articles

Rekindling Faith through the Beautiful Tradition of Palm Sunday Celebrations

We’re all familiar with Palm Sunday and most have celebrated it, but do you know why churches observe this occasion? Let’s take a journey through history and uncover the reasons behind this special Sunday. First things first, what is Palm Sunday? It’s an annual Christian feast that takes place on…

The Bizarre End of Worship Leader Magazine

Last week’s social media kerfluffle came courtesy of the bizarre actions of the aged rag Worship Leader Magazine. Back in the day this publication had real clout – every church I knew subscribed to it and got their monthly “Song Discovery” CD featuring the latest hot worship songs (I almost…

12 Things That Can Discourage Congregational Singing

We love new songs and as a band, we enjoy learning them. However, our congregations don’t tire of songs as quickly as we do. For many, they only hear the songs once on Sunday morning, or every now and then on Christian radio. Read the full article.

Attracting and Keeping Great Players On Your Worship Team

The ability to attract skilled musicians to a worship team requires strong leadership. Worship leaders must create an environment of give-and-take among the musicians, courageously confronting problems when needed. They should get to know each player personally, supporting their families and valuing every team member’s contribution. When the leader can…

One-Time Easter Guests Could Become Lasting Members

Easter Sunday brings a prime opportunity to connect with new faces at church through intentional hospitality. From parking volunteers to a special guest tent, stage announcements, handwritten notes, and follow-up emails, churches can make first-time visitors feel appreciated. With smart strategies before, during, and after the service, church leaders can…

3 Winning Email Marketing Strategies for Churches

Let’s face it: church staff have an ever-increasing list of responsibilities. Whether you oversee pastoral counseling and first impressions or outreach and communications, every church leader knows there’s always another weekend service knocking at your door. With this reality in mind, it’s important to acknowledge that while every pastor would…

Gen-Z Is Looking For More Authentic Worship!

The spontaneous revival at Asbury University contrasts sharply with the high-production worship common in many churches today. Rather than relying on fog, elaborate lighting, deafening volume, and worship leaders as performers, the Asbury students simply worshipped in song and prayer. Without distractions, they experienced God’s presence in a powerful way.…

Your Classically Trained Pianist CAN Play Modern Worship

Turning classically trained pianists into modern worship players requires strategic communication, not frustration. Start by acknowledging their skills and channeling their precision into specific musical goals. Use orchestral language they understand and provide quality keyboard sounds and song tutorials. With patience and friendship, these musicians can transform from a headache…

Sacred Song or Christian Karaoke? Every Voice Matters

Singing together in worship is far more than spiritual entertainment – it’s a sacred privilege with many purposes. Beyond personal prayer and praise, it declares our faith to each other, welcomes newcomers into our beliefs, proclaims Christ’s rule, and unites us as one body declaring the glory of God. So…

How To Choose Songs For Congregational Worship

The technological advances of the late 20th century brought new ways to create and share worship songs, but also removed critical filters. As worship leaders, we must be discerning about song selection, ensuring lyrics teach sound theology and are singable for our congregation. Read the full article.

3 Ways to Keep Familiar Songs Fresh

As worship leaders, we all have our “go to” songs that we use regularly in our services. These are the songs you probably use once every 4-6 weeks. These songs speak to the season our churches are walking through. These are the anthems where we always see hands raised and…

The 10 Commandments of Great Worship Team Members

Being an effective worship team member requires commitment to communication, preparation, punctuality, respect, engaged worship, church attendance, skill development, appropriate dress, and godly living. Read the full article.

7 Trends For Church Technology In Ministry For 2023

A 2023 study reveals churches are increasingly embracing digital tools like hybrid services, integrated software, custom streaming, emerging tech, and geotargeting, though budget constraints remain a key barrier to technology adoption. Read the full article.

Worship And The Art Of Remembering

Our culture is obsessed with the future, convinced that the answers to life’s biggest questions – identity, call, purpose, possibility – lie ahead of us. But what if the opposite is true? What if wholeness is found not in anticipating the next experience or achievement, but in remembering the past?…

The Modern Worship Keys Player, Bethel, & Writing Songs

PODCAST: David Santistevan interviews David Funk, a talented worship keys player from Bethel Music who shares his journey into worship music with tips on how to develop a great keys tone. David also discussed the best practices and gear for modern keys players, as well as the surprising reality behind…

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