 13, 2023

A jury in Harris County, Texas, has found pastor Ralph Douglas West II liable for transmitting genital herpes to a woman whom he met through Facebook. West has been ordered to pay $2.45 million in damages.

West is the son of Ralph Douglas West Sr., who is the founding pastor of The Church Without Walls, a multisite church in Houston. As of Friday morning, the younger West was listed on the church’s website as the campus pastor of the location on Eldridge Parkway.

Several pages on the church’s website have since been made inactive, including the staff page.

According to the plaintiff, she contracted herpes after having unprotected sex with West in March 2018. The claims that West had the STD, knew about it, and didn’t tell the plaintiff about it until after she had contracted it are corroborated by the timing of the plaintiff’s positive test, as well as private communications between her and West.

Shaun Murphy, the plaintiff’s attorney, told Click2Houston, “She got an outbreak two or three days [after having sex with West] and then went and got tested. From there, through the medical records, we were able to identify that he was the source of it, in part, because she hadn’t been with anybody else, she had a prior negative test.”

“When she asks, ‘Where did this come from?’ His response was, his son’s mother,” Murphy went on to say. “[West] never once denied that he had it or that he knew he had it.”

Incriminating emails between the two were offered as supporting evidence.

The jury ruled that West is required to pay $1,450,000 in compensatory damages and $1,000,000 in exemplary/punitive damages—adding up to $2.45 million in total.

The ruling came after a three-day trial and nearly seven hours of deliberation, according to Yahoo News.

Murphy said his client is pleased with the verdict, not only for the financial compensation but also because she wants to raise awareness about the need for accountability for people who knowingly infect romantic partners with sexually transmitted diseases.

Report: What Church Leaders Need To Know About How Gen Z Approaches the Bible

Jessica Lea

October 13, 2023

The perception that older people prefer print versions of the Bible while younger people prefer digital media is not entirely accurate, according to recent data presented in the American Bible Society’s (ABS) latest State of the Bible (SOTB) report. The newest chapter of State of the Bible 2023, “Bible Use and Technology,” explores how American adults connect with the Bible and the role digital media plays in their lives.

“For a while now, we’ve tended to think of Bible technology as a single thing, something the young folks love and the older folks are having a hard time getting used to,” say the report’s preparers, Dr. Jeffery Fulks, Randy Petersen, and Dr. John Farquhar Plake. “It’s time to go deeper in exploring how the multiple and coexisting technologies might enhance our Bible experience and strengthen our connection with Scripture.”

Moreover, the author’s write, we should consider “not only our experience, but the experience of those at the margins, those who might be curious about the Bible or about Jesus, and who are still waiting for something they can get excited about plugging into.”

State of the Bible: Bible Use Among the Generations

The American Bible Society, a nonprofit whose vision is to make “the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford,” has been publishing the State of the Bible report annually since 2011. SOTB releases data throughout the year that evaluates Americans’ perceptions of the Bible, as well as how Americans relate to Scripture.

“The last half-century has…seen a Gutenberg-like transition in the technology of communication,” the authors say at the beginning of the newest chapter. “The challenge is the same as ever for churches and people of faith: How do we preserve the authentic power of God’s Word while facilitating connections with souls navigating in today’s context? Languages and media change, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.”

One of the report’s key findings has to do with the type of digital content people in different generations prefer to consume. The authors define the generations as follows:

- Generation Z (1997–2012): Ages 11 to 26 in 2023. This study includes adults (19–26) in Generation Z.

- Millennials (1981–1996): Ages 27 to 42 in 2023.

- Generation X (1965–1980): Ages 43 to 58 in 2023.

- Baby Boomers (1946–1964): Ages 59 to 77 in 2023.

- Elders (1928–1945): Ages 78 to 95 in 2023. This study considers any respondent 77 years old or older to be in the Elders generation.

SOTB asked people in the different generations about their preferences for engaging with print versions of the Bible, Bible video, Bible audio/podcast, a reading plan, a Bible app, or an internet search. It will surprise few to hear that Elders (87%) overwhelmingly prefer print. However, the rest of the generations, while still showing a general preference for print, have an interest in various types of digital content, an interest that appears as an “escalator” effect in the data.

Boomers prefer print over digital Bible content (70%) but out of all the groups “are those most likely to watch a Bible program on video” (46%). Gen Xers prefer print to other forms of media as well (71%), but Gen Xers and Millennials are most likely to listen to a Bible podcast or to audio versions of the Bible.

Millennials prefer print and Bible apps in equal amounts (64%). Gen Zers prefer searching for Bible-related information on the internet out of any other category (64%) and prefer internet search more than any other generation. Gen Z showed a strong interest in Bible apps (62%), preferring an app to a print version of the Bible (59%).

The Dumbest Mistake I Ever Made as a Pastor

Charles Stone

October 13, 2023

On the whole, I believe pastors are a pretty smart bunch. We earn advanced degrees, study biblical languages, go to conferences to learn, and constantly challenge our brains when we prepare messages and talks. I’ve earned two theology degrees and consider myself a relatively smart guy. But, brain smarts won’t guarantee ministry fruitfulness. Our walk with Christ fundamentally matters. And how we manage relationships probably ranks second in influence. As I look back over my 43 years in ministry, I realize I repeatedly made this one really dumb mistake in the relationship area.

I hid out.

I don’t mean that I intentionally hid from people. But I isolated myself too much from staff and people in the church. I didn’t make myself visible enough.

In one church my office was the furtherest away from everybody else. And I stayed in it way too long during work hours. I seldom came out of the office.
In that same church I didn’t emerge from my office until three minutes before the Sunday service.
In another church as a low level associate, I would never meet with anyone unless they made an appointment several days in advance. This practice certainly may be necessary for the lead pastor of a large church, but not for my role at the time, my first full time position.

Since those early years, I think I’ve grown up and become much wiser. Most church people (and staff) recognize that lead pastors are busy. Yet, they want to feel they have some connection to him or her. They don’t want to feel we are always in a rush to be somewhere else.

I now recognize that my visible presence mattered greatly. And I don’t mean that we should make ourselves 24/7 accessible. We, too, must keep healthy margins. But, church people and staff need relational touches. Even small ones matter.

Here are changes I made in my last lead pastor role that helped me be less of a ‘hider.’

When I’m not preaching on a Sunday, I visit the kid’s areas, poke my head in each classroom, and thank the leaders. I don’t just sit in my office and read (which I enjoy doing).
Before each Sunday service I intentionally finish my prayer time with an elder 10-15 minutes prior to the service start time so I can shake people’s hands and chat.
I ask an elder to close out each service in prayer and just prior to that as I share some final comments, I explain that I will be at the welcome center after the service and would like to meet new people.
I more often manage staff using the MBWA technique, Management By Walking Around. Although I still keep my door closed to minimize interruptions, I intentionally break throughout the day and wander around to touch base with staff.
When I talk to a staff person during the week or a church person on Sundays, I try to give them my full presence through eye contact and genuine listening. Even a minute or two ‘fully present’ interaction can make a positive deposit into the souls of others.

I’m much wiser now and hope that going forward I won’t make as many dumb mistakes as I did when I was younger.

What’s the dumbest mistake you’ve every made as a pastor?

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

4 Questions To Gauge Your Spiritual Health

Tamara Chamberlain

October 13, 2023

As a Christian, it’s easy to develop habits of spirituality and yet still miss what Jesus came to do.

We fill our lives with a bunch of Christian things like church, Bible studies, small groups, and all the other church events. Yet, we aren’t any closer to Jesus.

The difficult thing about it is that we might not even realize our lives becomes filled with “Christian” things instead becoming full of Jesus. Christianity becomes like a club that we’re a part of. And it misleads us into thinking we have become more like Jesus.

I imagine every Christian would agree that this is a tragedy. How can we go through life claiming to be followers of Jesus and still lose sight of what Jesus really came to do? We trade his power and glory for the security of saying we did all the Jesus things. But is Jesus really a part of it?

None of us want to be in this place. But even harder than being in this place is admitting we are in this place.

Here are a four questions we can ask ourselves to gauge if we are on the road of becoming secure in the things of Jesus and not Jesus himself. It’s important to be honest with yourself when asking these questions. And trust me, that’s not always easy.

1. What Do Your Prayers Sound Like?

I recently heard a message on prayer where the pastor asked if my prayers were gospel-centered. Of course, my initial thought was “YES.” But as the pastor began to describe the difference between self-centered and gospel-centered prayers, I quickly began to realize my prayers are far more self-centered.

The difference between gospel-centered prayers and self-centered prayers is their focus. If our prayers sound a lot like us asking God to protect us, provide for us, or strengthen us through our current life situation—and if these requests are ends unto themselves–then we are most likely praying self-centered prayers.

Of course, we can and should pray for these things. Because God cares about us. But our faith is not simply self-serving.

Here’s a look at one of the apostle Paul’s prayers for a church in a city called Philippi.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-10)

Paul’s prayer isn’t for himself, but for the church of Philippi. And this prayer isn’t about the protection and security of the church. It’s far more about their lives in Jesus. He’s far more concerned with the gospel transforming their lives than anything else.

Is Jesus Nonviolent? A Fresh Look at the Good News

Brandon Cox

October 13, 2023

Is Jesus Nonviolent — Adobestock #596206911

The story that has developed over centuries among Christians, particularly in the West, is a strange and violent twist on the gospel, which literally means “good news.” This modern gospel is that God is willing to save some people and abandon the rest. And since we are all sinful, depraved, and prone to violence anyway, God is just in his violent retribution because he is holy and righteous. Those whom he saves, he saves through the violent act of the murder of his Son on the cross, to satisfy his own wrath toward sinful human beings. Those who believe this message are saved by grace through faith. And those who don’t believe are violently cast into a lake of fire to consciously experience torment forever with no further opportunity to repent and believe. We might want to ask: is Jesus nonviolent?

So… much… violence. And then there is Jesus. Who seems to be so… nonviolent.

Is Jesus Nonviolent?

Other than flipping over the tables in the Temple, which had become a place of oppression and marginalization of the poor, we don’t see Jesus doing anything violent in the scriptures at all. He teaches and heals. He helps and serves. He washes feet.

He tells his disciples to love and to pray for their enemies, not just their friends. Jesus tells stories that involve Samaritans helping victims of random violence. He invites Simon the Zealot, a violent terrorist of sorts, to learn about a different kind of revolution.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, when Peter lops an ear off a soldier, Jesus tells him to put away his sword. Then he surrenders to the Temple police. When the Roman soldiers whip him, then pin him to a cross and begin to swing their hammers, driving nails through his wrists and feet, Jesus prays that God would forgive them because they are acting rather violently, but in ignorance concerning what is really going on.

The Case for a Church Choir

Paul Detterman

October 13, 2023

case for a church choir — Adobestock #286563941

Choral music itself will never be a thing of the past, but impoverished are the congregations who are forcing their people to experience singing in secular settings. How important are church choirs? How vital are they to a healthy ministry? Why have them at all? Many people are asking questions like these. Tragically, some congregations have decided that the whole business of nurturing and supporting a choir is just not who they are, or who they are anymore. But as we enter a new year, I want to make a case for a church choir, composed of volunteers and the people who give so freely of their time and effort to support it. I believe the church choir is a unique and vital part of a healthy congregation. Why? Four reasons—but first, a disclaimer.

I’m a choir geek. I have always loved church choirs. When I was a kid, I would go with my parents (both choir directors) to rehearsals on Wednesday night (mom’s choir) and Thursday night (dad’s choir). Then on Sunday I’d worship at the church with the anthem I liked better(!). My parents helped create an annual county-wide choral festival, hosted by the only church in the county that could hold so many people (350–400 singers and 1,500+ in the congregation). I remember, at age 5, leaning over the balcony railing pointing out to my grandmothers each church as the first choir representative processed in. (I knew all of them by their robes.)

The Case for a Church Choir

But this is not just nostalgia. I have spent my adult life directing, accompanying, or singing in a church choir. I’ve experienced the bad as well as the good. There was the congregation in the old urban neighborhood whose choir was a wonderfully supportive fellowship, but they sounded so bad that the pastor and I made a deal—if there were visitors, we skipped the anthem(!). Then there are the success stories like the little church in a farming community where my father nurtured a choir that successfully (and beautifully) sang the Brahms Requiem. It impacted the singers so much that for decades some of them would drop him a note whenever they had attended the performance of a major choral work—sometimes driving three hours one way to be there.

I’ve seen beautiful ministry in a church choir, like the night, in a city church when rehearsal was interrupted by a phone call. The husband of one of the singers had been killed in a drive-by shooting. The choir immediately went to the young widow’s house, keeping a vigil, two by two, around the clock for the next 48 hours. And there were the groups of choir people in our current church who organized visits to the home of a dying choir member just to sing hymns.

I’ve seen choirs nurture disciples, like the time an eighth-grade singer with a difficult home life asked if we could sing the Tchesnokov “Salvation Is Created.” She had heard it, and the message it conveyed had moved her to tears. We did. Or the other week when we ended our Christmas concert with the hauntingly simple “Wonderful Peace” by Gustav Nordqvist, encircling the congregation with beautiful acapella singing. Even a couple of hard-edged city lawyers in the congregation responded with tears in their eyes—they said they had experienced a foretaste of heaven.

Worship teams are fine. They have an important place in 21st-century worship leadership. Professional choral ensembles are OK for what they are—if you must. But there is nothing else like a volunteer choir.

The Case for a Church Choir – Four Reasons:

MOTIVATION

A rare and special dynamic is created among people who don’t have to be there. Church choir members show up, week in and week out, out of love (see below). The only compensation they receive is the joy of being a part of this unique ministry and the joy of making music together. That is enough to keep them coming back.

INSPIRATION

The members of a volunteer choir seek (and find) their inspiration in the music they sing and the opportunity they have to be part of something far greater than the sum of its parts. You can’t experience the thrill of an ensemble singing by yourself—the beautiful forte blend, or the subtlety of a well-rehearsed pianissimo. In a church choir, ordinary people can experience the thrill of a text coming to life as they sing a well-rehearsed anthem, hymn, or psalm.

FELLOWSHIP

A volunteer choir creates a community unlike any other. As a choir meets together, week in and week out, they “do life” together. They pray for one another—celebrating births, mourning deaths, welcoming new members, and grieving the departure of good friends. A healthy choir can be one of the strongest small groups in a congregation.

LOVE

Love is what makes a volunteer church choir: love of music, love for each other, and especially love of the Savior. Love brings a young entrepreneur rushing in for rehearsal after a week of conferences in a foreign country. Love inspires a businessman to drive several hours through holiday traffic to make the dress rehearsal for a Christmas concert. Love causes a young couple to rearrange their lives so that choir rehearsal becomes “date night” on a weekly basis. (None of these examples are imagined).

Nothing will ever replace the volunteer church choir. Nothing ever can. Choral music itself will never be a thing of the past, but impoverished are the congregations who are forcing their people to experience singing in secular settings. If your congregation has a choir, nurture it. Thank the members and support the director. If you don’t have a choir, consider (re)starting one—possibly for Holy Week or Easter. If you’re part of a church choir, keep singing. Keep coming. If you are blessed to be the director of a church choir, don’t take them or that opportunity for granted: make the case for a church choir! Cherish the joy of being part of this rare and wonderful ministry!

This article on the case for a church choir originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Donald Trump Sparks Backlash From Russell Moore, Others for Comments About Israel, Hezbollah

Stephanie Martin

October 12, 2023

During a speech and radio appearance Wednesday (Oct. 11), former president and current GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump called leaders of the Hezbollah terrorist organization “very smart” and criticized Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the Israeli prime minister “was not prepared” and previously “let us down.”

Trump, speaking to supporters in Florida and then on “The Brian Kilmeade Show,” was addressing the Oct. 7 surprise attack against Israel by Hamas, which led to Israel declaring war. A range of people quickly condemned Trump for apparently praising terrorists while criticizing Israel, America’s ally.

Repulsive beyond words. https://t.co/5wcmCuiQIF

— Russell Moore (@drmoore) October 12, 2023

Hamas and Hezbollah are separate organizations but have similar goals. Hamas operates in Gaza, to Israel’s southwest, near Egypt; Hezbollah operates north of Israel, in Lebanon.

‘Hezbollah Is Very Smart,’ Donald Trump Says

During his Florida speech, Trump referred to “a bad experience with Israel as president,” when America planned to assassinate Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Israel reacted to that 2020 killing with “muted satisfaction,” apparently fearing retaliation.

But according to Trump, “Bibi Netanyahu let us down. That was a very terrible thing…But we did the job ourself. And it was absolute precision, magnificent, beautiful job. And then Bibi tried to take credit for it. That didn’t make me feel too good.”

Trump added that Israel needs to “straighten [its intelligence] out” and “strengthen themselves up” because their opponents, supported by Iran, are “vicious and smart.” The former president also referred to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as a “jerk.”

Speaking to Brian Kilmeade on Fox News Radio, Trump said Netanyahu “has been hurt very badly” by the Hamas attack and “was not prepared.” Trump also said the violence wouldn’t have happened if he were in office.

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said of the comments, “Smart does not equal good.” He indicated the former president was “clearly pointing out how incompetent Biden and his administration were by telegraphing to the terrorists an area that is susceptible to an attack.”

Trump’s Comments Called ‘Shameful’ & ‘Repulsive’

Shlomo Karhi, Israel’s communications minister, responded by saying it’s “shameful that a man like that, a former U.S. president, abets propaganda and disseminates things that wound the spirit of Israel’s fighters and its citizens.” He added, “We don’t have to bother with [Trump] and the nonsense he spouts.”

The White House released a statement calling Trump’s comments “dangerous and unhinged.” Spokesman Andrew Bates said, “This is a time for all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel against ‘unadulterated evil.’ That’s what [President Biden] is doing as commander in chief.”

Dr. Russell Moore, editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, shared a clip of Trump’s Florida speech, writing “Repulsive beyond words.” Some commenters pushed back against Moore, however, saying he took a “craftily edited clip” out of context.

We Can’t Say Yes to Everything

Full Strength Network

October 12, 2023

One of the most common reasons leaders cite as a source of their anxiety is their schedule. They often feel crippled by the weight of their busyness and fearful that they’ll eventually be exposed for their inability to hold it all together. Leaders juggle their full-time position and the needs of the team they lead. At home, they’re called to invest deeply in their families while also spending hours chauffeuring their kids to various activities. On top of work and home, they’re responsible for taking care of themselves, including their personal development and mental and physical health. Considering all of those things, it should be no surprise that many leaders feel that they don’t have a lot of margin in their lives.

However, we all live in tension as new opportunities, events, initiatives, and goals are always being presented to us. The desire to innovate and stay fresh at work can lead us to overextend our teams and resources. Our families will weigh the tension of whether or not another full night or weekend on the calendar is the best move. Personally, side hustles and new disciplines (even healthy ones) can tap out our limited capacity.

To prevent burnout and breakdown, it’s essential to focus on giving the right “yes” and knowing when it’s best to give a “no.” New opportunities aren’t the issue here because they can mean exciting and healthy things for us personally, vocationally, and in our families. But if we continue to say “yes” to everything, we will ultimately find ourselves in a spot where everything we’re trying to balance comes crashing down.

Here are three questions to ask when considering a new opportunity that can help you prioritize the health of your family, your team, and yourself:

What Does It Truly Gain?

We’ve all experienced a time when we’ve completed a project or initiative and only then realized that, in the big picture, we really didn’t move the ball down the field at all. Regardless of how successful we were at what we did, it can be deflating to realize that we didn’t net any long-term gains through investing our time, energy, and resources.

As the leaders of organizations, families, and ourselves, it’s important to be goal-oriented and to have a plan of how to achieve those goals. If we don’t manage our time and resources well, our time and resources will ultimately manage us, our capacity, and our health. Because of that, we must be diligent in asking ourselves whether or not adding something new to the plate is on-mission or sideways energy.

If there is no clear and compelling “why” behind a new idea, it’s best to either move on or give more time for the idea to be fully fleshed out.

How Will This Impact Others?

Indeed, we can’t start something new without spending resources like time, energy, or money. However, the most valuable resource available to a leader is people. So as we evaluate adding something to our plates, whether at work or home, we must consider how that decision will affect those we’ve been entrusted to lead. Here are some things to consider as we weigh the possibility of a new opportunity:

At Work:

Does this new opportunity have a clear “why” that will reinforce the mission and values of the organization to your team?
Are the workload, timeline, and necessary resources realistic and healthy?
Do your teammates have the margin to add something to their lists?

At Home:

Does this new opportunity align with the values and goals of your marriage and parenting?
Will this enhance or diminish the opportunity to deepen the relationships in your home?

Personally:

Will you have the capacity to be the person, spouse, parent, boss, and friend you want to be if you were to add a specific thing to your already busy schedule?
Will you still be able to take steps toward achieving your personal goals with something new to balance?
Do you have the physical and emotional capacity to manage something else?

Leaders of Online ‘Church’ Who Sold Bleach as COVID-19 Cure Receive Prison Sentences

Dale Chamberlain

October 12, 2023

Leaders of the online Genesis II Church of Health and Healing have received multi-year prison sentences following their convictions for a conspiracy to sell a fake “Miracle Mineral Solution” as a cure to COVID-19 and other ailments.

The substance the four men peddled to the tune of $1 million in sales was actually just industrial bleach.

The operation was run by Florida man Mark Grenon, his brother Joseph, and his two sons Jonathan and Jordan. Jonathan and Jordan received 12.5-year sentences. Mark and Joseph received five-year sentences, which is the maximum sentence for conspiring to defraud the United States by distributing an unapproved and misbranded drug.

The prison terms for Jonathan and Jordan are longer than the elder Grenon brothers because they were also convicted of criminal contempt of court, charges that stemmed from Jonathan and Jordan’s refusal to stop selling the chemical solution as a miracle cure despite a court order handed down in April 2020.

“The Grenons, all of Bradenton, Florida, manufactured, promoted, and sold a product they named Miracle Mineral Solution (‘MMS’),” said the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida in a press release. “MMS is a chemical solution containing sodium chlorite and water which, when ingested orally, became chlorine dioxide, a powerful bleach typically used for industrial water treatment or bleaching textiles, pulp, and paper.”

The statement went on to explain that ingesting MMS can “cause dangerous side effects, including severe vomiting, diarrhea, and life-threatening low blood pressure.”

Prior to selling MMS as a cure for COVID-19, the Grenons marketed the chemical solution as a cure for other diseases and ailments, including various forms of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and even HIV/AIDS.

The men sold MMS through their online “church,” Genesis II.

Although the organization’s website has been taken down, a screen capture archived in 2020 reveals that Genesis II Church claimed to have multiple local chapters. It charged $35 for annual membership for the first year and $20 every year thereafter. The website said that members would receive an identification card that could be used for a religious exemption to the COVID-19 vaccine.

U2’s Bono Pays Tribute to ‘Those Beautiful Kids’ and Others Lost in Attack on Israel

Janna Firestone

October 12, 2023

During a concert at the Sphere in Las Vegas on Sunday night, U2’s lead singer Bono shifted the evening to pay tribute to the lives lost in Israel and Gaza.

One of the many places targeted and hit in Israel was the open-air Tribe of Nova music festival. As reported by the Associated Press, around 3,500 young Israelis gathered to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. At least 260 concertgoers were killed.

As Bono reflected on the horrific events of that morning, he turned to those in the audience and said, “So sing with us…and those beautiful kids at that music festival.”

U2’s Bono Rewrites Lyrics To Pay Tribute to Lives Lost in Israel

The Irish band U2 will play a total of 25 concerts this fall. The concerts will focus on U2’s 1991 album, “Achtung Baby.”

Housed inside the new Sphere, U2’s concert went on as planned. But the lead singer’s heart was clearly heavy with hurt and anger. Regardless of individual religious or political views, the world has been rocked by the attack. The fact that Bono took the time to honor the lives lost meant a great deal to those in attendance at the U2 concert, as well as those around the world.

Bono addressed the audience, saying, “In the light of what’s happened in Israel and Gaza, a song about non-violence seems somewhat ridiculous, even laughable, but our prayers have always been for peace and for non-violence.”

“But our hearts and our anger, you know where that’s pointed,” the lead singer said. As he sang re-written lyrics leading into U2 hit “Pride (In the Name of Love),” Bono didn’t try to hide his emotions.

Early morning, October 7, as the sun is rising in the desert sky
Stars of David, they took your life, but they could not take your pride.
Could not take your pride. Could not take your pride.

The band went on to sing:

In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love

Nearly 400,000 fans around the world have liked the video of Bono’s heartfelt tribute to the lives lost in Israel and Gaza.

One commented, “Thank you Bono to mention Israele and Gaza (Palestina) as equal. The complexity of this war goes far behind the action on those 2/3 days and the only think we can wish is for a lasting peace.”

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In New Letter, US Evangelical Leaders Support Israel’s Right to Self-Defense

Bob Smietana

October 12, 2023

ERLC Israel — An Israeli mobile artillery unit fires a shell from southern Israel toward the Gaza Strip, in a position near the border, Oct. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Erik Marmor)

(RNS) — Addressing policymakers at home and abroad, American evangelical Christian leaders responded Wednesday (Oct. 11) to the attacks on Israel by Hamas by issuing a letter calling for moral clarity, both supporting Israel’s right to defend itself and proclaiming the need to protect the lives of innocent civilians.

“In the wake of the evil and indefensible atrocities now committed against the people of Israel by Hamas, we, the undersigned, unequivocally condemn the violence against the vulnerable, fully support Israel’s right and duty to defend itself against further attack, and urgently call all Christians to pray for the salvation and peace of the people of Israel and Palestine,” the letter reads.

The letter, signed by 60 institutional leaders, will be delivered to the White House, Congress and leaders at the United Nations, said Brent Leatherwood, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, which helped organize the letter.

In a phone interview, Leatherwood said the letter was prompted by what he said were responses to attacks on Israel that drew “false equivalence” between the attacks by Hamas, a group identified by the United States as a terrorist group, and the actions of Israel’s military.

“It is time for clear-eyed thinking and moral certainty,” he said.

SBC officials are strongly represented among the signers, including the denomination’s president, Texas pastor Bart Barber, as well as SBC seminary presidents Al Mohler, Danny Akin, Jason Allen and David Dockery, and several SBC state convention leaders. Other signers are the president of Awana, a popular children’s ministry, and several Christian college presidents.

Two former ERLC presidents — Russell Moore, now editor of Christianity Today, and Richard Land, now executive editor of the Christian Post website, also signed the letter.

The letter draws on the Christian justification for war known as just war theory to support Israel’s right to defend itself from attacks.

The letter also ties the current violence to past attacks on Jews and Israel.

“Since the inception of the modern state of Israel in 1948, Israel has faced numerous attacks, incursions, and violations of its national sovereignty,” the letter reads. “The Jewish people have long endured genocidal attempts to eradicate them and to destroy the Jewish state. These antisemitic, deadly ideologies and terrorist actions must be opposed.”

New Award Honors Tim Keller and Sister Norma Pimentel for Civic Renewal

Jack Jenkins

October 12, 2023

Tim Keller — The Rev. Timothy Keller, left, and Catholic nun Sister Norma Pimentel. Courtesy photos

WASHINGTON (RNS) — The Rev. Timothy Keller, an evangelical Christian theologian who died earlier this year, and Catholic nun Sister Norma Pimentel, known for her work with migrants, have been chosen by a Christian organization to be the first recipients of its Civic Renewal Award.

The awards are being given by the Center for Christianity and Public Life, a group founded last year by a former official from President Barack Obama’s administration and dedicated to furthering the “credibility of Christian resources” for the “public good.” Offered at the group’s inaugural summit next month, the prize is meant to honor Christians who show “exemplary contributions to the health and well-being of their communities and nation.”

“When the public thinks of Christian leadership, they should think of Christians who served the public, like Sr. Norma Pimentel and Tim Keller,” Michael Wear, founder and head of the CCPL, said in a statement.

Wear, an evangelical Christian who helped lead Obama’s campaign faith outreach efforts as well as working in the then-president’s White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, is known for operating at the intersection of religion and politics — often among Democrats. He wrote a book on the topic — “Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America” — and previously worked as a political consultant whose clients included religious groups.

In an interview, Wear praised Keller, the founder and longtime pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, a megachurch affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America. Wear singled out Hope for New York, a faith-based group associated with Keller that helps assemble “resources to support non-profit organizations serving the poor and marginalized in New York City.”

Keller, Wear said, “transformed the way many pastors of many churches thought about the city.”

A co-founder of The Gospel Coalition, Keller was long associated with conservative Christianity. But his self-described “winsome” approach to ministry has more recently been criticized by some of his fellow evangelicals as too nonconfrontational during a time when, they argue, America has become hostile to Christianity. Keller also came under fire from some conservative Christians for expressing skepticism about former President Donald Trump. Keller died in May at age 72 after a prolonged struggle with pancreatic cancer.

CCPL officials also lauded Pimentel for her “tireless efforts in serving and advocating for the marginalized and vulnerable,” saying her “commitment to compassionate and selfless service exemplifies the values at the core of CCPL’s mission.”

She rose to prominence in 2014 when she helped organize a respite center run by Catholic Charities along the U.S.-Mexico border that offered aid to migrants after they were released by Border Patrol. Initially, support for Pimentel’s work extended across political and religious divisions, earning her praise from Republicans, Democrats and even the pope, with some referring to her as “Pope Francis’ favorite nun.” In 2018, she was awarded the Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame, seen by many as the highest honor in the U.S. Catholic Church.

However, recent years have seen Pimentel’s work come under fire from right-wing Catholics and a small band of Republican immigration hard-liners. She was named in a 2022 lawsuit filed by a conservative PAC targeting groups that offered humanitarian aid at the Southern border, for example, and a coalition of right-wing Catholic organizations hosted an event earlier this year that called for the government to stop funding Catholic groups that work along the border — including Catholic Charities. Even so, Pimentel has carried on with her work and continues to be celebrated by many Catholics.

The awards ceremony will take place Nov. 6-7 at the Center for Christianity and Public Life’s inaugural For the Good of the Public summit in Washington, D.C. A CCPL board member and Michael Luo, editor of newyorker.com, are expected to present the prizes to Pimentel and a representative for Keller, respectively.

This article originally appeared here.

4 Things the Most Successful Leaders Talk About When They Get Together

Brian Dodd

October 12, 2023

successful leaders — Adobestock #496467627

On pages 282 to 285 in Warren Zanes’ book “Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making Of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska,” Zanes tells the story of an exclusive dinner at Jimmy Iovine’s Beverly Hills home. As co-founder of Interscope Records, Iovine was able to attract a select group of individuals for this gathering including Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas and the gentleman running Paramount Studios at the time.

But the two most notable individuals in attendance were rock and roll legends Bruce Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt.

Iovine was going to host a private screening of Martin Scorsese’s new film on the Rolling Stones. The room became quiet as Springsteen and Van Zandt took center stage discussing the Rolling Stones and their impact on the music industry.

Zanes writes, “When it came to talking about the Rolling Stones, they were as much two young men in bands with strong opinions about rock and roll as they were rock and roll legends themselves. And those strong opinions were not about the greatness of the Rolling Stones—that was a given—but about what period, what record, what contributions mattered the most and why.”

Zane added, “This was a couple of biblical scholars who were also believers hashing it out. It wasn’t about converting anyone. For the most part, everyone else at the table just listened. It was probably the best show in town that night.”

I have had the privilege of being part of meetings, social events, and backstage conversations with public personalities and uber-successful individuals. It is a rare opportunity to learn what some of the greatest leaders talk about when they get together.

This is subject I have written about previously. For a deeper dive on this topic, click 38 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Belichick & Saban: The Art Of Coaching and 5 Things Top Performers Talk Privately About.

4 Things the Most Successful Leaders Talk About When They Get Together

The following are four things great leaders talk about when they get together we learn from Bruce Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt’s dinner conversation:

1. The Most Successful Leaders Talk About The Big Picture

Leaders at the highest level do not get in the weeds. They are big picture thinkers.

Springsteen and Van Zandt were interested in “what period, what record, what contributions mattered the most and why.”

2. The Most Successful Leaders Talk About ‘Why Things Happen’ Rather Than ‘What Happened’

Great leaders can evaluate reality. As Zanes pointed out, the greatness of the Stones was a given. What Springsteen and Van Zandt wanted to discuss was why the Stones were great.

Successful leaders rarely ask, “What happened?” Rather, their focus is on why something happened and how that will affect decision-making moving forward.

What Is Evangelical Repentance?

Nicholas Batzig

October 12, 2023

How did the theological examination of a man in a presbytery (body of regional church elders) in a small town in Scotland in 1717 fuel a deep-seated theological schism among ministers in the Church of Scotland and result in a movement that still has bearing on the church in our day? In short, it was based on the Auchterarder Creed—a statement certain presbyters would ask those coming for ordination to affirm or deny. Though arguably a poorly worded statement, it read as follows:

It is not sound and orthodox to teach that we must forsake sin in order to our coming to Christ.

That particular question inevitably revealed something of what the ministers in the Church of Scotland at that time believed about the place of repentance in the life of one who wished to come to Christ for forgiveness and redemption. The concern of those who affirmed the Auchterarder Creed was that those who rejected it viewed repentance as a legal condition of the covenant of grace. In other words, those who opposed the creed functionally taught that the moral reformation of a sinner was necessary if he were to be welcomed by Christ for the forgiveness of his sins and the other benefits of the gospel. Those who affirmed the creed wanted to highlight the free grace of God extended to any sinner who came to Him for redemption. They certainly stressed the absolute necessity of repentance as a condition of covenant blessing, seeing it as the flip side of faith in Christ. However, they viewed it as an evangelical condition, rather than a legal condition, of the covenant. They were clear that in coming to Christ by faith for the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation to God, men and women also come repenting. But those who affirmed the creed argued that men and women do not repent in order to come to Christ. Those who affirmed the creed were called the Marrow Men. Those who opposed the creed came to be known as Neonomians.

Among those who affirmed the creed were Thomas Boston, Ralph Erskine, Ebenezer Erskine, and John Colquhoun. These men came to be known as the Marrow Men on account of their adherence to the theology of a book that had been written by a member of the Westminster Assembly—Edward Fisher. The title of that book was The Marrow of Modern Divinity. This book, most highly prized by Boston, became the source of the theological controversy between the two groups of ministers in the Church of Scotland. The Church of Scotland would ultimately ban the book and forbid its ministers and parishioners from reading it. Boston would subsequently write notes on the content of the Marrow and publish a version of it with those notes included. He would say, “The Church of Scotland may have banned the Marrow, but it did not ban the Marrow with Boston’s notes!”

The Marrow Controversy involved the theological distinctions between law and gospel, legalism and antinomianism, the place of good works in the covenant of grace, the free offer of the gospel, and a litany of other interrelated theological subjects of supreme importance. However, the chief point of theological controversy regarding the Auchterarder Creed was the nature of repentance in the covenant of grace. Is repentance a legal condition of our coming to Christ or a grace and an evangelical condition? In much of their writing, the Marrow Men drew out the contrast between legal and evangelical repentance.

For instance, in his work Evangelical Repentance, John Colquhoun defined legal repentance in the following way: “Legal repentance is a feeling of regret produced in a legalist by the fear that his violations of the Divine law and especially his gross sins do expose him to eternal punishment. . . . And yet under the dominion of his legal temper he presumes to expect that such repentance as this will in some measure atone for all his crimes against the infinite Majesty of heaven.”

He then explained the nature of evangelical repentance: “Evangelical repentance . . . is a gracious principle and habit implanted in the soul by the Spirit of Christ, in the exercise of which a regenerate and believing sinner, deeply sensible of the exceeding sinfulness and just demerit of his innumerable sins is truly humbled and grieved before the Lord. . . . This godly sorrow for sin and this holy abhorrence of it arise from a spiritual discovery of pardoning mercy with God in Christ, and from the exercise of trusting in His mercy.”

Colquhoun’s explanation of evangelical repentance is fully in keeping with the teaching of the Westminster Shorter Catechism regarding “repentance unto life.” The catechism asks, “What does God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us for sin?” And it answers, “To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, God requires of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption” (WSC 85).

The members of the Westminster Assembly unambiguously taught that repentance is a requirement (i.e., a condition) of covenant blessing. How, then, are we to rightly view the nature of this “repentance unto life” and its role as an evangelical condition of covenant blessing. In the answer to question 87 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, they explained, “Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, does, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience.”

Notice the different aspects of “repentance unto life” or evangelical repentance set out in their answer:

First, evangelical repentance is a saving grace. There is nothing legal or meritorious about repentance. It is not something that we can produce in and of ourselves. It is a gracious gift of God implanted in the souls of His people by His Spirit.

10 Ways Worship Leaders and Audio Techs Need to Work Together

Duke DeJong

October 12, 2023

Worship teams and audio techs exist in order to help lead our congregations to worship and love God. We all have the same goal, to provide excellence in leading worship. So why do audio techs and worship leaders frequently experience conflict, having a hard time supporting and respecting one another?

It’s a relationship that is more often strained than healthy. That’s not good because these two people need each other to be successful. Regardless of which role you hold, here are 10 ideas to help you have a great relationship with your counterpart.

10 ways audio techs can support the worship leader

1. Be on time for rehearsal and sound check. Don’t waste the worship team’s time. This usually means mics in place and checked in advance of the scheduled start of rehearsal or sound check.

2. Communicate questions or needs with your worship leader as early as possible so there is still time to accommodate and adapt.

3. Have everything needed set up and turned on before the band gets there. There is much to accomplish in a short time. Use rehearsal time to try different eq’s and mixes in the house or your headphones, but not in the monitors.

4. Do not yell to or at the worship leader from the sound booth. Use a talk back mic or go up and talk to him/her.

5. Ask your worship leader how he wants the mix to sound from a musical perspective. Then, try to accomplish that. More lead? More snare? Less background vocal?

6. If the worship leader asks you to do something, do it as soon as possible and with a smile.

7. If you have to question the worship leader about something, or need to make a suggestion, do it privately and not in front of the worship team. It’s important that the leader can trust your intentions and it’s hard if they feel embarrassed.

8. Remember the worship leader has many things to consider and is looking out for the good of the whole congregation. Remember there are no sides, everyone is in this together.

9. Own up to your mistakes.

10. Pray for your worship leader and remember that, just like every artist, they have insecurities and are putting their art out there for everyone to judge. Take every opportunity you can to be supportive and encouraging.

How healthy is your children’s ministry?

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What Does It Truly Gain?

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1. The Most Successful Leaders Talk About The Big Picture

2. The Most Successful Leaders Talk About ‘Why Things Happen’ Rather Than ‘What Happened’

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