Volume 13 | No. 8

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2004 ®

Anointed Women: Four Godly Role Models

Table Talk: Sarah Kelly Feature Review: Jonathan Butler

“He Knows My Name”

By Tommy Walker

Worship Radar: Dave Lubben

Kicks & Sticks: Drummers Need Love Too

PLUS: Reviews on Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, Kim Hill, Ian Eskelin, Bebo Norman, Hillsong, tobyMAC and More

Partners A Biblical Vision:

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2004 $3.50 USA / $5.00 CANADA

www.worshipleader.com

In Ministry N O V E M B E R / D E C E MBER 2004

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Help your congregation experience our rich Christmas heritage with this outstanding collection of Christmas messages from giants of the Christian faith: John Calvin, St. Augustine, Martin Luther, Bernard of Clairveaux, and more. Discover these wonderful, classic ways to express the meaning of Christmas to contemporary listeners.

Get fresh, new resources for the traditional church’s worshipplanning needs. The Worship Sourcebook is an essential tool for any church looking to freshen up its resources without changing its worship style. The companion CD contains the entire text of the 800-page book for easy cutting and pasting into bulletins, overheads, and orders of worship.

There’s more to the Christian calendar than might think. Robert Webber believes that through its rich theological meanings the Christian year can become a cycle for evangelism and spiritual formation. In Ancient-Future Time, he offers you practical steps to help achieve this end, including preaching texts and worship themes for Lent, Easter, Pentecost, Advent, and Christmas.

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AVAILABLE WHEREVER CHRISTIAN BOOKS ARE SOLD. • www.bakerbooks.com

N O V E M B E R / D E C E MBER 2004

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TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES THROUGH WORSHIP NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2004

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FEATURES

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A Biblical Vision: Partners in Ministry Throughout the Bible, God’s vision for women and men working together in the church has been the same – full partnership.

Freedom to Lead: A Worship Leader Roundtable Anointed Leadership Deborah, Esther, Abigail, and Sarah: Four biblical role models for women in leadership and what they can teach us.

COLUMNS 6 Fromm The Editor

Wrapping Up a Good Year Chuck Fromm

10 Ancient-Future Worship Women in Ministry? Yes! Dr. Robert Webber

12 Culture Watch

A Lexicon of Greats Sally Morgenthaler

66 Perspective

The Wisdom of Gamaliel Rev. Dr. Maggi Dawn

WORSHIP LEADER ONLINE This month’s online features include new thought-provoking articles, a new free MP3 to listen to, interesting survey questions to answer, informative responses from our regional contributors, the latest information on worship conferences and much more. Check it out today at worshipleader.com WORSHIP LEADER

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DEPARTMENTS 8 Worship Leader Forum 26 Table Talk: Sarah Kelly 28 Worship Leader Profile: Sarah M. Mohr Sarah Kelly keeps it real.

How she followed God, through tragedy, into the role of leadership.

30 Song Story: “He Knows My Name”

Tommy Walker attributes the source of this far-reaching song to simple obedience.

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34 Technically Speaking: Drummers Need Love Too 38 Sight & Sound Drum tips on gear and getting along.

The late Jeff Genty gave his heart and mind to a tech ministry that now pays homage to his life.

40 Worship Tech Solutions 42 In Review

Jill Warner prioritizes to govern a mega media-ministry.

Feature review highlighting Jonathan Butler’s The Worship Project from Maranatha! Music; On the Worship Radar: Dave Lubben, with additional reviews on albums by Michael W. Smith, Planetshakers, Steven Curtis Chapman, Bebo Norman, Kim Hill and more. Book reviews on Being White and The Volunteer Revolution.

worshipleader.com 4

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Top women worship leaders, scholars, and pioneers discuss the issues that most effect their lives and ministries.

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VOL. 13, NO. 8

Written by King David, sung by Margaret Becker The Select Artist Series presents Faithfully Yours: Psalms — an unprecedented worship experience by Margaret Becker and worship pastor David M. Edwards that exclusively features the actual word-for-word text of the new Holman Christian Standard translation of the Bible.

The new HCSB translation combines accuracy and clarity in a way that all readers will embrace and enjoy. The HCSB’s contemporary language brings new and revealing meaning to the holy Word of God, and likewise makes Faithfully Yours: Psalms a recording all contemporary Christian music listeners will embrace like no other.

Feel the heart of God and his servant David in this uniquely moving recording that expresses the deep emotions of all believers. With all original music written by Margaret Becker and David Edwards, Faithfully Yours: Psalms

© 2004 Here To Him

powerfully communicates the timeless and inspirational messages of the Psalms in a way that will move your heart to repentance, obedience and worship.

Features the hit radio single “Create In Me” (also included on this month’s Song Discovery CD).

See the album review in this issue of Worship Leader.

“One Year. One Challenge. One Commitment. One Church Changed Forever.“ A One-Year Reading Bible to Challenge Your Church in 2005 the "Year of the Bible."

Visit www.EveryDaywithJesusBible.com for more information and to order.

N O V E M B E R / D E C E MBER 2004

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FROMM

THE EDITOR

A Very Good Year a substantial growth in both the creative reach of the devotional 2004 saw arts and its impact not only on the Church but also on the culture at

large. I guess if you were going to sum up the last twelve months or so, you could call it the year of The Passion of the Christ. Reflecting the incredible influence that art can have on the consciousness – and conscience – of the world, Mel Gibson’s film did more to advance the idea that art, at its best, can be transformational, than anything in recent history.

Throughout the year we had the opportunity to introduce our readers to a wide range of extraordinary praise and worship music by artists whose own passion is a driving force behind the songs they write and sing. We’ve been to conferences and seminars, concerts and festivals from coast to coast, and it’s our pleasure to report that worship music is alive and well, and God is transforming lives 24/7.

With each issue we’ve worked hard to bring you the leaders and artists who are at the forefront of today’s groundswell of relevant and resonant worship music. And, with each issue we’ve tried to focus on some of the themes and topics that will continue to make a difference to the devotional arts in years to come. Worship music needs a voice; a magazine of record, where views can be aired and excellence can be celebrated.

Of course, those who make the music and those who worship with it keep us on our toes. One of the most challenging aspects of our job is to try and stay one step ahead of the enormous changes that are happening around us almost on a daily basis. Worship music, like the Christian faith we share, is in a state of flux as the world morphs into shapes and forms that would have been unrecognizable to our parents.

It’s our responsibility to stay true to that spirit of change, even as we protect the traditions that our parents, and their parents, passed on to us. Worship in 2004 found a way to honor the past and keep pace with the future, and it’s that extraordinary accomplishment that filled the pages of our publication.

A word about the theme of this last issue of 2004: the remarkable accomplishments of women in worship is one of the leading indicators of the changes God is bringing about among His people, and one that is not without its share of controversy. We’d be foolish if we thought that, within the space of a few pages, we could resolve the conflict that swirls around the important issue of women in leadership. But at the same time, we consider it our primary responsibility to you, the reader, to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to the significant issues that shape worship in all its rich variety. There is simply no question that women are taking a key role in that process, and the result has been some of the most vital, relevant, and innovative music that worship can offer. Our intent is to help shed light, bring perspective, pose the right questions, and suggest a variety answers. As always, we look to you, our readership, to tell us what you think and to evaluate our contribution to the ongoing discussion.

W Thanks for a great 2004.

Chuck Fromm Publisher

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www.worshipleader.com www.songdiscovery.com A PUBLICATION OF WORSHIP LEADER, INC

PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF EXECUTIVE EDITOR SENIOR EDITOR SONG DISCOVERY MANAGER ASSOCIATE EDITOR TECHNOLOGY EDITOR DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING PRODUCTION & WEB PROPERTIES MGR SUBSCRIBER SERVICES

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Worship Leader (ISSN 1066-1247) is published bi-monthly (except monthly in May, June, September and October) by Worship Leader Partnership. (26311 Junipero Serra, Suite 130, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-1633). Copyright: Worship Leader magazine © 2003 by Worship Leader, Inc. Worship Leader is a registered trademark.

PERMISSIONS: We grant permission for any original article to be photocopied for use in a local church, provided no more than 100 copies are made. The copyright information must appear on the photocopy.

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Balancing Tradition and

Innovation in Worship

ReConnecting Worship: Where Tradition & Innovation Converge, by Rob Weber with

Stacy Hood. Provides tools for churches to help people learn about faithful innovation. Enables diverse concerns and worship styles to be heard, respected, and valued. As church members and leaders discuss the issues and share ideas and feelings, the experience of congregational worship is deepened and broadened.

The ReConnecting Worship Kit includes one copy each of ReConnecting Worship and ReKindling Your Music Ministry and a VHS video and DVD providing interview footage and excellent examples of innovative worship in action.

Abingdon Press.

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All “I” Can Say have been receiving your magazine for about a year, and have found it an invaluable resource. I have especially enjoyed the articles written by Dr. Robert Webber. This past article, however, left me a bit troubled. While I must agree that the church has become quite a shallow place in some areas, I don’t agree that the fault lies in our focus on what “I” do during worship, either singing or writing.

Particularly since “I” am actively engaged in a conveyance of ideas, thoughts, love,

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and adoration of and for the Object of my worship who also happens to be my Father. I believe that God is never more honored than when one of His children is completely and humbly submitted to His will and is so at a loss for words the only thing “I” can say is, “I love You, I need You, I bow down, I give thanks with all my heart, I cry aloud with my voice, I will bless Your name forever, and my personal favorite, I was brought low and He saved me, (all Psalms of David). Not to mention the “Hurrah” psalms, particularly 148, 149, & 150. Maybe the enthusiasm that is shown toward such worldly pursuits as football should be exhibited toward our Lord on an even grander scale. No, the ancient church did not have cheerleaders or men painted in team colors, perhaps just a seemingly undignified king dancing about slightly dressed through the streets worshipping someone for whom a modicum of exuberance is just not enough (2 Sam 6). When I have worshipped with genuine zeal and fervor, Dr. Webber, I can assure you that I am left anything but drained, spiritually or otherwise. And it only serves to increase my desire to share the wonders of my God with all whom I encounter. Additionally, the power and grandeur of my Lord cannot be more greatly exemplified than in my candid admissions that while once the focus truly was in exalting myself - a worthless sinner - my worship now, due to the explicit mercy of His Majesty Jesus, is solely centered on, and is wholly because of, Him. Respectfully, BARBARA CUETO WORSHIP LEADER

Response from Dr. Robert Webber hank you, Barbara, for your thoughtful response to my article. I deeply appreciate the spirit in which your note was written. Space does not permit me to make an adequate response so I will write my next Ancient-Future column on your observations.

DR. ROBERT WEBBER

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A Different Sound to Worship ’ve been handed several issues of your magazine since our worship pastor left our church. There are a ton of great things going on.

I would like to point out a band that isn’t very well known, but is basically starting a different sound to worship – Cool Hand Luke. They just released their second album on Floodgate records entitled, “The Fires of Life.” The lyricist Mark writes amazing lyrics. He has a knack for involving scripture into his stories of worship. Everything from Psalms to words Paul wrote to the church.

I am a musician, a worship leader and an all around lover of music.

I’m not overly crazy with a lot of the music and songs coming out of this “worship craze,” but this band has sincerity and depth to their lyrics, not to mention their amazing talent for music (none of that power chord same four chords stuff).

Please listen and enjoy.

KURT FOCHT GILBERTSVILLE, PA

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Correction In the September/October Issue of Worship Leader, the website of one of YWAM’s local branches was published rather than their official YWAM International site.The correct website is www.ywam.org.

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ANCIENT

FUTURE WORSHIP

BY DR. ROBERT WEBBER

Women in Ministry? Yes! Life in the Congo n example of a woman as a minister that hits close to home for me is my mother, Harriet. She did not grow up in a Christian home. She had a tough childhood and was orphaned by the time she was sixteen.

As an orphan, she was befriended by the people of Spruce Street Baptist Church in Philadelphia where she was converted and encouraged to go to a Christian college. In 1929 at the age of 27, she went alone to Africa under the Africa Inland Mission. There she met my dad, and they were married in 1930.

Over the next few years my mother and father ministered in a village in the middle of the African forest. My mother translated the scripture into the native language, taught the Bible and ministered alongside my father in the numerous duties of a pioneer missionary.

Our family returned from Africa in 1940, and Dad became the pastor of a Baptist church. My mother’s ministry came to a near halt – only allowed to teach in a Bible club for children. I remember once saying to my mother, “How come you could do all the ministry stuff in Africa, but here in America, you can’t do anything?” Whatever answer she gave, didn’t stick.

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Called to Minister Recently I lectured at a denominational seminary, a denomination that was actually started by a woman. I spent some time conversing with a deeply committed Christian woman who was wonderfully talented with ministerial gifts and characterized by a deep commitment to be a minister. “I really want to be a minister,” she said, “but our denomination does not recognize women ministers.” “What!”

I said startled, “your denomination was started by a woman.” “Go figure,” she said as she shrugged her shoulders.

Should Women Be Silent in the Church?

Those who propagate the silence of women in the church will immediately argue: “But what about Paul? Doesn’t he state that women should be silent in the church?”

He does. But this admonition has to be understood against the evidence that women were active in the New Testament church as ministers. Euodias and Syntyche, two women, appear to be the ministers of the church at Phillipi (Philippians 4:2), where Paul apparently kept his membership. Then, too, there are women ministers in the Roman Church. Paul makes special mention of them and commends their work. “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me” (Rom. 16:1-2).

So, how then should we interpret Paul’s admonition that “women

should remain silent in the church” (I Cor. 14:34 & I Tim. 2:12)? Perhaps there was a particular situation here when the women were “taking over” and Paul had to ask them to refrain themselves to allow the men to also emerge as leaders. Perhaps Paul was using irony, as some have suggested: “This is the way women are treated in society. Are you going to do the same thing? If so, they can’t do anything in the church!”

Paul Contradicted The absolute logic of taking Paul literally would state that a woman cannot do anything in the church. And not just preaching or serving communion, they can’t teach Sunday school, lead worship, be deacons or elders, sing in the choir, or even greet people at the door.

Obviously this attitude contradicts one of Paul’s central teachings that “there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ” (Gal. 3:28). A rule for the interpretation of Scripture, which has been practiced throughout history, is always interpret obscure passages in view of clear passages of Scripture. In the case of women in ministry, there seems to be a surface contradiction between the women commended in Romans 16 and the admonition that women are to be silent in the church. However, both of those examples become obscure when confronted with Paul’s clarity in his letter to the Galatian church, which states that we are “all one in Christ Jesus.”

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Dr. Robert Webber is Director of the M.A. in Worship and Spirituality at Northern Seminary in Lombard, IL; author of Ancient-Future Faith, Younger Evangelicals, and most recently released Ancient-Future Evangelism. Write him at: rwebber@northernseminary.edu and check out his website: www.ancientfutureworship.com.

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N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B ER 2004

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CULTURE

W AT C H

B Y S A L LY M O R G E N T H A L E R

This Is a Lexicon of Greats

Great Question:

Great Hymns

Great Praise Classics

Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine To God Be the Glory Nearer My God to Thee Be Thou My Vision Take My Life and Let It Be Tell Me the Story of Jesus Onward Christian Soldiers More Love to Thee, O Christ I Need Thee Every Hour Beneath the Cross of Jesus Have Thine Own Way, Lord Just As I Am Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus Jesus Loves Me Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus Redeemed, How I love to Proclaim It I’d Rather Have Jesus So Send I You I Love to Tell the Story When We All Get to Heaven

I Love You, Lord Glorify Thy Name Because He Lives I Will Celebrate Jesus, Name Above All Names Thou Art Worthy Rock of My Salvation Seek Ye First Shout to the Lord Strength of My Life Lamb of God Create in Me Great Is the Lord We Bow Down He Is Exalted Jesus, Name Above All Names More Precious Than Silver There Is a Redeemer Jesus Is the Rock of Ages Day by Day

Did God make a mistake by using all these women to expand and build up the Kingdom?

What was God thinking to allow these women to lead and have such an impact on both men and women? Here are pioneers, women who have written some of our most profound worship texts, women who have preached the Gospel in our time, many at substantial personal cost.

Their contributions to the body of Christ are staggering. Men and women alike have glorified God through these sisters’ powerful compositions. People from all nations have been transformed by the grace of God, revealed in their work. Thousands have been brought to the saving knowledge of Christ through their hymns, songs, and commitment to the Word.

These are women who have counted the 12

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cost and run the race. Despite ridicule, rejection, discouragement, isolation, and in some cases, severe persecution, they have remained faithful.

It’s important to point out that these are just abbreviated lists of women who have led the body of Christ through worship and the Word, excised from the last century and a half of primarily western church history.

What of the last 2000 years of women’s contributions? What of the work God has wrought through obedient women across the planet over that time period?

I wonder if we as the Church have really considered the disconnect between what we allow these women to do for God in public worship gatherings across the country and on CD and video, compared to what we allow the women in our own communities to do (or not to do) for the

Great Evangelists V. Broughton D. Xu J. Lee Z. Elaw M. Bonney A.S. Quinton A. Snowden E. Booth R.C. Stapleton J. Foote A. Smith A. Judson N.Whitman E. Spalding M.Van Cott R. Cox S.Truth A. McPherson A. G. Lotz K. Kuhlman

glory of God. How consistent are we as the body of Christ? If women are not to lead, then perhaps they should not write hymns and songs (an inherently theological, instructional activity). They should not evangelize in public. They should not lead at conferences, worship events, or for that matter, at the recording studio.

The next time you wonder if a woman should lead worship in your church, print up this lexicon of greats and paste it behind the copy machine. History has a way of reminding us that God’s ways are not always our ways. We need more lists like these.

W Founder of Sacramentis Consulting (www.sacramentis.com), Sally Morgenthaler helps local churches transition from worship as music and preaching to multi-sensory encounters with God.

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Partners A Biblical Vision: In Ministry

by Dr. Mark D. Roberts

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ontemporary arguments for or against the inclusion of women in church leadership follow diverse paths.

Some arguments focus on the interpretation of a few controversial biblical texts, while others stress the experiences of godly women.

Some point to spiritual gifts, while others emphasize missional necessity. But, in my experience as a pastor and seminary professor, most Christians who wander into the thick forest of this conversation lack a broad biblical vision, a roadmap that can help them along the path to biblical obedience and divine blessing.

In this article I want to offer a glimpse of this panoramic vision. Though I can’t begin to address the myriad of scriptural details subsumed by this vision, I hope, nevertheless, to paint with a broad brush God’s intentions for humanity. This expansive picture, I pray, will help us see and evaluate the biblical details from a fresh, truthful perspective. It will, no doubt, challenge both our scriptural interpretations and our practical applications.

Here is the biblical vision in a nutshell: God intends for men and women to be full partners in His work in the world.

This work surely includes worship leadership, where the biblical case for partnership is especially clear, as we’ll soon see.

Genesis 2 is not the woman’s superiority, but rather the deep partnership between her and the man.

teamed up with a man, Barak, she is the primary leader of God’s people, whom He blesses under her strong maternal hand.

Partnership Distorted by Sin

Partnership in the Ministry of Jesus

Partnership in Creation

The Old Testament supplies ample evidence of this corruption. Men generally rule without having women as their partners, often victimizing women in the process (for example, Genesis 12:10-20; Judges 19).

Male-female partnership is featured in the opening chapters of the Bible. There God creates humanity in his own image, an image of male and female (Genesis 1:27). God assigns equally to both man and woman the responsibility of filling the earth and ruling over its creatures (verse 28). Leadership is to be exercised by man and woman working together.

Genesis 2 provides a different perspective on creation. In this chapter God first creates the man and then adds “a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18, NIV).

The word “helper” in Hebrew carries no sense of subordination. In fact it usually speaks of the superior help God supplies (see Psalm 121:1-2). Yet the point of

This sweet beginning quickly turns sour, however, as sin distorts God’s intentions for man and woman. The first stated result of sin is brokenness in the relationship between the sexes (Genesis 3:7). This is reiterated when God says that, now, the man “will rule over” his wife (verse 16, NIV). The intimate, mutual, thoroughgoing partnership intended by God has been corrupted by sin.

Although Jesus’ inner circle comprises twelve men, He is consistently inclusive of women, thus foreshadowing the partnership yet to come. Not only did Jesus treat women with respect, He included them among His students (Luke 10:38-42) and His traveling companions (Luke 8:1-3).

Yet, far more than His example, it is the death and resurrection of Jesus that enables the full restoration of the partnership between man and woman. The cross defeats sin and its power, thus leading to reconciliation not only between humanity and God but also between a divided humanity (see Ephesians 2:11-21, Galatians 3:23-29).

Pentecost, Partnership, and the Holy Spirit

Old Testament Exceptions Yet the Old Testament includes occasional exceptions to the rule of male dominance. Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, is a prophetess who, along with her brothers, leads Israel out of bondage and Israel’s women in worship (Exodus 15:21-21, Micah 6:4). The most striking Old Testament example of female leadership is the case of Deborah, who, as a prophetess and a judge, leads the entire nation of Israel (Judges 4-5). Though

At Pentecost Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to empower His disciples for ministry.

In fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy, the Spirit is poured out specifically upon both sexes: “[Y] our sons and daughters will prophesy . . .. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit” (Acts 2:16-18, NIV). This means that women, along with men, will be empowered for ministry in the church, even the all-important ministry of prophesying (delivering God’s word with divine authority). God’s created intention of partnership between the sexes will, by His indwelling power, begin to thrive. Women and men participate in God’s work, not because they have the right to do so, but because the Spirit equally endorses and empowers them.

In 1 Corinthians 12-14, the Apostle Paul spells out in detail the theological implications of the outpouring of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit gives various gifts to all believers so that they might build up the church. Paul neither states nor implies that certain gifts are given only to men or only to women. Rather, all gifts may be given to all people according to the Spirit’s own choice. When the community gathers, continued on page 16 N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B ER 2004

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continued from page 15

each person is expected to contribute to the assembly by teaching, or singing, or prophesying, (1 Corinthians 14:26). In 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Paul tells women who were interrupting the meetings with their inappropriate questions to keep quiet; otherwise all people, both men and women, are encouraged to minister in all spiritual gifts.

Partnership in the Ministry of Paul It should come as no surprise, therefore, that the Pauline letters contain numerous cases of male-female partnership.

Yet, because we often associate Paul with a few passages that seem to limit the ministry of women, we might be surprised by what he actually says about women in his own ministry.

Consider Romans 16; Paul begins this chapter by commending a Christian woman named Phoebe, who has been active in Paul’s ministry and who is identified as a “deacon” (verse 1, NLT; from the Greek word, diakonos, sometimes translated as “minister” or “servant”). Next Paul greets Priscilla and Aquila, whom he calls his “fellow workers in Christ Jesus” (v. 3, NIV).

This Christian couple leads a church that meets in their home (vv. 4-5). Later Paul mentions “Andronicus and Junia” whom “are respected among the apostles” (v. 7, NLT). This verse has been controversial among interpreters because, when read literally, it identifies Andronicus (a man) and Junia (a woman) not only as “apostles” but even as highly regarded apostles.

It’s likely that Andronicus and Junia were a married couple, both of whom were active as church planters.

To cite one further example, in Philippians 4 Paul mentions that two women, Euodia and Syntyche, “have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers” (v.3). Thus the Apostle Paul regularly includes women in his apostolic ministry, utilizing their gifts as his full partners.

Problems in Corinth Yet the partnership between the sexes didn’t get off to a smooth start in the first century. Given the fact that this sort of collegiality was socially suspect, and that men and women were not accustomed to participating together in corporate gather16

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ings, and that most women were uneducated, and that women tended to be held in low esteem in first-century culture, and that women often associated religion with ecstatic and orgiastic behavior, the obstacles to male-female partnership were legion. Not only were some men disinclined to include women in ministry but also some women interpreted their freedom in Christ as a license to minister independently of men and their concerns.

This happened in Corinth when women removed their head-coverings in the Christian gatherings even though this was culturally inappropriate, immodest, and troubling to the men of the congregation (1 Corinthians 11:2-16). In response to

this behavior Paul clearly affirms the right of women to pray and prophesy in the assembly (verse 5). After all, they are gifted by the Spirit for such ministry, a ministry we would call worship leadership. Yet Paul insists that women must dress in a culturally appropriate manner and not neglect the concerns of their Christian brothers.

Though women have the authority to decide what they wear on their own heads (verse 10), they must use this authority to build up the church and not merely for selfexpression. Rejecting the women’s claim to independence from men, he writes, “But in relationships among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. For although the first woman came from man, all men have been born from women ever

since, and everything comes from God” (verses 11-12, NLT). In other words, God intends for both women and men to partner together, sharing jointly in the ministry of the Spirit so that the body of Christ might be built up. If women charge off and do their own thing without men, this is wrong. Of course the same could be said of men who abandon their female colleagues. In all of Christian ministry, and in worship leadership in particular, the sexes are not to function independently, but in partnership together.

Conclusion for Today’s Leaders It’s sadly ironic that Paul’s discussion of the veiling of women, which was intended to support women’s ministry and strengthen their partnership with men, ended up being used throughout much of church history to limit the ministry of women. As Christianity penetrated the Roman Empire, one of the most male-dominated societies in history, and as male-female partnership in the church continued to be problematic, it was easy for the church to adopt the ways of the world.

Neglecting God’s plan for partnership between the sexes, the church squelched the ministry of women.

There have been occasional exceptions to this rule throughout the centuries as the Spirit has continued to empower women for ministry. But even in churches that endorse the leadership of women, the exclusion of one sex, at least in part, is common. Usually this means that men are in charge and women are left out, though I have seen opposite cases as well.

I believe that virtually every church – and virtually every church leader, including every worship leader – has much to learn about the biblical vision for male-female partnership and how to live out this vision in practice. No matter what your church’s view on women in leadership, I’d expect that you could build a stronger and healthier partnership between the sexes. I know that my church and I could do better in this regard.

Some Practical Steps Let me suggest a few practical steps to help us live out God’s vision. First, we need to study the Scriptures, not only our pet passages but the broad sweep of God’s revelation. Let’s commit ourselves to thinking

about this issue from a divine perspective, not a worldly one.

Second, we need to let the Spirit show us where we can bring our personal and corporate life into greater consistency with Scripture. Whether you’re a man or a woman, ask the Lord where you need to grow in this area, and how you might lead your church into a fuller partnership between the sexes.

Third, if you have been granted authority in church, use your authority for the fulfillment of God’s vision of gender partnership. In particular, ask the Lord how you might include the opposite sex more consistently in your own ministry. If you are a worship leader, consider how the worship of your congregation might more faithfully reflect the fact that the Spirit has been poured out equally upon both men and women.

History shows us that a thoroughgoing partnership between the sexes isn’t easily achieved or maintained. But as we are inspired by God’s vision and we seek to live it out, we’ll discover the blessings that result when men and women partner W together in Christian ministry.

Dr. Mark D. Roberts is Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church. He earned his Ph.D. in New Testament from Harvard, and has taught many seminary courses, including courses on the Bible and women for Fuller Seminary. Mark is the author of several books, his most recent being Dare to Be True. His next book, No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer will be out in March 2005.

A Note from Mark: I’m aware that any discussion of women in ministry raises countless questions. As you read my article, I’m sure many of these questions will occur to you, questions that I cannot possibly answer in such a short piece. I’m offering my website as a supplementary resource; here I have posted a thoroughly annotated version of this article in which I try to anticipate and answer your questions. But, if after checking my website you discover that your particular question still isn’t answered, then you can email it to me. I’ll do my best to respond and add it to my annotated article. From the homepage of my website, you’ll find a clear link to this detailed discussion. www.markdroberts.com

What Paul Really Said About Women John Temple Bristow, Harper SanFrancisco 1991 Was Paul the female rights champion of his time?

Bristow sees him that way; he states that the Greek and Roman world influenced the Church’s understanding of Paul, and he challenges traditional interpretations of passages that have influenced women’s role in church leadership, marriage, and life.

Daughters of the Church Ruth A. Tucker, Walter L. Liefeld, Zondervan 1987 This book tells the “untold story” of the experiences of women throughout church history. Its point is not to press some feminist political agenda or to denigrate men and their experience, but simply to fill in the blanks. Daughters of the Church is filled not only with historical data, but also with moving stories of women who have served the Lord.

Paul, Women, & Wives: Marriage and Women’s Ministry in the Letters of Paul Craig S. Keener, Hendrickson 1992 This book closely examines Paul’s teaching on women.

Written by a top-notch biblical scholar, Paul,Women, and Wives sets each passage in its historical cultural setting, and then interprets the passage in a way that draws out both the historical meaning and God’s word for today.

Preaching That Speaks to Women Alice P. Mathews, Baker Academic 2003 In a book designed for people communicating Scripture to women, Mathews expresses that there are more than common gender issues to take into account. She delves into psychology, epistemology, and more, to give the reader a vision that breaks stereotypes and empowers an entire congregation.

Why Not Women Loren Cunningham, David Joel Hamilton, YWAM Publishing 2000 The question of women in ministry could be the most divisive issue to confront the church since the Reformation. Why Not Women attempts to bring light, not heat, to this debate. The authors’ coordinated writing helps correct false understandings that deter women from obeying the call of the Lord.

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B ER 2004

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Freedom

A Worship Leader Roundtable

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to Lead

Discussion with Prominent Christian Women Leaders and Thinkers

A

s one of the most enduring controversies in Christian history, the role of women in church leadership has, in many ways, been superceded by the extraordinary contribution women around the world are making in contemporary worship. From songwriting to thriving musical ministries to their increasing presence as functioning worship leaders, women, and the singular talents and abilities they bring to bear, are an essential element in the style and substance of today’s praise and worship.

Yet, despite their growing influence in the devotional arts, a woman’s place in worship, not to mention professional pastoral positions, is very much subject to prevailing practices – and prejudices – on the local level. While the power afforded to women within the church may vary according to denominational standards and the simple expedience of filling necessary ministry positions with the most qualified individuals regardless of gender, the proverbial glass ceiling often imposes its limitations despite the egali-

tarian aspirations of many modern and emerging churches.

Worship Breaks the Bias

Beneath the ongoing debate, fueled by a wide spectrum of scriptural interpretation, old conflicts and contradictions endure. Does the church, consciously or otherwise, accommodate a gender bias?

Are there qualities of effective leadership that can best be exemplified by women?

What is the true biblical perspective to this seemingly endless argument?

While theological debate is certain to continue unabated, it is within the quickly evolving realm of worship that women have found an innovative and influential expression of their leadership gifts. Defined at its basis as the art of transformational communication, worship is a natural fit for the archetypal (some might even say stereotypical) feminine qualities of intimacy, emotional honesty, and a yielded spirit. Whether or not such traits are consistent with the demands of effective leadership, and whether the two-pronged job description of a “worshiping leader” is consistent with prevailing conceptions of Christian womanhood, all remain to be seen. Yet, what is abundantly evident is that many

A Worship Leader Roundtable Discussion

women within the international church community are not waiting for such questions to be resolved or for final permission to be granted. In a very real sense, worship has become both a force for liberation and a fundamental challenge both to Christian women and the men as they increasingly find themselves working alongside one another.

Leading Women

“In churches where worship is understood to be really important, there can sometimes be a higher bar for women to get over.” So says Teri Furr, a well-known teacher and evangelist and cofounder of Fragrant Oil, a popular women’s movement. “If that emphasis isn’t there, if worship is just considered “filler,” then it’s not so controversial for women to lead.”

Kim Hill agrees, describing a recent experience leading worship at a conference, “I was scheduled to lead worship on the last morning; it was pretty early and there wasn’t a single person in the room aside from the sound guys. The program director came up and told me that I was going to start worship in two minutes whether there was anyone there or not. Period. ‘You’re the filler, you know, continued on page 20 NNOOVVEEMMBBEERR//DDEECCEEMMBBER ER 2004 2004

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A Worship Leader Roundtable Discussion with Prominent Christian Women Leaders and Thinkers

people straggle in while you’re singing.’

I’m certain that I was in a place where worship wasn’t of value. There are some times when attitudes like that are harder to overlook than others, but it has taken me years to reach a level of maturity where it doesn’t bother me as much. These days I don’t care. I’m singing to the Lord. I’ve come to realize, regardless of the number of people, whether it’s one person or two hundred, my job is to be obedient and lead worship.”

The Kneeling Positions

But, an emphasis on God’s anointing and the power that comes with it is central to the hard won wisdom of the veteran women in worship. “The Lord spoke to me and said, ‘I have a position for you and you don’t have to worry about it because it is the highest position you could possibly pick,’” reveals Rita Springer, a well-traveled worship leader, songwriter and recording artist with a rich history in the Vineyard movement. “In my humanity, I thought, this is going to be great! I’m going to have some grand title with a big desk and my name on the door and God is going to push through the promotion personally. But then he told me, ‘Your position is the kneeling position,’ and I really had to process that. Humility is the thing that brings us honor and, in the church, we’re still battling that issue, men and women.

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“I’ve come to realize, regardless of the number of people, whether it’s one person or two hundred, my job is simply to be obedient and lead worship.”

–Kim Hill

“We are too often paralyzed by waiting for permission, it’s our freedom in Christ that gives us permission.”

–Rita Springer

For me it comes down to one question: Who does God say I am?”

To find the answer to that question many seekers turn to Scripture, yet the evidence for clear and unequivocal insight is historically scant. “I find that a lot of male leaders are challenged by the thought that Scripture may mean something different from the way it’s been interpreted for so long,” comments Dr. Roberta King, Associate Professor of Communication and Ethnomusicology at Fuller Seminary. “We probably have a lot of in-the-closet male pastors who are secretly supporters of women in leadership, but they’re afraid to stand up for women as equals.”

frustrated because they know their ideas aren’t going to go anywhere and they’re relegated to helping men. ” An acknowledged expert on the emerging church movement, Morganthaler sees entrenched attitudes even in the most modern congregations. “Women are often caught off guard by systems that seem to be inherited from older churches.

The jargon may be different, but the leadership functions are not. The ones I talk to often tell me that they went into these new churches thinking that they would be in partnership and now they’re wondering how can they push through all those barriers they thought were behind them.”

Significant Roles

Pushing Through

“I know a young woman who lives in Texas and is looking for a job as a worship leader,” recounts Sally Morganthaler, teacher, author and frequent contributor to Worship Leader magazine. “She’s asked a number of churches and has gotten back a lot of nasty e-mails telling her she should read her Bible on the subject of women in ministry. That’s just one story, but I think generally women with leadership skills, while they may get some kind of title within the church, usually end up in assisting roles. They’re not guiding the ship; they’re not setting the vision, and they’re not so much managing a ministry as helping someone else manage it.They’re

It is in the pushing through that women leaders, especially in worship roles, are forging a fresh and refreshingly non-confrontational strategy for assuming an active role in the life and work of the church.

“We are too often paralyzed by waiting for permission,” asserts Springer. “It’s our freedom in Christ that gives us permission. I believe women are the intercessors of worship. It’s a much different quality from what a man can bring because of the emotions, because of the fact that we will run, not walk, to get to Jesus. Understanding that gives us freedom and, with that freedom, comes authority.

“The reality is that Jesus had such a high view of women, we have no cause to look at Him through the filter of our own past encounters with men.”

–Sally Morganthaler

Another point of paralysis, according to Morganthaler, is that “a lot of women look at Jesus through our experiences with fathers, spouses and brothers. We have all three layers of maleness that we need to strip away to see how countercultural Jesus really was. How can we get our motivation toward him straight when our father abused us, or even if we’ve been silenced so much we’ve lost touch with the freedom we have in Him? The reality is that Jesus had such a high view of women, we have no cause to look at him through the filter of our own past encounters with men.”

Servant Leadership

The entire concept of leadership is another central premise being closely examined by women in worship. “We so often try to say the words ‘servant’ and ‘leader’ in the same breath,” explains King. “We should just drop the leader part. If we simply thought of ourselves as servants, whether male or female, I think it would really change our perspective, because then we would genuinely be pursuing God in the midst of our worship, rather than being concerned about what our role is in the church. The question we need to ask ourselves is whether we’re serving God in what we’re doing. We need to get over seeking a platform and instead find our place in the family of God where our gift-

“If we simply thought of ourselves as servants, whether male or female, I think it would really change our perspective, because then we would genuinely be pursuing God in the midst of our worship, rather than being concerned about what our role is in the church.”

– Roberta King ing can be used – and that means we need role models, especially as women. We don’t have enough women who can encourage us to stand up and say ‘I can do that!’”

For Teri Furr, the concept of women’s gifting is very much in the mind of the beholder. “Too often the culture dictates what our role will be,” she says. “For instance, those passages in Scripture that talk about women not teaching men create the impression that instruction from a woman is forbidden and that usually translates as preaching. But worship leading can actually be a much more direct form of instruction and a lot more immediate in its response of God’s truth.”

Springer heartily concurs. “Sometimes I can say more behind the piano than can ever be said behind the pulpit. We have to get our emphasis off of position and prestige. Are we looking for an impressive title because we need it or because it describes what God has put on us? All toooften things get out of balance and we end up breeding ill will toward men. It’s not a better-than issue. It’s an other-than issue.”

Humility Is the Key

“We can go in and start blasting everybody over what we see as bias,” continues Furr. “But that’s never going to be the solution. The ones who are being discriminated against are never going to be the ones who can best shine a light

“The ones who are being discriminated against are never going to be the ones who can best shine a light on the problem. God is going to have to do that.”

–Teri Furr

on the problem. God is going to have to do that.”

To finally and fully comprehend the essential differences and similarities of men and women in ministry is, according to King, “going to take commitment on both sides to be willing to listen and to work together. It means spending time hearing each other and then taking what we’ve heard and applying it. I think it’s also important for women to consciously develop an attitude of humility, because it’s very easy for us to react defensively in a hurtful situation. By this I don’t mean being so humble that you’re not doing what God has called you to. Sometimes we have to take risks, to confront others.

But we have to do it with a loving attitude, seeking God in all things. I think the bottom line is, we women should be excited to be living in this day and age and not a hundred years ago.”

“I think the message a lot of committed Christian women are trying to get across is very direct,” adds Morganthaler.

“It’s that the Kingdom of God needs what we’ve been given. We’re not just in this for ourselves, to set up a little women’s club.

During the women’s movement, it was all about getting recognition and equality and all of that, and while I’m not saying that isn’t important, what we understand is that what really matters is who we are and how we can help transform the world, for the glory of God.” W N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B ER 2004

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Anointed 22 22 WORSHIP WORSHIP LEADER LEADER

Leadership: Four Godly Role Model Models

If

the on-going discussion about the role of women in leadership too often seems to ring hollow and trite, it may be because there is more to the issue and its implications for the Church than mere slogans and simplifications.

The proof is in the pages of the Bible where a look at women in leadership roles in the Old Testament – even before Christ lauded Mary of Bethany for her countercultural approach to God – reveals a remarkable variety of styles and approaches. What is revealed in the lives of judge and warrior Deborah or intercessor and influencer Esther? What can be learned about negotiation from Abigail or about the power of submission from Sarah? All add up to vivid role models of anointed women for whom leadership was simply never an issue.

By Davin Seay

Deborah

As found in Judges, chapter five, the Song of Deborah is one of the oldest passages of Scripture. It sheds intriguing light on ancient attitudes about the authority of women. In a government where God was King and Lawmaker, Deborah was ‘the’ judge, charged with interpreting the law. She was also a prophetess, the feminine of the word used to describe Isaiah and Jeremiah. Beyond her authority and position, her boldness and courage set Deborah apart as a biblical role model. At a time of acute danger for Israel, Deborah provided guidance, encouragement and, ultimately, thanksgiving for a great military victory over the enemy.

She hardly accomplished these daunting tasks by being demur and retiring. Accustomed to dispensing justice as she sat under her tree on Mount Ephraim, Deborah knew how to use her authority to get the job done. It was a can-do spirit that took charge when she appointed Barak to

head the army and delivered the word of the Lord that he should lead them to war.

But Barak wouldn’t budge unless Deborah went with him. She agreed but added, chiding him for his reluctance: “the honor will not be yours, for the Lord shall hand Sisera (the opposing leader) to the a woman” (Judges 4:9 NIV).

Deborah revealed the true depth of her gift for leading. With victory, she gave thanks to the Lord for avenging Israel, worshiping him in song. At once a hymn of deliverance and an exhortation to her people, the Song of Deborah is also a well-timed commendation to her commander in chief, Barak. It is Deborah’s graciousness that exemplifies her ability to motivate and inspire.

The story of the audacious, proactive, and powerfully self-assured Deborah provides an encouraging example for women who too often feel that assuming a leadership role comes at the cost of their femininity. As the prophetess herself decontinued on page 24 NNOOVVEEMMBBEERR//DDEECCEEMMBBER ER 2004 2004

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Worlds away from the empowering Deborah, Esther demonstrates an altogether different picture of a woman assuming the role of leadership. What her story in the Book of Esther reveals is that it is often only in the act of obedience that true leadership qualities emerge.

Esther was taken captive by a Persian King and eventually made his queen. It was in the midst of lavish

a strategy, one fraught with great danger and personal risk, to expose the architect of the evil plan against her people.

As the story unfolds we see the young queen struggling to answer God’s call.

It is an intimate look into the heart of a woman, but is it also a gripping account of how she used her head to win the day.

Esther’s intervention with the King depended on a subtle strategy executed in a murderous atmosphere of court intrigue. Her ability to alter the course of events and save the Jews depended on an ability to understand human nature, speak the truth at moments of maximum effectiveness, and finally, a skill at working behind the scenes against her adversaries for the purpose to which

luxury and privilege that Esther learned of the plight of her people, threatened with utter extinction by a law engineered by a close associate of the King.

Esther was moved both by compassion for God’s people and an active intercessory spirit to step into the breech.

After prayer and fasting she devised

God had called her.

The saga of Esther also demonstrates how prayer, godly wisdom, diplomacy, persuasion and persistence are invaluable tools for women leaders.

But it is the details of this remarkable young woman’s emerging faith, as it was tried and tested in a life threaten-

continued from page 23

clared in her ancient ode, “Awake Deborah and utter a song!” For many women, God’s summons to bold and decisive leadership may sound very much like a wake-up call.

Esther

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ing situation, that speaks most clearly to the “unqualified” tag too many women hang on their leadership aspirations.

For Esther, as much as for any woman who hears a call on her life, God’s gift made a way, even as, in the process, He raised up a servant willing to risk all through her obedience.

Abigail

The Old Testament heroine Abigail presents yet another nuanced and richly revealing portrait of a woman in leadership. The first thing we learn about Abigail in I Samuel: 25 is that she was a woman of “good understanding,” exactly the quality she will need to defuse a potential bloodbath.

Yet Abigail also has her own issues.

She is married, we are told, to Nabal who was “evil in all his ways,” and had mortally insulted David. He denied provisions to David, who had faithfully watched over his sheep and servants, while they were in the wilderness. Abigail did not accept actions or decisions, even by her husband, that were not just and would lead to dire consequences for her household.

Knowing David was purposing to revenge her husband’s affront, Abigail went with a peace offering and counseled David against shedding blood or acting in a way that would stain his own reputation and harm his rule when he became King.

It took all of Abigail’s persuasive powers to dissuade David from slaughtering her husband and his men, and her petition to the angry young warrior, even then on the run from Saul, points out how “good understanding” is a leadership quality that can cut through the most intractable problem.

Abigail also, in intercessory fashion, identified with the trespass of her husband and asked forgiveness. By giving up her right to proclaim innocence, by taking on the burden of responsibility in the interests of reconciliation, Abigail’s leadership model is one of humility.

It is Abigail’s spirit of urgency, her passion for reconciliation, that are so evident in her pleas to David, along with her mediating skills and her innate insight into the hearts of men. Abigail’s understanding is indeed “good” and she has the confidence to express it clearly and

persuasively. Abigail is the consummate diplomat, seeking common ground and facilitating compromise. So impressive were her skills and so attractive were her personal attributes, David himself made Abigail his wife after her husband’s timely death.

Sarah

By far one of the most familiar and beloved female figures in Scripture, the leadership modeled by the matriarch Sarah, is among both the most effective and the least understood. Sarah’s strength was the direct result of her surrender, a willingness to acknowledge and honor God’s purpose, and a lifetime of experience in putting that principle to practice.

it was her place to follow. In fear he sold her into a harem and pretended to be her brother to keep from getting killed because of her beauty.

Sarah was unselfish. We see a glimpse of her heart when she gives her handmaiden Hagar to her husband in hopes she would bear the child Sarah could not.But it was the presumption of her actions that eventually taught her to look and listen for God in all things.

When Sarah heard the Lord’s promise of offspring, as numerous as the stars, at the age of 90+, she could only laugh.

Whether she was reacting with skepticism or delight is open to interpretation, but it was through her willingness to be a vessel of God’s plan, no matter how unlikely it sounded, that Sarah’s

3:6 as an example of obedience, she was no shrinking violet. When she saw Ishmael, Abraham’s son by her maid Hagar mock Isaac, her son and God’s child of promise, she insisted that Abraham throw him out.

By her example, Sarah has shown countless women that in the everyday roles they fulfill for family and community, and by the patience and wisdom that comes from a life lived in surrender, leaders are shaped and sent out.

Deborah, Esther, Abigail and Sarah: four examples of diverse and distinctive leadership styles. These four biblical role models, nevertheless, share a characteristic common to all great leaders, male and female: they heard God’s call and they answered it.

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Leadership Styles Deborah • Judge • Leader • Poet • Head of State • Prophetess

Esther • Queen • Influencer • Intercessor • Rescuer of Her People

Abigail • Initiator • Diplomat • Negotiator • Peacemaker Sarah was willing to leave all she knew to follow her husband who was following God. Living with Abraham was certainly no walk in the park: it was more like a walk across the desert as she followed him to a new land that God had promised. God was guiding her husband and

pattern to surrendered leadership comes into sharp relief. “Through faith she received the strength to conceive, though past childbearing age and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised”(Hebrews 11:11).

Although Sarah is cited in 1 Peter

Sarah • Woman of Faith • Honoring • Submissive • Strong Resolve N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B ER 2004

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By Davin Seay

Sarah Kelly: Keeping It Real

S

unday morning and Friday night, on stage or in the sanctuary, radio play and festival billings, too often, modern worship music is pegged to a prescribed list of settings and situations. Songs that are supposed to spontaneously celebrate the joy of our salvation are shoehorned into occasions separate from the conditions of life where that salvation is worked out, day by day, in real time.

For songwriter, vocalist, worship leader, and instructor Sarah Kelly, the act of worship is an all-consuming calling that involves not simply her musical gifting and her personal testimony, but also an expansive vision for worship that engages the believer on every level.

after this time in my life, I started taking it very seriously. It was a way for me not just to express what I’d been going through, but how God had used those experiences to bring me to Him.”

Unsure of the Future Yet, even at this point, the fledgling artist struggled with issues of self-esteem.

“When I sang I didn’t exactly sound like a

A Certain Call

Dealing with Insecurity It’s a commitment that came early for the 27 year-old, Rockford, Illinois, native, born of a desperation that became literally a matter of life and death. “I had a lot of insecurities growing up,” Sarah reveals. “I was scared of rejection, and when you’re scared of rejection, it seems to find you.

I would stare at myself in the mirror and repeat over and over ‘I hate you, I hate you.’ All I could see was my own pain and, although I grew up in a Christian home, I didn’t know that the hand of God was on my life.”

It was God’s purpose for this tormented teenager that kept a suicide attempt from succeeding, and it was through her early affinity for music that Sarah eventually found her way back to the light. “I hit rock bottom,” she confesses, “and realized that I couldn’t be everything everyone wanted me to be. I finally just gave up and asked God to give meaning to my life.

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found a purpose,” she explains. “I loved teaching and at one point worked with well over a hundred pupils. I had a passion for my students to help them use their talents for God’s glory. But at the same time, I believed that certain doors were closed to me – mostly singing.”

It was through the encouragement of pastors and fellow instructors at the discipleship training school, The Masters Commission, that Sarah took her first tentative steps toward an active role in shaping contemporary worship. “I was asked to lead worship at the school where I was teaching.”

Disney princess,” she quips, “and when people don’t appreciate what you do, you tend to stop doing it. I’d write songs knowing exactly how I wanted them to sound, but I couldn’t pull them off. I had a friend with a good voice, so I’d have her sing them.”

Unsure where her life was heading, Sarah became a piano teacher as a way to utilize her musical gift. “I felt that I had

It was in her early twenties that Sarah embarked on a near constant traveling schedule, teaching the musical fundamentals of worship to students and aspiring worship leaders across the country and returning home weekly to lead worship herself at her college church. “It was a tremendous experience,” she enthuses.

“I’d meet with worship bands in small churches and we’d talk about everything from the technical aspects of microphone placement to the content of good worship lyrics. I knew that God wanted me to help young worship artists to get better at their craft, but at the same time I couldn’t help writing my own material, hoping that one day God would find a use for it.”

That day came sooner than she expected. “I finally got up enough courage to record a CD of my songs and I got a good response. I think people’s expectations of what worship should be have changed a lot in recent years and that opened up a place for someone like me. I knew I had to take the bull by the horns, but it was still difficult believing that I was good enough.”

Striking a Balance Sarah’s immediate and involving material, combined with a compelling vocal style that often draws comparison to such women rock pioneers as Janis Joplin, did indeed strike a resonant chord and over the next several years, she recorded three independent releases, even as she continued her intensive teaching itinerary.

“I was actually making money selling my CDs,” Sarah continues. “Naturally, that attracted the attention of some record labels and, while I was flattered, I couldn’t see the point of signing a deal. It just didn’t seem like the right fit, mostly because I felt so fulfilled in my role as a teacher. There was tremendous fruit in seeing young musicians and writers getting excited about what God was doing through their music.”

It was Gotee Records that finally overcame Sarah’s hesitancy, primarily with a guarantee to let her “rock out a bit.” “A lot of the youth groups I taught were always telling me that should let it rip in my own music and the people at Gotee were all for it. I had actually recorded a fourth CD where I really focused on worship as an act of creative freedom, rock-voice and all, and Gotee released it without changing a thing. It was like a dream come true.”

To the Throne of Grace That release, Take Me Away, went on to become one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the current musical season. Yet despite a steep trajectory to national notoriety, Sarah has kept her priorities in perspective. “I love to sing, in church and in concert,” she confides. “But there is more to God’s calling in my life than the satisfaction that comes from doing that. I am grateful that there is a place for a rock artist who loves to worship, but even more important is what I can do to help others who may be struggling with the same things I was. True worship is meant to bring us to the throne of grace, and it is there that we discover our true identity. I want to be a part of that process in the lives of others, as a teacher, an artist, and as someone who’s been there.”

It’s that comprehensive view of worship that has given Sarah Kelly the credentials as both an innovative and original artist and an inspiring teacher who knows real worship changes lives.

W

“True worship is meant to bring us to the throne of grace, and it is there that we discover our true identity.”

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AS TOLD TO ANDREA HUNTER

“As much as I wanted to run, God kept moving my heart for me to step forward and take on the worship leader reins.”

WORSHIP LEADER: How would you

NAME:

Sarah Mohr SPOUSE’S NAME:

Pastor David A. Mohr – deceased 10/8/2002 YEARS MARRIED:

17 years

CHILDREN:

3 (Josh, Jessica and Katy) YEARS LEADING WORSHIP:

Since 1985

CHURCH NAME:

Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church YEAR FOUNDED:

1953

DENOMINATION:

Lutheran (ELCA)

HOW MANY ACTIVE MEMBERS:

300 members

LAST TWO BOOKS READ:

For fun reading: Peace Like A River – Leif Enger Surviving Your Adolescents Thomas W. Phelan, Ph.D. For worship reading: The Great Worship Awakening Robb Redman Feeding the Flock – Russell Chandler 28

WORSHIP LEADER

describe the makeup of your church?

SARAH: Lutheran (ELCA), a 51-yearold church situated in an economically well-to-do neighborhood. We have two services, and we worship about 200 a Sunday, evenly distributed between both services. Our 8:15 service is traditional liturgical. Our 10:45 service is completely contemporary music embedded in a liturgical format.

Our contemporary service attracts people of all ages. A surprising number of older members have found it to be worshipful and uplifting.

Tell us about the journey to becoming a worship leader?

SARAH: My journey oftentimes seems a bit unreal. For me to have arrived at where I am right now as a worship leader is a story unto its own, as it’s only through the grace of God that I am here and able to serve the church in some small way.

I was raised singing in a traditional, liturgical, denominational church (Episcopal). I have been involved in contemporary Christian music since 1968 when I was in 8th grade and joined Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Lafayette, CA, to play guitar and sing in their youth music group, Earthen Vessel.

After college and some hard living, I returned to Lafayette in 1985 and met and married Our Saviors’ newly called pastor, Dave Mohr. Dave was a remarkable pastor – gifted in preaching and bringing the Word of God alive in his teaching. He and I met singing and fell in love instantly.

He was a wonderful tenor, and could har-

monize a brick wall – perfect for my love of singing lead! Plus, he was a charismatic leader, and people wanted some of the joy he carried with him in his service to Christ. Dave and I served Our Saviors for 12 years, and I was his musical sidekick – the church called us a ‘two-fer’. We loved serving together, singing together, and leading the music groups together, and I felt for the first time in my life like I had found where God wanted me to use my music and singing.

Dave and I introduced several different contemporary ideas into this very large traditional church, developing a stand-alone ‘contemporary’ service driven by acoustic guitar, piano, flute, and occasionally a percussion instrument, but still very liturgical in nature. Between 1989 and 1995, this was a major step for a very traditional denominational church, which was leery of “praise and worship” nondenominational groups, those ‘charismatic’ types, and the loss of liturgy.

On January 15, 2000, 6 months after Dave left Our Saviors to do crisis consulting and 3 months after he took the job as the minister of music at Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church in Orinda, CA, Dave was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer (no, he was not a smoker). All of a sudden our world turned over. We still had two children, age 7 and 12, who were living at home at the time of Dave’s diagnosis. Our ministry suddenly became much more focused. Dave’s faith in God through his illness was overpowering. He lived “Thy will be done.” And those around him did the same. We suddenly were living very intentionally, aware of the precious and

brief gift of this life on earth, and the gift of people God places in our lives.

Dave continued to lead our music team, not even missing the Sunday after he was diagnosed. I continued to assist over the 2 years of his illness as we lived the ironic blessing of cancer with its hopes and defeats feeling the awesome power and presence of God through it all.

The music fed us, kept us rooted in God’s promises, and often lifted us above the pain and suffering and into the incredible joy and peace that is beyond all understanding. Dave and I did several ‘healing’ events around our synod, using music that had inspired us to keep on keeping on Andy Park’s “Yet I Will Praise” and Geoff Moore’s “When All Is Said and Done.” The music CDs from Song DISCovery became a healing source of inspiration for Dave and me through those years.

The people of Holy Shepherd Lutheran, knowing he was terminal and demonstrating an incredible trust in God, called Dave to be their senior pastor in December 2001. Dave spent the last 9 months of his life serving God in the way he loved, pastoring the people of God. Dave died Oct. 8, 2002. Holy Shepherd then asked me to take over the leadership of the Contemporary Worship team and service. I had always been the assistant, a much safer place to be, plus I was grieving horribly, so the request was scary for me. I did not think I had the skills or ability to lead a group of people in the way Dave had.

As much as I wanted to run, God kept moving my heart for me to step forward and take on the worship leadership reins. It was a leap of faith for me, and for the people who stayed on the team.

I put it into God’s hands each day, and asked Him to lead me where He wanted me to go. I still do. I continually have to turn over my insecurity and fear to Jesus, and remember that He is guiding me and it is through Him that I can accomplish the work set before me. Two amazing

things happened for me when I said yes.

I was concerned about my ability to help people develop harmonies for our special music. Dave had been so good at harmony, and I always thought I stunk at it. My inability to harmonize and only sing lead was an ongoing joke during our minis-

try together. During my first rehearsal as leader -I could hear it – the harmony was there for me like a gift. I still struggle sometimes, but God gave me the ability to do what I needed to do, when I needed to do it. At the end of rehearsal I asked people for prayer requests, like Dave had always done. I was scared to take leadership in the prayer portion – afraid I would fall short. I took a deep breath and asked the Holy Spirit to fill my heart with the words needed. Then I prayed my grief and my hope and my trust in God in the journey, and a spiritual passion and my heart poured out of me. The music and our prayer time became a healing power for me as well as the others in the group.

What creative ways have you found to nurture those in your worship community?

SARAH: I love the way creative art expresses the message of God, and I love to use humor whenever it fits the situation.

I know God has a sense of humor! I so often feel God in laughter, and life is so often painful and hard that I feel people need the opportunity to feel the joy of the Lord.

Fellowship, music, laughter, and creative uses of people’s gifts are a great way to help people find that joy. The Pastor, Youth Education person, and I have developed mid-week Lenten and mid-week Advent services that use ‘home-made’ dramas using volunteers, music (I use both traditional and contemporary music accompanied with piano or guitar), and dinner in a multigenerational bible study format in the Fellowship hall. This is a prime opportunity for me to introduce some contemporary music to many of our traditional service attendees, as well as multimedia. I also try to offer a lot of music to our children – VBS music, contemporary, anything that will get them up and jumping and shouting praise! I have developed a small group – GraceNotes – to bring music that is more intimate and quiet during our Communion time as well as offer music during the summer so that our group can take a break.

How has leading worship changed you?

SARAH: Leading worship has kept me on my feet and closer to my Lord through some incredibly desperate and troubling waters. There would be moments when I thought I could not get out of bed in my anguish, and then a song would come to me – most recently Sarah Kelly’s “Living Hallelujah” and “All I See.” More often than not, it has been a song I heard on a Song DISCovery disk – and I would need to get on my feet and work the song up, or work with my group to offer it up in worship. God would elbow me and nudge me until I got it done. Music has been and is the way God feeds me, inspires me, fills me with hope, empowers me, keeps me focused on Jesus, and keeps me moving. How can I keep myself from singing?

W For the full version of this worship leader profile go to www.worshipleader.com.

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B ER 2004

29

By Tommy Walker as told to Andrea Hunter

“He Knows My Name”

by Tommy Walker

T

he deepest longings of the human heart are to know and be known, to love and to be loved; and beyond that to know the eternal affection and blessing of a heavenly Father. Tommy Walker’s “He Knows My Name” declares God’s tender faithfulness in fulfilling those heartfelt and universal needs.

This song’s pervasive and worldwide impact has inspired a book by the same name that chronicles believers’ encounters with God sparked by hearing the affecting and transforming truths conveyed by the song. One might think that such a song would come in some kind of heavenly download, accompanied by choirs of angels. Nope. Tommy Walker will tell you, that is definitely not the case. He states, “The amazing thing about the song is the story of writing it is so boring, but the fruit of the song is so unbelievable.

“My pastor, Mark Pickerill asked me to write it. He said ‘I’m going to be doing a sermon this week called, “He Knows My Name.”’ I was just trying to be faithful to do my job. In that way this is a story of self-discipline,” recounts Tommy. “Let’s just say, routine discipline stories are usually far from riveting. However, the fruit of the smallest act of discipline and obedience can be quite another story altogether.

“I felt utterly uninspired that day, but out of the discipline of songwrit30

WORSHIP LEADER

ing, which is part of my job description, I dug in and gave it a shot. I remember thinking, as the words and music began to come to me, wow, this is the simplest song I’ve ever written. Maybe it’ll work in kid’s church. In ten minutes I mostly wrote this dumb, simple song, totally no emotion, no spiritual supposed inspiration, just discipline….

“So, I went ahead and finished it – something all songwriters struggle to do when something isn’t coming out just right. And like a good, obedient, somewhat disciplined worship leader, I taught it to my church – and basically, it kind of flubbed…but I did my job, you know. It went with the sermon.

“But here’s where the fruit of discipline comes in. A few months later, the women of my church sang the song at their retreat and suddenly they’re all on their faces before God and He’s healing their ‘father hurts.’ They told me that a sense of the love of God entered the room in such a powerful way that many of them were weeping and experiencing all kinds of inner healing. When I heard this, I thought, maybe I should give this song

one more try. The following weekend, we sang it at church and, sure enough, it happened. People began to weep. But the funny part was, I began to weep also. God was speaking so intimately to me that day, saying, ‘Tommy, I know your name, too!’ “‘He Knows My Name’ became a regular at my church and then slowly began to spread to other churches. I started doing Promise Keepers and Harvest Crusades and it sort of became an altar call

there and at worship evangelism concerts overseas as well. Then it really became ‘the’ song because it’s about how nobody is forgotten. What’s so interesting to me is, I almost feel guilty for making such a big deal about it because it was written out of such lameness, but the song is literally shaping the mission of my whole life. I feel like I’m coming into a new season where I’m giving my life more and more to the poor. I have realized, what I’m supposed to do with my life is help people remember the forgotten ones, and God is focusing this song, not only in my ministry, but to deeply impact many people all over the world.

“The message of the song is that you’re not forgotten and somebody does know your name. In my book, there’s a story about a nurse who went to a graveyard in Zambia and saw all of these unmarked graves, and just wept. It doesn’t get any worse than that; they died alone and now they are lying in a nameless grave. She looked

and there were these guys digging 50 more graves, and she asked, ‘What’s going on over there?’ And they answered ‘They’re digging the graves for tomorrow’…50 more nameless graves. That night, at a prayer meeting, she and others were praying and talking and trying to recover from the day and someone began to play ‘He Knows My Name’:

I HAVE A MAKER HE FORMED MY HEART BEFORE EVEN TIME BEGAN MY LIFE WAS IN HIS HANDS HE KNOWS MY NAME HE KNOWS MY EVERY THOUGHT HE SEES EACH TEAR THAT FALLS AND HE HEARS ME WHEN I CALL Everyone stopped talking and she heard God say, ‘Everyone in the world may forget those people, but I don’t.’

The nurse’s story is only one in Walker’s book, and each one of the stories represents thousands who have been touched and have received a measure of healing and the Father’s love through this simple worship chorus. But likely, the life that has been most transformed is his own.

“You end up with five or six life-changing moments,” Tommy reflects. “I go to this orphanage in the Philippines and I end up staying for three days and three nights.

I remember…we arrive at this place, this very dirty ugly house. We walk up these stairs, and fifty orphans are singing a welcome song, ‘We Love You, We Welcome You.’ It’s like ‘It’s a Small World After All’ only with the Holy Spirit. They’re singing and they are so happy. They just spontaneously begin singing worship songs, six and seven year olds just gone in worship.

At the time, I’d been doing these stadium

events with 50,000 men and I was thinking, Why do I want to go to this sweaty dirty place? As I’m sitting on this grimy couch, all these little kids come snuggling up to me, all these forgotten orphans.

They’re hugging me and hanging on my neck and staring at me. One of the boys there, his name is Jerry, he’s seven and he introduces himself. An hour later, he comes running up to me. ‘Tommy, What’s my name?’ Oh Lord, help me remember this poor orphan’s name amongst all these kids…I take a stab at his name ‘Jerry.’ Then he says, with a big funny smile, ‘We’re friends, right?’ and I answer, ‘Yeah, you bet.’ Then an hour later, ‘What’s my name?’ ‘Jerry, you know I know your name.’ He asks again, ‘We’re friends right?’

‘Yes, Jerry, we’re friends.’ I sleep there, sweating, bugs, you know, and I wake up the next morning – again, the same thing.

The whole time, everyday, ‘What’s my name?’ And then the thing hits me – Nobody knows his name. He doesn’t know his last name – he was abandoned. He just wanted somebody to know his name. I’m ruined. I was able to tell him, ‘Jerry, I know your name. But there’s someone bigger than me who knows your name.’ And of course we taught them all the songs and formed this choir of street kids. They’re in rags up on stage, 24 kids singing, ‘He Knows My Name.’ That’s the God we worship and serve.”

I HAVE A FATHER HE CALLS ME HIS OWN HE’LL NEVER LEAVE ME NO MATTER WHERE I GO “All these years later, I’ve watched this song being sung all the way from orphanages in the Third World to packedout stadiums in America. It has been used as an invitation song in evangelistic crusades in many countries and it has been used at funerals and weddings.

“In witnessing all the amazing ways that God has used this song, I often think, what if I had just decided to be lazy that day? What if I had given in to my discouragement and hadn’t finished it? Look at the blessing and impact on so many continued on page 32 N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B ER 2004

31

continued from page 31

people’s lives that would never have happened. I guess it’s obvious where I’m going with this. Be faithful in the little things – even when it feels like it’s such a waste of time. Be disciplined and finish what you’ve started in those seemingly ordinary moments, and watch the amazing things God can do.”

Of course, what Tommy has personally witnessed as the fruit of his obedi-

ence is just a small part of the legacy of this song. How the song was birthed may not seem miraculous, but the powerful changes wrought in those who have listened and heard the life-giving truth of it’s message is truly a miracle. And it’s somehow so heartening to know that hundreds of thousands of people have heard the story of Jerry and know his name, that he’ll never be forgotten on earth. But best of all, Jerry and the rest of us can be assured

that God knows our names. Having that gift will, perhaps, inspire us in Tommy’s words to use our lives to “remember the forgotten ones.”

W

He Knows My Name Tommy Walker, Regal Books ften books that are spin-offs of songs that have become modern standards add little to the experience of the song, itself. Although it is difficult to augment the profound and life-changing truths found in Tommy Walker’s song, “He Knows My Name,” his book succeeds in richly filling out its implications. Tommy Walker emailed thousands of people, and he asked for their personal stories of how “He Knows My Name” affected their lives.

The answers that came and Tommy’s own stories and commentary plus Scripture, make this a book of depth, encouragement and hope.

With chapter heads, “He Made Me,” “He Planned Me,” “He Knows Me,” “He Forgives Me,” “He Understands Me,” “He Fathers Me,” “He Cheers For Me,” and more, one can discern a hopeful cast.

But this is not a sugarcoated fix. And it is personal…opening with Tommy and his sister paying tribute to her son Charlie who embraced life in the midst of his struggle with a congenital heart defect and left a legacy of generosity and kindness even in his death. The stories of life and death, loss and recovery, perseverance, pain, transformation, healing, and God’s enduring love reflect the paradoxical realities of the Christian life. It’s a book that doesn’t blur over the apparent injustice, despair or cruelty that exists, but offers hope and promise in the face of it. Read it and give it away to anyone who needs to know the Father’s love.

O

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WORSHIP LEADER

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33

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES AND NEW PRODUCTS FOR YOUR CHURCH

By Kent Morris

Kicks and Sticks: Drummers Need Love Too

O

nly blondes endure more cruel humor than drummers. In the music world, the easiest conversation opener is to proliferate the latest drummer joke based on the common misconceptions that drummers are lazy, lacking in musical ability, and have difficulty maintaining adult relationships. While many of the barbs bring a smile, they also create an unhealthy atmosphere where drummers become second-class citizens.

In blended and light contemporary worship environments, drummers face opposition and even harassment simply because they are drummers. Well-intentioned church members may decry the onslaught of percussion in the church by exhorting the superiority of the pipe organ, the very instrument early Puritans referred to as the “vocal chords of Satan.”

A significant portion of this resistance is cultural misunderstanding on both sides of the debate. Organs and drums each deserve a place at the musical table.

The Art of the DrumDrums bring music’s rhythmic element to the forefront, eliciting in the process significant physical and emotional responses.

However, drums can also yield a bounty of intricate musical details that sharpen all aspects of a song. In the right hands, drumsticks become as masterful an instrument as a violin or a piano. Players such as Chris Coleman (a.k.a. Thumper), Israel Houghton and Creflo Dollar’s chief rhythmist, deliver a solid sonic punch tempered by sensitivity and a deft hand (and foot). In the wrong hands, though, drums are just noise in time.

Carl Albrecht is another example of drumming as an art form. His de34

WORSHIP LEADER

cades of work with Integrity and Maranatha! Music have created a recording registry replete with quiet worshipful moments as well as powerhouse anthems of praise.

Drummers seeking to improve their craft should listen attentively to Carl’s masterful work on Paul Baloche’s Offerings of Worship project. Carl’s drumming master classes at the Seminars4Worship events are also a must-see learning opportunity.

Nature Vs. Technology Electronic drums are a double-edged sword in the fight for rhythmic sanity. On the one hand, they provide the acoustic isolation sorely needed in sonically active worship environments. On the other hand, electronic drums suffer an undeserved, yet persistent reputation for unrealistic tones and unnatural playability. Roland’s latest

incarnation of the venerable V-Drum line relies on the new TD-20 head to deliver amazingly complex and acoustically rich drum tones along with enough personal preference settings to satisfy even the most demanding player. From head type to wood selection, dozens of parameters can be customized for individual tastes and stored for instant recall. Bowing to drummer requests, Roland has introduced a hi-hat mechanism for their electronic drums that duplicates the appearance and functions of a standard acoustic system.

While there will always be purists, Roland has given churches a tremendous opportunity to bring drums into the church without causing general chaos. continued on page 36

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KicksYamaha Aren’thas for Kids taken an old studio trick and turned it into a solution for churches beset with sonically inferior kick drums.

Producing thundering bass tones requires a physically solid kick drum tuned for the application, and damped for the environment. Most church drum kits lack solid low-end punch, makingYamaha’s Sub-Kick a natural for the youth room and seeker services. Basically, the Sub-Kick is a raw speaker wired in reverse to make it a large microphone, and then suspended in front of the kick drum. The speaker’s natural inertia is overcome by the drum’s large wavefront and replicated as a thunderous low frequency signal that will wake up the subwoofers and the audience. As long as the sound system can handle the bass, the Sub-Kick can turn an average drum sound into a spectacular one without needing to buy a new kit.

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Acoustic Improvements Tama’s Classic line of acoustic drums continues to improve with each new generation. Their latest series incorporates improvements in hardware and mounting systems. Mechanical devices abound on drums, so finding and stopping mechanical noise is an important part of creating a good sounding drum kit. Tama engineers have spent long hours refining the way each component interacts with all other aspects of the kit. The result is a clean sounding kit whose sum is greater than its parts.

Another venerable favorite acoustic line emanates from the Pearl factory in Nashville. Pearl drums possess a unique tonality that distinguishes them from other manufacturers. “Punchy” rolls

off drummers’ tongues when asked to describe the sound of a Pearl drum. Pearl’s ability to focus the low frequency energy into a usable pattern while retaining the snap of the highs gives Pearl the sound drummers love.

Drummers Set the Tone As Chris Coleman says, “Christian drummers are at a point where we have established our roles. The objective now is to take our playing, our worship, and our team interaction to a higher level.

Drummers can make things easy or difficult for the entire team. If we play for ourselves, we distract the band, make it impossible for the vocalists to hear, and give the techs nightmares. However, if we play with the servant heart of a musician, we enhance the musical experience for everyone.” So, to answer the question, yes, drummers are musicians. In fact, drummers may be the most musical musicians in the band, with the ability to define the song, execute the tempo, and W flavor the sonic atmosphere.

PROGRAMMING Merry Christmas! It’s time once again for our annual public service offering for holiday-harried worship leaders: a Christmas list featuring recently released resources for everyone on your worship ministry team.

For the Senior Choir Director – BOUND FOR GLORY Greg & Gail Skipper With the title song as a theme and a train ride as a setting, the Skippers illustrate the truth of Ephesians 2:8-9, that all of us are saved not by works but by grace. With speaking parts for eight characters and a wonderful rendition of “The Little Brown Church in the Vale.”

LifeWay.com

RESOURCES

For the Kids’ Choir Director – SHOUT PRAISES! KIDS CHRISTMAS Steve Merkel & Craig Dunnagan The popular Shout Praises! Series does Christmas with another collection of marvelous arrangements. Brave choir directors (and those with large choirs) will want to consider the SAT praise team vocals in addition to the traditional unison and two-part singing.

IntegrityMusic.com For the Drama Director – CHRISTMAS AT UNCLE PHIL’S DINER Dave Avanzio, Coley Fisher & Craig Wilson Dubbed “Interactive Dinner Theatre for Outreach,” Uncle Phil features comedy, music, choreography, and food. It lends itself

B Y WA R R E N A N D E R S O N well to audience participation with suggestions for fostering interaction.

Lillenas.com For the Youth Choir Director – CHRISTMAS CONVERSATION: SHARING THE GIFT 365 Bob Hoose & Steven V. Taylor Comic veteran Hoose provides the sketches to augment this arrangement of tunes from the likes of the Newsboys, Plus One, and Nicole C. Mullen for a blend that will work as an outreach event, or a Christmas gift for your community.

W WordMusic.com Warren Anderson is Dean of the Chapel and Adjunct Professor of Worship Arts at Judson College in Elgin, Il. He may be reached via e-mail at warrenlea@aol.com.

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By Kent Morris

Jeff Gentry’s Opus

T

he late Jeff Gentry gave his heart and mind to a tech ministry that now pays homage to his life.

Jeff Gentry grew up with a love of music and all things technical, so his penchant for electronics came as a natural outflow of his gifting. His dexterity on the guitar combined with his vocal versatility led to musical opportunities in churches throughout his native Alabama. For Concord Baptist, in Calera, Jeff oversaw the construction of Concord’s new worship center and education wing with an eye toward video and an ear toward sound. Balancing the church’s desire for cost effective equipment and the music team’s need for quality products birthed a unique set of compromises.

CA series amps. The sonic difference is minimal and the extra money went toward a full Aviom personal monitoring system that gives each musician the ability to control his or her own mix among sixteen digital inputs. The Aviom system also reduces the number of technicians needed at each service, giving the tech team a needed break.

HIGH IMPACT, HIGH QUALITY While willing to compromise, Jeff knew some things needed to remain above the fray of economizing. His initial choice of Crest’s new HP8-40 large

mics were assigned to the senior pastor, worship leader, and primary vocalists, with the church’s existing units given to more occasional users.

CONFIDENCE MATTERS As important as the equipment selection was to the audio and video systems, the choice of systems integrator proved even more vital to a successful outcome.

With a hard deadline for opening day looming, the contractor worked around the clock to get the systems functional.

Though full implementation would take another week, the systems operated as

LOW IMPACT, LOW COST Jeff was able to select the best critical components and allow less sensitive areas to be covered by less expensive, yet usable equipment. For instance, in place of a multi-thousand dollar video switcher, Jeff chose an economical FSR MAS-4100 four input scaling switcher to handle the video chores without exhausting the video budget. The MAS-4100’s video quality is exemplary. It achieves its low asking price by cleverly fading to black between inputs, belying its nature as a seamed switcher.

While a perfectly seamless transition from video to computer would have been preferred, the tremendous cost savings Jeff realized allowed him to place a confirmation projector and screen at the rear of the sanctuary for no additional funds.

In the audio realm, Jeff worked with his installation contractor to place five of Crest Audio’s cost effective CPX series amplifiers in the rack in lieu of the higher performance, yet much higher priced 38

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format mixing console accounted for a large portion of the audio budget, yet he resisted efforts to replace it with a less expensive board. Along with his contractor, he persuaded the finance committee the HP8 would more than justify its price through its sonic transparency and ability to handle any task cast its direction.

In the same vein, the decision to retain the dual EAW MK-2164 main speakers proved Jeff’s wisdom as the opening service carried the system’s excellent sound quality to every seat. A quad grouping of Sennheiser’s new EW Series II wireless

promised on the first Sunday. With evident pride, Jeff confidently led the praise team and choir through their paces, showcasing in the process, the proper way church media systems should be chosen and installed. His steady hand and determined focus gave Concord Baptist more than it bargained for, he gave it his all.

W At forty-one years old, ten days after opening Sunday, Jeff Gentry died of a heart attack. His ministry, however, lives on at Concord Baptist Church.

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N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B ER 2004

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WORSHIP TECH SOLUTIONS

BY KENT MORRIS

On The Stage, Behind The Board: Jill Makes It Happen

I

t’s not as far a journey from environmental specialist to worship-tech as it might appear. Just ask Jill Warner, media specialist for Mt. Paran Central Church of God in Atlanta. Though trained as a biologist, Jill felt a calling to become more involved in her church than her full time job allowed.

After speaking with several church staff members, she struck up a conversation with Mt. Paran’s veteran media director, Dave Wagner, who immediately recognized her gifting as a logistics coordinator.

be scaled up or down. She uses powered speakers in place of separate components to reduce setup time and the potential for errors. When she does need a device the church does not own, she calls her single source supplier for a Just-In-Time rental of the missing piece. The rental house knows she will use them exclusively as long as they deliver quickly, so the relationship has become symbiotic.

TheMt.Right Stuff Paran, as with most mega church-

room to room, Jill has developed a coordination chart for church event planners that moves people to rooms where the appropriate equipment is located. The time and effort saved by shifting attendees, not gear, has improved the church’s ability to handle numerous simultaneous meetings within the education wing while saving

es, encompasses a sprawling campus with dozens of ministries all vying for limited media resources. Allocating the right equipment and personnel to the right place at the right time is a difficult task, but well within Jill’s capabilities. Dave hired Jill and left her to devise workable solutions. Her approach centered on prioritizing the available equipment and supplementing it with rental items when necessary. Mindful of Dave’s frugality, Jill wrung out the existing systems to create modular blocks that can

Tips From Jill 1. Use powered speakers to reduce potential for error

2. Rent equipment instead of always buying

3. Move people, not equipment 4. Keep your work boundaries by building a realistic, tailored work schedule

5. Hire freelance tech staff to free up full-time workers

40 WORSHIP LEADER

Coordination Is Key Instead of pushing equipment from

the limited number of technicians for the large scale conferences held in the main auditorium.

WhatTo Personal Life? retain her personal life, Jill has built her schedule around the realities of church work. Pastoral teams typically require their media ministries to maintain a full office schedule in addition to their after hours duties, but Mt. Paran’s senior pastor, Dr. Mark Cooper grants his media specialists a realistic office presence that reflects the time required in the evenings and on weekends. Thus, Wednesdays for Jill begin at one in the afternoon and end at ten o’clock that night. Additionally, supporting weekend retreats is rewarded with an occasional day off when the calendar allows.

Outside Help In place of a few permanent employees, Jill has assembled a team of freelance contractors to staff the technical booth.

Her conviction is that contractors give her the resources the church needs on the church’s terms. The contractors seem pleased with the arrangement, with some of them working for Mt. Paran for more than a decade. She must keep ahead of church events in order to lock the desired contractors to a specific function, but her organizational abilities make it seamless.

Jill’s relationship with Dave, her immediate supervisor, is built on mutual respect. Dave says of Jill, “She is the only reason things get accomplished here.

Without her attention to detail and innate sense of impending trouble, I would be unable to meet Mt. Paran’s needs.” For her part, Jill likens Dave to an older brother who looks out for her and empowers her to succeed. Mt. Paran is blessed to have Jill as she serves as a role model for females seeking a place within the techniW cal arts community.

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S . C O 41 M N OWV EWM BWE R. /V D-E DC E RM BUERM 2004

FEATURE R E V I E W Experience Married to Inspiration

A

JONATHAN BUTLER

The Worship Project Maranatha! Music Produced by Jonathan Butler www.jonathanbutler.com

42 42 WORSHIP WORSHIP LEADER LEADER

rtistic breakthroughs often occur after a long period of apprenticeship and assimilation as the influences and experiences of a lifetime are brought together in a cohesive creative expression.

Such is the process that birthed The Worship Project, a beautiful and moving new collection of a dozen well-chosen selections from veteran South African vocalist and guitarist, Jonathan Butler.

Butler’s musical odyssey informs and ignites every moment of this glorious album, from his early days absorbing his native country’s rich musical legacy to his acclaimed career as an R&B and jazz virtuoso. He brings it all, along with a lively and engaged faith, to bear on The Worship Project. Well outside the normative worship styles that have emerged in recent years, Butler has a distinctive approach that is seamlessly knitted to his consummate craftsmanship. Butler knows how to make a song his own, but the real joy of The Worship Project is the way he invites the listener’s participation, drawing us in and keeping us fully engaged by the sheer accessibility of his warm tenor voice and richly textured guitar work.

Butler neatly avoids the trap of merely showcasing his considerable talents. On song after gorgeous song – from “You’re Worthy of My Praise” to “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” to “You Are So Beautiful” and beyond – Butler demonstrates that rarest of facilities: using his gifts to enhance and enlarge the message and meaning of the music without showboating or grandstanding.

At a time when worship music is attracting artists who seek to fully express their love for God, Jonathan Butler serves as a potent example of what can result when experience is married to inspiration. The Worship Project is a triumph.

Davin Seay Senior Editor, Worship Leader magazine

Incredibly Accessible with Wide Appeal

Art as an Offering of Worship

A Complete Worship Experience

B

E

J

eing a jazz musician and fan of Jonathan Butler, I began listening to this project expecting a collection of complex harmonic and rhythmic renditions of popular and original worship tunes. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to find an incredibly accessible CD that should appeal to a much wider fan base than just jazz enthusiasts.

The arrangements of classic songs like “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” are worth considering for your own congregation. I believe great songs can be destroyed by careless repetition, and finding new ways to present them to your church body is crucial. His arrangements are simple, classy and fresh; this CD could be a great learning tool for anyone interested in reviving songs that have been done to death.

However, Jonathan Butler’s original work is the main reason to get this CD. Most jazz guys tend to ignore the masses in search of what is musically “hip.”

These songs are definitely not unhip.

While they may lean toward gospel, they are not so far over the line that a Tomlin or Crowder congregation wouldn’t be able to latch on.

These songs reveal the heart of a true worshiper. Jonathan’s voice (reminiscent of Stevie Wonder and Jon Gibson) passionately soars above his beautiful guitar work. My favorite cut is the spiritual ballad, “It’s Already There.” Jonathan’s songs are good worship songs, usable by a diverse range of congregations.

Tony Guerrero Jazz Musician Music Director, Saddleback Church

very now and then you discover a truly gifted musician who surrenders his or her talents to create great art as an offering of worship.

As a performer he has shared the stage with jazz greats like Dave Koz, Jeffrey Osborne and many others. But as a worshiper, Butler claims one focus: “I have a very intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and these songs have come out of that.”

From the South African feel in the popular “You’re Worthy of My Praise” to the worshipful melodies of “You Are So Beautiful,” this gospel project presents sonically beautiful songs of praise without violating the simplicity of the heart of worship. Butler is able to take old favorites like “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High,” “That’s Why We Praise Him” and “No Higher Calling” and give them a fresh new sound. Worship leaders will enjoy hearing new songs of praise like “Lord, I’m Ready” (a new prayer of consecration reminiscent of “Have Thine Own Way Lord”) and “Falling in Love with Jesus” (an affirmation of God’s love and protection in our lives). My personal favorite is “When We Pray,” a timely reminder of the power of prayer.

Holland Davis Songwriter, Worship Leader

onathan Butler’s The Worship Project is full of tantalizing tempos and intoxicating rhythms that pull you into a new, intimate relationship with Jesus. Blending well-known worship songs with original compositions, Butler brings new dimensions and refreshing ways to sing one’s adoration to God. The album is rich with unique and creative orchestrations for each track including rain sticks, African hand drums, and South African back-up vocals that incorporate unique parallel harmonies. The musical style includes hints of African song, Motown feels, and mellow jazz. Ultimately, worshipers are drawn to reflect anew on our awesome God. It is Butler’s own work that especially propels the worshiper into deeper meditation on God. His eight compositions give counsel to the believer in the midst of life’s difficulties and inequities and remind us of God’s guidance in life and extol the delights of falling in love with Jesus. The song “When We Pray” teaches about prayer and guides the listener through prayer in song. In this, Butler provides an excellent model for practicing the Christian faith in song. Works of commitment and submission complete The Worship Project, which renders musically how to live in relationship with God where the believer, a la Romans 12:1-2, practices worship in all of life.

Roberta King, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Communication & Ethnomusicology, Fuller Theological Seminary

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B ER 2004

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IN REVIEW R E V I E W S

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A PLACE CALLED SURRENDER Dave Lubben, Vertical Music

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ffable, engaging, and enthusiastic, Dave Lubben brings utter sincerity and a surprisingly polished musical sensibility to his powerful Vertical Music debut album, A Place Called Surrender.

Surprising, because this 27-year-old Fargo, North Dakota native came to modern worship only after an extensive stint in mainstream hard rock, playing throughout the Midwest in his late teens. “I wanted to be a rock star,” the personable Lubben reveals, “but God had another idea. After I’d pretty much burned myself out, the Lord picked me up and found a way to use my love of music for His glory.”

He certainly did. Lubben’s heartfelt modern praise reflects his sometimes-tumultuous journey to faith. “Right out of high school my girlfriend was pregnant and we got married,” he reveals. “But without Christ, we knew we didn’t have a chance. It wasn’t until we got counseling that we really came face to face with our past…and our future and together gave our lives to Jesus.”

Now living with his wife and a bouncing brood of four in Portland, Oregon, Lubben is unabashed in his gratitude to God for saving his marriage and music. “I owe everything to Him,” he asserts, “and I try to put that love and devotion into the songs I sing for and about Jesus.”

The result makes A Place Called Surrender one of the most impressive debuts in recent memory. Key tracks such as “Lord Most High,” “Who You Are,” “Speak To Me” and “Lay It Down” reveal a talented young artist who not only understands the form and function of worship, but is able to stretch those boundaries in fresh and accessible ways.

“My number one passion is to create and share my music all over the world,” Lubben insists and it’s that burning sincerity in his words – and his music – that makes you believe he’ll be doing exactly that.

Davin Seay

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(MY KING) LIVE PRAISE & WORSHIP Planetshakers, Word Thee aptly named Planetshaker Planetshakers serve up a rousing set of exuberant worship on an album that serves as a useful tutorial on getting a crowd to its feet and keeping them there. With seven years of experience under their collective belt, the group has become a musical staple in their native Australia and it’s easy to hear why on this double CD collection of a dozen new originals written by worship leader Henry Seeley and various other Planetshakers. Standout tracks include the rousing “Give You Praise,” the moving “You Are Holy,” and the anthemic “My King.” But it’s hard to make a choice among this top-notch tune stack, especially when the direct, unfettered emotion of the music is matched so seamlessly to the group’s uplifting delivery.

Watch for Planetshakers as they continue their barnstorming North American tour in 2005.

WL TAKEAWAY: An excellent addition to the worship professional’s collection, and you may even integrate a few of these fast-paced originals into your main Sunday service.

www.planetshakers.com

EVERY BREATH Scott Bircher, Scott Bircher Ministries The pleasant, easy-going worship style that distinguishes this winning collection of ten original tracks and one classic hymn from North Carolina vocalist and songwriter Scott Bircher serves as a refreshing change from the energetic in-

tensity of much modern worship. There is a contemplative and heartfelt sincerity that imbues the artist’s expressions of surrender and devotion particularly on such standout tracks as “All Of You,” “Face To Face,” “Leave A Light On,” and the memorable “Prayer Medley.” More an expression of deeply personal worship than a congregation-ready repertoire, Bircher’s soft and soothing ways are ideal for moments of reflection and repose.

Even the rootsy blues of “Rough Side Of The Mountain” and the sweeping majesty of his rendition of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” manage to embody the artist’s soft and sensitive side.

WL TAKEAWAY: Worshipful and heartfelt, a solid addition for the worship professional, two or three songs that would be worth a look for integration into your worship set.

www.scottbircherministries.org GLORIA Various Artists, Rocketown Records It’s common practice, given the time it takes to package and market any music product, for most holiday albums to be

recorded in mid-summer.

However, Gloria, an exemria plary Yuletide gift from an A-list assemblage of new and established artists, was recorded in the depths of winter at producer Charlie Peacock’s Nashville studio. This ten-song collection, including seven originals, made the most of its appropriate seasonal setting with artists ranging from Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith to Shaun Groves and Ginny Owens. Gloria is a glorious Christmas feast built around the Advent theme: awaiting Christ’s return just as, 2000 years ago, creation awaited His arrival.

It’s a sentiment eloquently summed up on tracks such as the Chris Rice original “Welcome To Our World” and the Christine Dente and Smitty collaboration, “Prepare a Place,” as well as in such perennials as “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” sung

by Christy Nockels, and the Ginny Owens

rendition of “Go Tell It On The Mountain.” Gloria is a Christmas album that resonates twelve months a year.

WL TAKEAWAY: Rocketown and its artists give worship leaders new and fresh worship material for Christmas, get this CD today and you are sure to use it in the development of your upcoming holiday services.

www.rocketownrecords.com

MADE ME GLAD Michael Neale, Integrity Music Thee intent behind the release of this exemplary debut album, from young worship leader Michael Neale of Christ Fellowship in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, seems to be twofold. The first is to introduce a promising new arrival on the contemporary worship scene, and the second is to provide a clear and convincing guide continued on page 46

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to optimal structure in a worship service.

Made Me Glad succeeds on both counts.

Neale is indeed a richly gifted worship leader with a natural affinity for the music he sings and the congregation he serves.

The familiarity of most of the material, ranging from “Blessed Be the Lord God Almighty” to “Just as I Am” and beyond, works well in the context of Neale’s userfriendly approach, as does his sole original song “In This Place.”

It’s that same approach that facilitates the instructional value of Made Me Glad.

Pacing, flow, and musical dynamics are all executed with precision and passion, making this twelve song set a perfect template for an effective and exhilarating worship experience.

WL TAKEAWAY: Add this one to your collection and you’ll get more than new songs for your church.

www.integrityMusic.com

ALL THINGS NEW Steven Curtis Chapman, Sparrow Experience shows on the dozen new originals of veteran Christian vocalist and songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman’s superb new album, All Things New. The result of what Chapman himself characterizes as a virtual rebirth of his creative drive, All Things New is first and foremost a musical tour de force, a richly varied and consummately crafted collection that brings the artist’s pliant and supple vocals front and center.

As for the songs themselves, Chapman has rarely been better at capturing the challenges and rewards of a life of active faith; his work bristles with memorable melodies, insightful turns of phrase, and a creative confidence that invites the listener to share in a fully-realized celebration of God’s endless originality.

From the title track to such sterling showcases as “Only Getting Started,” “Please Only You,” “Angels Wish,” and “Treasure of Jesus,” All Things New lives up to its title with music that marks a brilliant new beginning for this influential and innovative artist.

WL TAKEAWAY: Definitely one to add to your collection if only for the one or two songs that absolutely should be incorporated into your Sunday worship service. Besides, you’ll reap personal listening enjoyment as well.

www.stevencurtischapman.com

A BETTER PLACE Overflow, Essential Records Macc Powell has dubbed this South Carolina quintet “a young Third Day,” and from the evidence of their heartfelt tensong debut, Overflow does indeed possess the requisite rock chops to warrant such high praise. continued on page 48 46

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The band also distinguishes itself from the horde of post-modern Christian hopefuls with some exemplary songwriting skills, most notably on the key tracks as “Gotta Believe It,” “What’s Missing,” “Cry On My Shoulder,” “Come Home,” and the title song.

Overflow also has a potent musical asset in vocalist Tom Pellerin, who gives weight and conviction to the band’s hard-won expressions of faith. Kudos also go to producer and co-writer Scott Wilbanks, who has created a deep aural palate for the band, bringing out the best of their richly textured ensemble playing. All in all, an impressive debut.

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WL TAKEAWAY: Great music for Christians, add this one to your personal listening collection.

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REAL CHRISTMAS Kim Hill, Spirit-Led Records Veteran eran singer and songwriter Kim Hill sparkles on this engaging Christmas offering, showcasing ten holiday perennials that sound uniformly fresh and heartfelt, thanks to the artist’s distinctive vocal gifts and a light production touch that puts the emphasis right where it belongs.

Such beloved classics as “Angels We Have Heard On High,” “O Holy Night” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” transcend their familiarity thanks to Hill’s nuanced and richly textured performances, evoking the full significance of both the music and message. It’s an accomplishment due in large part to the mature and confident vocal abilities Hill brings to the project: a lifetime of performing has provided her with an interpretative depth that is all too rare among today’s current crop of singers and songwriters. Kim Hill gets to the heart of each song, imparting the abuncontinued on page 50

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dant grace and joyful celebration that is the true spirit of the season.

Kim Hill is one of Christian music’s great natural resources and Real Christmas more than lives up to its billing.

WL TAKEAWAY: Get this CD for a fresh take on classic songs for your congregation, and the benefit of new and powerful holiday songs only adds to the value.

www.kimhillmusic.com

PHIL BAQUIE Phil Baquie, Crowne Music Group Newcomer wcomer Phil Baquie (pronounced Buh-Kwee) joins a lengthening list of sterling Australian songwriters penning great modern worship with a tune edge

and highly accessible lyric content. On this eponymous major-label debut album, Baquie serves up ten originals songs that are tailor-made for contemporary worship, alternately rousing and devotional, easy to sing and memorable, sharply observed, and passionately performed.

Baquie employs a wide musical spectrum to bring his songs to life, but his strength is squarely in the pop arena.

His winsome and textured vocals add to the deep dimensions of his debut, as does his ongoing work in the mission field, which often gives his songs an almost universal application.

Standout tracks and ones well-suited to virtually any contemporary worship purpose include “I Desire You,” “Jesus,” “You Alone,” “I Fall,” and “I Surrender All.” It’s worth remembering how to pronounce Phil Baquie. His name is going to be around for a long time.

collection, several of these songs could easily be incorporated into your Sunday service.

www.philbaquie.com

SPACE IN BETWEEN US Building 429, Word Records Thee high end crunch and floor shaking rumble of North Carolina foursome Building 429 gives them a relevant edge in today’s post modern worship realms, an edge they use to good advantage on their powerful debut offering, Space in Between Us. Featuring their smash radio hit “Glory Defined,” along with eleven distinctive originals, Space in Between Us pulls all the stops and puts up a convincing case that fully-amped rock can carry a credible message of worship. While certainly not

WL TAKEAWAY: Definitely one for the worship leader’s

continued on page 52

Please join us for our 7th annual Christ Church Music & Worship Conference! r!

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July 20-23, 2005 Don’t miss this powerful opportunity to be a part of one of the country’s leading music and worship conferences.

vidual Extra early indi group rate rly ea Extra on) $190 (per pers (5 or more) of r 8, 2004.

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Bring your staff, your worship team, your choir, and your technical crew to experience a dynamic variety of music and instruction from today’s leaders in church music and the Christian music industry.

Your life and ministry will be blessed and enriched!

Reserve your spot today!

Pre-registration brochures will be mailed for a complete registration process. Write or call us today!

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15354 OLD HICKORY BLVD., NASHVILLE, TN 37211 615-834-6171 ∙ FAX 615-834-4463

www.christchurchnashville.org

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B ER 2004

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fitting everyone’s praise criteria, there is no doubt that Building 429 take their rocking worship mandate both seriously and joyously. Listen to “One Time Too Many,” “Shadow Of Angels,” “Show Me Love,” and the title track: this is music that speaks from the heart about matters of the heart.

Taking their name from the exhortation of Ephesians 4:29, the quartet has been a staple on the concert and festival circuit and are poised to make a major impact on the

fast evolving style and substance of post modern worship. Definitely one to watch.

WL TAKEAWAY: A progressive rocking worship style, with several songs that are indeed worshipful and could be incorporated into the right type of Sunday service. A good fit for young adult or rockin’ worship services.

www.b429.com SAVE THE HUMANS Ian Eskelin, Inpop Records Singer and songwriter Ian Eskelin has a fine grasp on the buoyant, feel-good

Skilled…Knowledgeable…

Skilled…Knowledgeable…

Spiritually Deep…and Deep…and Vitally Vitally Alive!

Alive!

Spiritually

Become the Worship Leader You Were Called to Be! Master of Arts in Worship & Spirituality Under the direction of Dr. Robert Webber!

pop style that distinguishes his first new album in over ten years years.

While these ten originals, including such incisive and sometimes slyly humorous standouts as “Taboo,” “American Idle,” “Amplified,” and the title track, aren’t especially well-suited for congregational worship, they do convey a high-spirited exuberance that may well do more to remind the listener of God’s grace than much standard issue praise fare.

Eskelin wears his heart on his sleeve with a vocal style that counts more on sincerity than polished style. His infectious melodies are well served by nimble rock arrangements that set up his theme of unfettered devotion, without overwhelming the simple virtues of the artist’s innocent declarations of God’s goodness. Save the Humans is a lot of fun, a rare commodity in today’s Christian music.

WL TAKEAWAY: Great music for Christians, you would do well to add this to your personal listening collection.

www.ianeskelin.com

Author of…The Younger Evangelicals Ancient-Future Evangelism Ancient-Future Faith

Northern Seminary’s Worship degree is…

Rooted in biblical and ancient traditions!

Connected to the Church Focused on who God is and His saving work through Christ Designed to teach authentic God-oriented worship!

Northern Seminary

800-YES-NBTS ext. 2180 • www.seminary.edu Northern also offers a Doctor of Ministry degree with an emphasis in Worship & Spirituality!

TODAY The Swift, Flicker Records At a time when guitars are the instrument of choice for nearly every expression of modern worship, the ringing chords of a piano can often sound like a breath of fresh air. It’s especially true on Today, the second album from Nashville-based trio, The Swift, who harness their keyboardheavy sound to some rousing anthems and sonically sophisticated pop pastiches.

While The Swift seem to draw inspiration directly from such vintage art rock ensembles as Yes and ELP, there is nothing old school about the power and punch of such key cuts as “Alive in Love,” “Unbecontinued on page 54

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Trust your message to reach every ear in the house.

Count on Sweetwater to help every step of the way.

At Sweetwater we recognize that houses of worship have very specific needs when buying music technology. You need to be able to trust that you’re getting the right equipment for the job at the lowest possible price.

You also need to rely on the people you’re buying from to help you get the most out of your system once you’ve set it up.

For more than two decades, Sweetwater has been helping houses of worship put together audio systems to fit any budget.

Our Sales Engineers live and breathe music technology, and our tech support department is the biggest and best in music retail. Simply put, nobody combines product knowledge, great prices, and comprehensive after-the-sale support like we do.

Whether you simply need help choosing from the latest keyboards, guitars, wireless microphones or monitoring systems, or building an entire PA system from the ground up, you can trust Sweetwater to make sure your sound is every bit as inspiring as your message.

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PA S YSTEMS • K EYBOARDS • M ONITORS • M IXERS • M ICROPHONES • G UITARS • D UPLICATION E QUIPMENT N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B ER 2004

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lievable,” “Trumpet Song,” and the aptly named “Anthem.” More adventurous worship leaders will find much to adapt and interpret on Today, but the album’s virtue lies less in its adaptability to congregational settings than in the rich musicality that imbues this exceptional and highly original offering. With a distinctive ensemble sound and a rousing call to arms, The Swift have got it going on.

WL TAKEAWAY: Highly recommend adding this one to your collection, and when you are feeling adventurous, include one of their amazing songs to your Sunday repertoire as well.

www.the-swift.com

TRY Bebo Norman, Essential Records

Worship Leader Classifieds are an economical way to advertise.

Cost is just $2.50 per word (minimum $15 per issue).

Display classified ads (boxed or rectangular ads, can also include artwork and are not to exceed 4 inches in length and the width of one column) run as follows: $90 per column inch for black and white, $135 for 2 color, and $180 for 4 color.

For deadlines, e-mail Erin Adams at: erin@wlmag.com.

If mailing a check, please send it to: Classifieds c/o Erin Adams, 26311 Junipero Serra, Suite 130, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675.

Please include a daytime phone number. Also, announcing a new way to advertise available jobs or look for a new job online! Choose between a print ad in our magazine, or a web ad or both. For more information, visit:

www.worshipleaderjobs.com

Thee ever-reliable Bebo Norman delivers a beguiling gift of sunny Christian pop on Try, a sparkling collection of eleven new originals that underscore his preeminent position as a purveyor of both insightful and original devotional art.

There’s a light touch that prevails throughout these impeccably produced selections. Tracks like “Finding You,” “Yes I Will,” “Borrow Mine,” and the title track stir the impulse to worship by evoking God’s blessings in the midst of real life. Norman can raise goose bumps with his richly textured vocal performances, and the production and arrangement of Try consistently undergird his intent without overwhelming the sometimes subtle sentiments interwoven through this exemplary offering. The rich cinematic imagery and emotional resonance of Norman’s musical milieu have long provided Christian music with one of its sturdiest touchstones, and Try does much to consolidate the artist’s reputation for excellence and true originality.

WL TAKEAWAY: Personal favorite, you’ll want this one in your car and for downtime listening for sure.

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WORSHIP LEADER

THE GREAT ROOM Chris Joyner, An earnest experiment in extemporaneous worship, The Great Room finds worship leader Chris Joyner and forty-five singers and musicians gathered together in an intimate setting with the intent of reaching deeper into the heart of worship.

The result is a handy tutorial for effective worship ministry, especially in its well chosen song selection which includes everything from Matt Redman’s “Blessed Be Name Of The Lord,” to a classic hymnal medley, to such wellwritten originals as “Nothing,” “I Will Run,” and “All Praise To Thee.”

While the appeal of The Great Room may be limited to its instructional value, there is an obvious vitality that infuses the set and provides a modicum of freshness to what otherwise might be a fairly routine aural souvenir of a local congregation’s worship ritual. Joyner’s lively arrangements are of special note to any worship leader who is looking to infuse a tired repertoire with new energy and focus.

WL TAKEAWAY: A must for worship leaders who are looking to add a classic CD to their collection as well as an instructional tutorial that will help give new life to old songs.

www.chrisjoyner.com

FOR ALL YOU’VE DONE Hillsongs If the Hillsong phenomenon has proven anything, it is that worship music at its best is a collaborative process. On the creative community’s latest double CD release, For All You’ve Done, fifteen state of the art worship songs are showcased, continued on page 56

Join us for The Willow Arts Conference 2005 as we explore the arts’ potential to open spaces where the Holy Spirit can touch hearts and change lives through your services.

Act I – MAIN SESSIONS June 14-15

Act II – SPECIALIZED TRAINING June 16-17

Featuring Nancy Beach, Bill Hybels, John Ortberg, Randall Wallace, Dewitt Jones, and worship with Lincoln Brewster and Nichole Nordemann.

Choose from two days of hands-on, practical training in Music & Worship, Creative Arts Leadership, Drama, or Technical Arts.

Music & Worship features instruction in worship, vocal, songwriting, instrumental, music leadership, choral music, dance, post-modern services, and copyright—plus a worship experience with Chris Tomlin!

800-570-9812 www.willowcreek.com N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B ER 2004

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representing the talents of no less than nine songwriters, all from Australia’s burgeoning Hillsong Church. A five hundred voice choir lends its considerable weight to a top-notch instrumental line-up, all under the direction of the inimitable Darlene Zschech.

The result is yet another polished production from a worship enterprise that has already had a world-shaking impact. For All You’ve Done is the thir-

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teenth live album from the Hillsong team, and from the evidence of this exuberant offering, they’re not about to slow down. Hillsong continues to set the pace and establish the gold standard for the extravagant modern worship experience.

WL TAKEAWAY: Another Hillsong homerun. Get this CD and you’ll have an abundance of new material to incorporate into your worship services.

www.hillsong.com 11:55 AM

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REVIVAL IN BELFAST II Robin Mark, Integrity Music Fans of the best-selling Revival in Belfast will find much to their liking on this twelve song follow-up from worship leader Robin Mark of Belfast’s Christian Fellowship Church.

The heavily Celtic tilt of these pleasing and polished selections mirror the focused intent of Mark’s ongoing ministry: to bring reconciliation to his divided city. It’s a goal that seems almost within reach on such standout tracks as “Work a Miracle in My Heart,” “I Heard the Sound of Voices,” “My Song Is Love Unknown,” and “There’s a Cry.” But there is more to Revival in Belfast II than social and political agendas. Irish music is generally suited for stirring spiritual hungers and the devotional intent of Robin Mark and his top-notch backing crew is well-served by its use of tin pipes, drums, and other indigenous instruments. Yet there is also a distinctly modern feel to the sound of this live recording that underscores Mark’s ability to blend a number of worthwhile intentions into a single appealing package.

WL TAKEAWAY: A valuable purchase for both the worship leader and for personal listening as well.

www.robinmark.com

Transforming souls is your job.

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Call 1-800-948-1990 for your free Moog PianoBar DVD demo or see it at www.moogmusic.com.

WELCOME TO DIVERSE CITY tobyMac, Forefront Records There are few artists who have contributed more to contemporizing Christian pop than tobyMac, the astute and inventive musician whose creativity was the driving force behind dc talk.

His new solo album, Welcome to Diverse City, lives up to its billing with some of continued on page 58

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����������������� ����������������� l. the high schoo in e ic rv se t rs Our fi June 14, 2004 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������ �������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������ �������������

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��������������������� � ���������������������������������� � ������������������������������������ � �������������������������������� � � ������������������������������ � � ���������������������������� � �������������������������� � � ����������������������� � ������������������������������������� � ���������������������������������� � ��������������������������� � � ������������������������������ � ��������������������������� � � ������������������� � ����������������������� � ���������������������������������������

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B ER 2004

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Heart,” while Big Daddy Weave weighs in the memorable “Christ Is Come.”

Absolute Favorite Christmas benefits from solid contemporary Christian styling that provides a unifying feel to a wide and diverse musical array.

continued from page 56

the most infectious beats on either side of the secular/sacred divide and a smart, in-your-face attitude that both challenges disbelief and celebrates relevant faith.

If that all sounds like a lot of musical heavy lifting, nothing could be farther from the truth. Welcome to Diverse City, with its hip hop, reggae, heavy metal and pure pop, glides effortless through a generous sixteen-track flow, taking listeners on a sonic roller coaster ride that is never less than thrilling. Anyone who doubts the stylistic validity of current Christian music need only listen to such key Welcome to Diverse City tracks as “Slam,” “Catchafire,” “Getaway Car,” and “Gotta Go,” to get a taste of the cutting edge.

Welcome to Diverse City makes a compelling case for Christian pop that does everything but preach to the choir.

WL TAKEAWAY: Highly recommended music for your personal enjoyment.

www.tobymac.com

“Refreshingly transparent.”

ABSOLUTE FAVORITE CHRISTMAS Various Artists, Fervent Records A solid holiday bargain, this two-disc, twenty-five track package offers an abundant and well-chosen selection of Christmas classics and new originals from a wide array of top-drawer Christian artists.

It’s hard to pick standouts among such a wealth of Yuletide cheer, but fresh renditions of “O Holy Night” by BarlowGirl, “Angels We Have Heard on High”

by Erin O’Donnell, and “Silent Night”

by Kate Miner are some of the notable selections on this comprehensive collection. Among the originals written especially for the project, By The Tree contributes the stirring “Christmas Is in My

WL TAKEAWAY: A great CD to have for ambient holiday music playing in your home, at your church Christmas celebration, and a good resource to pull from for some new ideas on the timeless holiday favorites.

www.ferventrecords.com

FAITHFULLY YOURS – THE PSALMS PROJECT Margaret Becker and David M. Edwards, Here To Him Music In Faithfully Yours Margaret Becker and David Edwards trade the lyre and harp

Matt Redman, worship leader and author of The Unquenchable Worshipper

To Know You More

W o r s h i p M u s i c . c o m ’ s 2 0 0 3 B o o k o f t h e Ye a r !

Veteran worship leader Andy Park gives you an inside look at how he’s learned to follow the Spirit as he leads others into God’s presence. 272 pages, 0-8308-3221-1, paper, $14.00 “A tremendous contribution. . . . Every pastor should lean on this resource to understand how to work with worship leaders, and every worship leader should have this as required reading.” WorshipMusic.com

Also available: Christ, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper Leonard J. Vander Zee opens a Christ-centered approach to the sacraments and their relationship to worship.

249 pages, paper, 0-8308-2786-2, $18.00

“Challenging and compelling.”

M. CRAIG BARNES, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

InterVarsity Press Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength. www.ivpress.com 630.734.4321 58

WORSHIP LEADER

for piano and guitar and offer a resonant backdrop for eleven new takes on a small sample of the worship Psalms.

Edwards and Becker’s take on these hymns is largely contemplative; probably best fit for personal devotion or meditation, the album maintains the peaceful quality that was once medicine for many kingly souls.

Perhaps its greatest strength, The Psalms Project gives reverence to the words. That seems to be the point of this CD since the production of accompanying instruments is at once beautiful and subtle, allowing the words to take center stage.

Songs such as “Create in Me” (featured on Song DISCovery’s volume 47), a tender recapturing of the popular Psalm 51, is one to bring into any church service. But in my personal favorite, “I will praise you,” every word is placed with deep meditation in mind, connecting the listener with King David’s original intent – laying our hearts at the feet of our true King.

ative oeuvre. While the first two tracks, “Here I Am,” and “Healing Rain,” are devotional tunes sure to take flight when a congregation, united in song, gives them the wings.

Ultimately, Healing Rain is classic MWS – desperate, reaching vocals against the backdrop of his familiar, contemporary styling. Some may say overly familiar, but in this case, it works. And, at least with Michael W. Smith, if it’s not broke, don’t heal it.

WL TAKEAWAY: This CD will satisfy the complete worship pallet, full of songs that are both performance oriented and also congregation friendly.

www.michaelwsmith.com

Submissions for book and album review should be sent to: Julie Reid Reviews, Worship Leader magazine 26311 Junipero Serra, Suite 130 San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-1633

WL TAKEAWAY: For the worship leader looking to bridge the ancient and the modern church, this CD is groundbreaking.

www.heretohim.com

HEALING RAIN Michael W. Smith, Reunion Records Michael W. Smith’s CD Healing Rain is vintage Michael: everyman’s search for meaning set against clean, pop-driven melodies and superbly produced accompaniments. Healing Rain continues in Smith’s tradition of taking simple musical lines to anthemic heights, begging to be belted out while driving around town or washing dishes at home.

Tracks like “We Can’t Wait Any Longer,” about Christian responsibility and “I Am Love,” about the all-reaching power of God’s love are definite standouts, high in the ranks of Smith’s creN O V E M B E R / D E C E M B ER 2004

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BOOK REVIEWS BEING WHITE Paula Harris, Doug Shaupp, InterVarsity Press

Okay, I admit it. I was hesitant about

reviewing this book. Most of the books reviewed by Worship Leader magazine are, appropriately, about worship. I failed to see, at first, how Being White tied in to the overall theme of our reviews, but what’s that lesson we learn again and again from the time we are small? Something like, “Don’t judge a book by its cover?”

I did not realize, until I started reading this book, that searching out a deeper comprehension of surrounding cultures can be worshipful, and that I must admit any biases or misunderstandings I have about the people I share this world with and then work through and eliminate those biases.

There is a common misconceived

thought among white people: Slavery ended a hundred years ago, why do I still get blamed for it? The truth, as is eloquently stated in Being White, is discrimination is a present day problem, much closer than a history lesson; it is something that destroys individuals and communities and is something every person can take part in eradicating.

Harris and Shaupp pen separate chapters that are unguarded recounts of their own journeys toward reconciliation, and they want us to engage in the same sort of self-examining, eye-opening encounter.

In fact, this book will encourage you look at your own life, as well as step out and become involved in the lives of people from dif-

ferent cultures and backgrounds. They call it “crosscultural displacement,” I call it getting over ourselves and taking a step of faith, believing that God will teach us, humble us, and bless us when we engage with and learn to love people we do not completely understand.

Being White explores “what it means to be white” and the key role Caucasians play in making this society blind to the color of one’s skin.

Harris says, “When whites choose to become the minority in numbers and in power, people of color start to tell us more stories about what whites have done. When they see our commitment to keep coming back continued on page 62

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NEW Activities & Games WRLP064701 PACP00251578-01

Also by this author:

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Side-by-Side: Families Learning and Living the Faith Together.

CA5-0687049113.

Paper, $18.00

Children’s Activities for the Christian Year, by Delia Halverson.

Useful, easy-to-use guidance, resources, and reproducible pages help Sunday school teachers and leaders of children’s ministries interpret the meaning of the Christian year to children from preschool through elementary age. Each chapter includes: brief information about the season/celebration, its origin, and its meaning; an introduction to the symbols and colors of each season/celebration; learning activities such as art, writing, crafts, drama, stories, and music; reproducible pages including puzzles, litanies, songs, and readings; active games; and worship suggestions. Abingdon Press.

CA5-0687352339. Paper, $15.00

101 Great Games for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers: Active, Bible-Based Fun for Christian Education, by Jolene L. Roehlkepartain.

Young children learn best when they can move and play. Even babies can begin to discover God’s Word and God’s world through play. These 101 new games give young children the foundation they need in ways that are fun and exciting. You’ll find 20 games designed for infants, 20 games for young toddlers, 20 games for older toddlers, 20 games for young preschoolers, and 21 games for older preschoolers. Each game includes a Scripture passage, a teaching point, a supervision tip, materials needed, and game instructions. Abingdon Press.

CA5-068700814X. Paper, $14.00

Published by

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WORSHIP LEADER

That Give Your Children’s Ministry a Boost!

Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685 1. Publication Title: Worship Leader.

2. Publication No. 1066-1247.

3. Filing Date: 10-1-04.

4. Issue Frequency: Bi-Monthly except monthly May, June, September and October.

5. Number of issues published annually: eight.

6. Annual Subscription Price: $19.95.

7. Office of Publication: Worship Leader Partnership, 26311 Junipero Serra, Suite 130, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675.

8. General Business Office of Publisher: Worship Leader Partnership, 26311 Junipero Serra, Suite 130, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675.

9. Full Name and Address of Publisher: Chuck Fromm, 26311 Junipero Serra, Suite 130, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675; Full Name and Address of Editor: Charles Fromm, 26311 Junipero Serra, Suite 130, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675; Full Name and Address of Managing Editor: Julie Reid, 26311 Junipero Serra, Suite 130, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675.

10. Owner: Mission Town Productions LLC, 26311 Junipero Serra, Suite 130, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675.

11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and other secutiry holders owning or holding one percent or more of total amount bonds, mortgages or other securities: None.

12. Pertains to non-profit organizations: Not applicable.

13. Worship Leader Magazine.

14. November/December 2004.

15. Extent and nature of circulation (average no. of copies each issue during preceding 12 months/Actual no. of copies single issue published preceding 12 months nearest to filing date) A. Total no. of copies (net press run) 47,877/39,395. B. Paid and/or requested circulation. 1) Sales through dealers and carriers, vendors and counter sales (not mailed) 1,316/0. 2) Paid or requested mail subscriptions 37,109/36,080.

C. Total paid and/or requested circulation 38,425/36,259. D. Free distribution by mail 1,764/0. F. Total free distribution 5,688/3,136 G. Total distribution 45,877/39,395 H. Copies not distributed 2,000/0 I. Total 47,877/39,395 J. Percent paid and/or requested circulation 83.76%/92.04% 16. This statement of ownership will be printed in the November/December 2004 issue of this publication.

17. I certify that all information on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on the form or who omits materials or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including multiple damages and civil penalties).

Charles Fromm, Publisher

Go to www.worshipleader.com and click on

the “Worship Leader Store” icon for all your

back issue needs for Worship Leader magazine

and Song DISCovery CDs and leadsheets.

Our desire at Worship Leader is to equip you

with the best available resources emerging

from the contemporary worship movement that

endeavor to transform worshiping communities.

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B ER 2004

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continued from page 60

to their church or stay in their neighborhood, they trust us a bit more. This is an invitation to us to learn the other side of the story.”

Being White is an invitation to celebrate all cultures; it is a book that calls us to a journey of discovery. As we learn to celebrate God’s creative expression in the people and cultures around us, we worship Him. – Erin Adams THE VOLUNTEER REVOLUTION Bill Hybels, Zondervan

T

he Volunteer Revolution, by Bill Hybels, made vibrant many scripture passages of our commission as Christians: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations;” (Matt. 28:19), “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;” (Lk. 10:2), “Here am I. Send me!” (Is. 6:8). This book is inspirational; it elo-

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quently communicates why volunteering in church and in the community is significant, and reminds the reader of the immediate, fulfilling rewards gained when we give ourselves in service. But, most importantly, this book encourages us to crave the mindset of Jesus, who Himself, took the “form of a servant,” thus revealing the heart of the God we serve.

The Volunteer Revolution speaks to churches as well reminding them of their distinct responsibility to bring the layperson from a position of sitting on the pew to one of working for the Kingdom. When the church does that, two things happen: the servant discovers passions they never knew existed, and a hungry world (spiritually and physically) is fed.

The stories, e-mails, and personal

encounters that Bill Hybels – pastor and founder of Willow Creek Community Church – brings to these pages lift up the servant and call the newcomer to action.

Volunteering enriches the Christian faith where, even new believers, when they come with hands ready to help, will find themselves fulfilled.

He explains that we are made to serve God, and that these acts of selflessness are among the greatest gifts we have on earth, and in Heaven. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Chris Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do,” (Eph. 2:10). If we indeed desire God’s will to be done “… on earth, as it is in Heaven,” we would be wise to take this provocative book by Bill Hybels to heart.

– Erin Adams

SONGSELECT ONLINE LEAD SHEETS, LYRICS AND SAMPLES FROM THE TOP CCLI SONGS!

LEAD SHEETS

Now you can download, print and copy lead sheets for your whole worship team! Choose from thousands of top worship songs… from major publishers like Brentwood-Benson, EMI, Hillsong, Integrity, Maranatha!, Mercy/Vineyard, Word and many more.

SOUND SAMPLES

Access thousands of 30-second sound samples to help you confirm selected songs, audition new songs, or just get the “feel” of a song.

LYRICS

Worship leaders, pastors, media directors and administrative assistants can print and download lyrics from CCLI’s song database of over 80,000 worship songs… for computer projections, transparencies, bulletin inserts and more.

Only available to CCLI license holders.

FOR AN INTERACTIVE DEMO, GO TO

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1-800-234-2446 N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B ER 2004

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WORSHIP LEADER

����������� EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH in Zion, Illinois, seeks an experienced full-time minister of music with a vision for the arts. Position includes overseeing conservatory, orchestra, band, choirs, praise teams and the historic Zion Passion Play. For position description, please contact Ms. Rebecca Langley at: rlangley@ccczion.org or call 847-872-4803 DEEP CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH a fast growing church of 3,400 members in Chesapeake, VA, is seeking an Associate Pastor of Music and Worship, ability to lead blended worship with choir and orchestra and contemporary worship with praise team and band required, ability to plan and lead the twice yearly musical dramas required, seminary preferred, contact Senior Pastor Ernie Myers at Mail: 250 Mill Creek Pkwy., Chesapeake, VA. 23323, Phone: (757) 487-2182, Email: erniemyers1@mac.com MISCELLANEOUS CHURCH AND MINISTRY WEB HOSTING Plans start at $8 per month. www.tavoll.net WORSHIP WORRIES? Teaching/ preaching/seminars on

Biblical principles of worship – timeless, unifying principles from God’s Word.

See www.firstevan.org/articles.htm for examples. Contact Ron Man,M.M., Th.M (Dallas Seminary), Rman@gemission.com.

TRADITIONAL HYMNS FOR CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP visit site for FREE arrangement! www.joyousnoisemusic.com SOLOISTS, TUNESMITHS, DIRECTORS, ETC! Soloists - New, scriptural, melodic songs. Tunesmiths - New lyrics, poems.

Directors -Worship musicals, ensembles, octavos. Keyboard wannabes - Learn piano fast! E-bk readers - Developing a successful church music program.

Go to TIFTEXT.ORG for samples.

THE SLIDES, MOTIONS GRAPHICS AND PRINT MATERIALS YOU’LL NEED FOR CHRISTMAS are at: www.visualworship.com A UNIQUE MUSIC / SPECIAL NEEDS MINISTRY to energize your church! www.stashsongs.com GOD HAS A PLAN Worship CD by Charles Moman recorded at Gaither Studios. Original contemporary and congregational-friendly worship music from Community Church of Columbus, Indiana. Visit www.charlesmoman. com for samples and ordering information.

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All Pro Sound ....................................www.allprosound.com .....................62 Audix ................................................www.audixusa.com .........................51 Baker Book House .............................www.bakerbooks.com .......................3 Lead Worship......................................www.leadworship.com.....................13 Calvin College Seminars .....................www.calvin.edu/worship .................48 Calvin Theological Seminary ...............www.calvinseminary.edu .................47 Carvin Corporation ............................www.carvin.com .............................35 CCLI ..................................................www.ccli.com ..................................63 Christ Church .....................................www.christchurchnashville.org .........50 Clearsonic...........................................www.clearsonic.com ........................40 EasyWorship ......................................www.easyworship.com ....................37 Edirol ................................................www.edirol.com ..............................36 Fowler ................................................www.fowlerinc.com .........................45 Here To Him Music .............................www.heretohim.com .........................5 Icon Eyes Inc / avisualplanet.com .......www.avisualplanet.com...................49 International Bible Society .................www.songscreen.com ........................9

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PERSPECTIVE

T

The Wisdom of Gamaliel

he secular world finds it hard to understand why the Church makes such a big deal over including women as equals in ministry. Everywhere else you look, there are women in leadership: in education, in medicine, in law, in politics.

But as Christians, we don’t feel at liberty to change our traditions at will; the fact that everyone else is doing it is not reason enough to follow suit. And Christianity has traditionally been overwhelmingly male-oriented; men have always taken the starring roles. The idea of including women as equal partners in ministry may seem uncomplicated to the secular world, but for the Church, it raises issues right at the heart of our tradition and our theology.

Religion, however, is always lived out in the context of culture and cannot remain untouched by it. After more than a hundred years of rising unrest in this area, no Christian group or denomination is able to escape the debate over what women may or may not do in church.

History’s Wisdom In the Church of England, this debate reached its height in the early 1990s in the run-up to the decision to ordain women as priests. Some people threatened to leave the church if women were ordained; others threatened to leave if they were not.

One senior churchman, a Canon of one of London’s major Cathedrals, was well known for his opposition to women priests. But he was a measured and godly man, and felt the need to allow his own views to be questioned. So, in the thick of the debate, he decided to take the wisdom of Gamaliel.

Gamaliel, you see, was a man who had faced another fiery debate nearly two thousand years earlier. Gamaliel, a godly and respected Jewish teacher, appears just once in the Bible, in Acts 5. Many among the synagogue communities felt the teaching and activities of the Christians had gone too far and were deviating from the traditions. They were angry at their boldness, fearful of serious religious divisions, 66

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and anxious that they themselves would displease God if they didn’t take a stand against it. Soon the fight escalated, and people started calling for public denouncement.

Then Gamaliel stood up and called for calm. He cut through the tense, woundup atmosphere by saying, (translating into the vernacular here) “Guys - relax! If what they are doing is not from God, if it’s just a fad driven by secular ideals, it won’t last long, and it will fail. But if what they’re doing is from God, you won’t be able to stop it. You’ll just find yourselves fighting against God” (Acts 5: 38-39).

Taking a Risk 1,900 years later, our venerable friend in London found these words ringing in his ears when he was asked to take on a woman deacon. He saw that in accepting her, he had the opportunity to test the waters and settle his own mind on the matter. “You show me, God,” he prayed. “If I am wrong to oppose women’s ministry, you show me.”

Within a few short months he was campaigning for the ordination of women.

The sky had not fallen down, and the woman deacon was good at her job. She preached beautifully, served tirelessly, was a natural pastor, and she was pleasant and co-operative to work with.

Hopefully, from this story we can see that making decisions about women in ministry can’t be done in a legalistic way, by picking over and over the words of the Bible to allay our fears. The reasons for are at least as strong as the reasons against, and insisting on divine guarantees for the future is the fastest way to create enormous damage and division in the Church.

God’s Responsibility I would suggest that we don’t have to have all the answers before the event. At the end of the day, it is not our responsibility to decide whom God will call, and whom He will bless. We can take some tentative steps, in faith instead of fear, in the wisdom of Gamaliel. If we will really allow women the space, the encouragement, and the positive environment to try their wings and test their callings, we will see what God will bless. Take a risk or two; make some opportunities for talented and good women, and see what happens. If the ministry of women is just an aberration arising out of secular feminism, then it will fail. But if it is from God, no-one will be able to stop it.

Like Gamaliel, let’s allow God to take the responsibility. We don’t need to keep an iron grip on the Kingdom of God for fear that something will run out of conW trol. Whose Kingdom is it anyway?

Rev. Dr. Maggi Dawn is a Chaplain in the University of Cambridge (UK) where she teaches Modern Theology. In her spare time she writes and records songs and music for worship. Her recent publications include chapters in Anglicanism: the answer to modernity (Dormar, Caddick & MacDonald; Continuum 2003) and The Rite Stuff (ed. Pete Ward, BRF 2004).

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