Articles for tag: Worship Leader

July 15, 2016

Christian Standard

Full Circle

By Raymond Bodley His name was Larry, a 20-year-old soldier who came into the church in Frankfurt, Germany, in the 1980s. When he arrived, he seemed to be running from what he thought was expected of him, while also searching for where God could use him. I wondered how he fit into the U.S. Army mold, though he was really smart. When I met Larry, he was a “gun bunny” who carried howitzer shells from point A to point B. After he dropped two or three shells, however, the command decided to make him a driver for a captain. That

February 1, 2016

Christian Standard

Dear Aspiring Minister . . .

By Jennifer Johnson You may be attending a Bible college, a Christian college, or a Christian university. That school may be affiliated with the Restoration Movement, with a mainline denomination, or with no particular group at all. And you may dream of someday serving as a preacher, a youth pastor, or a worship leader. No matter where you are in school, no matter what your background, and no matter what your dream, consider this letter my virtual attempt to shove all five feet and two inches of myself in your face (or your shoulder) and demand you stop saying things

August 14, 2015

Christian Standard

Keeping New Leaders in the Game

By Dave Miller Ministry is hard. Who can help ministers jump the hurdles in their first few years of service? After 13 years of ministry, I was fortunate to jump on a start-up and fly all over the United States to consult in churches. I probably visited 400 churches over the five-plus years I was with that organization. I don”t want to exaggerate here, but I believe I heard some version of this phrase more than 200 times: “Please help us find a youth pastor or kids pastor or worship leader or executive or tech director, etc.” It didn”t matter

May 6, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

Four Ways to Enrich Your Prayer Times

By Mark A. Taylor Most Christians, especially mature Christians, tend to pray the way they”ve always prayed, worship the way they”ve worshipped for years, “do devotions” the same way week after week, pursue the spiritual disciplines””or ignore them””according to their longtime habits. Maybe that”s OK, but if you have a hunch that your prayer times could be richer, that your relationship with God could be closer, that your own spiritual growth could continue, then here are some tips from David Butts and Ken Read. “¢ Pray the Psalms. Butts tells what happened when he first decided to spend more prayer

July 7, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Jordan Howerton

JORDAN HOWERTON Jordan Howerton Band Jordan Howerton is on a worship mission. Jordan grew up in the church, the son and grandson of preachers. Leading others to the feet of Christ in worship came naturally. As leader of the Jordan Howerton Band, Jordan has been serving the church for more than six years. While the band is emerging as one of the nation”s most sought after, authentic, and energetic worship bands, what sets Jordan on a path of influence as a leader is easy to identify. To Jordan, leading, singing, writing, playing, and recording are not achievement arts. They are

May 10, 2013

Christian Standard

Growing Over the Long Haul

By Kent E. Fillinger John Scott is a longtimer. He started as youth minister of Community Christian Church in Hemet, California, in 1987, and became the lead pastor in 1990. In 2012, CCC grew to an average worship attendance of 1,126, a 22 percent increase over the previous year. “The momentum has been building, but we busted loose last year,” Scott said. “Our staff and elders are simply amazing,” he said. “Truly gifted and big-hearted servants who have totally bought into what we”re trying to do here. The cohesiveness of this team has allowed us to stretch and risk and

April 7, 2012

Christian Standard

The Host of the Table

By William Baker The original Lord”s Supper took place at a table (Luke 22:21, 30). The host was Jesus. He sent Peter and John ahead of the group to make the necessary arrangements with the owner of the house to eat at his large table of his second-floor room. However, the disciples being led to the house by a man carrying a jar of water on his head, as Jesus predicted (Luke 22:10), reveals that Jesus himself had already set this up ahead of them. After arriving at the room, Jesus functioned as the host. As he reclined around a

December 4, 2011

Christian Standard

Interview with Beth Guckenberger

A mission trip to Mexico in 1996 helped change the lives of Beth and Todd Guckenberger. As Beth tells the story, “We were painting a wall from blue to green and I said, “˜Didn”t we paint this from green to blue last year?”” After that, the Guckenbergers sought out more compelling opportunities of service, and were moved with compassion for the abandoned children of Monterrey, Mexico. One year later, they moved to Monterrey. This was the initial step in founding the international arm of Back2Back Ministries, which provides orphan care in Africa, India, and Latin America. Through this experience, Beth

January 27, 2008

Christian Standard

Worship/Service: A Conversation Between Paul and David

By Mandy Smith Last year I started a new job that means I will never get to worship, or so I have been told. It is my responsibility every Sunday to help others worship by overseeing the sound board, musicians, PowerPoint, seating, bulletins, and Communion cups. No time for singing or sitting or listening. No worship for me. As part of this new job, I got a subscription to Worship Leader magazine and, while flipping through it, I became convinced of something we already know: “worship leader” has come to be synonymous with “music minister.” Of the 51 advertisements in

July 22, 2007

Greg Allen

vocational identity

More Than Singing

Misplaced significance and vocational identity Misplaced significance can quietly tie your worth to your role. After repeated voice surgeries sidelined a worship minister from singing, he wrestled with self-pity and discovered how deeply he had tied his significance to his job. Vocational identity can quietly replace deeper spiritual identity. Seasons of limitation can expose what we believe about our worth. God’s love and calling are not dependent on our ability to perform. By Greg Allen I really tried not to write this story, but I realize I must. The major reason I do not want to write it is because

July 2, 2006

Becky Ahlberg

worship wars

Collateral Damage

After decades of “worship wars,” Becky Ahlberg urges churches to stop wounding their own leaders through “friendly fire.” Before making staff changes, invest in development, check motives, and plan transitions that build up rather than tear down.

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