"IT'S TOO LOUD IN MY CHURCH" by Phillip Carter

My dear Aunt Helen said to me last week that she has to stand in the lobby of her church when the music and the preaching is going on because she says its too loud for her in the sanctuary. I was singing with my group this past weekend, at a church where I serve,  and my wife comes in the sanctuary and waves at me to inform me that its too loud so I immediately told the house guy to bring the overall volume of the house down which was the right thing to do since I could not access, from where I was standing, if there was any one particular thing peaking out in the audience. All of us have our opinions as to when something is too loud or not and all of us think we're right so I am going to approach this from a technical perspective later on in this blog. It's a fact that listening to loud music for long periods of time can and will damage your hearing. Many of you reading this blog go to church on a regular basis and most of our churches are probably projecting our sound systems at high levels not realizing that our hearing is being damaged in the process. I am very guilty, as I am writing to you, of demanding more volume as I play or sing on Sunday morning due to the intensity of the music that I sing and/or play partly because I have trouble hearing myself. Gospel Music is demanding and when the energy comes so does the loudness.

When preachers, especially in the black church, get excited and raise their voices  they tend to get closer to the mic instead of backing away from it because of the excitement and intensity of their preaching. That's a normal thing but it can be harmful as well if the sound tech at your church does not take the necessary steps to control the volume. Many of our churches do not invest in people who have the knowledge to run audio equipment efficiently but we are quick to hire people to do other jobs, in our churches,which require competency. Audio Engineering is a skill which requires a lot of training. It's amazing to me that we entrust our ears to Deacon and Trustee so-and so on the sound board.  Are we that ignorant?  Whether you are in a small or a large church we must protect our ears while being able to hear everything we want to hear at the same time.

Technically anything above 75 decibels is considered loud and anything above 100 decibels is getting dangerous for long periods of time. If the noise gets to 200 decibels for any amount of time then loss of hearing takes place immediately.  It is true that all of us have our own noise thresholds. Its not too loud all of the time. Let's be honest. Some of us make those claims partly due to the fact that we don't necessarily enjoy the type of noise being made whether its music or the preached word. I remember growing up in church and every time I played a gospel song it was too loud but every time I would play a hymn (at the same volume) it was heavenly.lololololol.   The same old saints were talking out of two sides of their mouths.

IT IS possible to be intense and for the levels to be controlled at the same time. It's not always the musicians fault if the music is too loud. Your church might have an incompetent sound technician especially if your church has everything miked up. Your instruments might be placed incorrectly in the sanctuary. There are a number of reasons why things may be too loud in your church. Stop assuming and seek answers that make sense to the church and to the musicians. On the other hand, musicians should try to exercise some wisdom when dealing with their own volume levels, in church, especially if you are in total control of your volume. We must not let our personal liking's overshadow what may or may not be going on in our houses of worship. We must seek and implement solutions because there are millions of Christians who maybe suffering from hearing loss due to the Saturday or Sunday morning worship experience. 

You can refer to this table below from http://www.abelard.org/hear/hear.php to give to your sound techs and your Pastors at your church as a reference.

Peace,
Phillip Carter

HOW LOUD IS LOUD? Common Noise Levels and Typical Reactions

Activity	Noise Level [dB(A)]	Apparent Loudness	Typical Physical Response	new:quadratic equations, model answers part of how to teach your child number arithmetic mathematics advertising disclaimer
Rocket launching	180		Danger level
Threshold of pain Gunshot Jet engine taking off	140		Danger level
Military jet Air raid siren Shotgun Hydraulic press (3 m away)	130	512 times as loud	Limited ability to hear amplified speech. Noise may cause pain. Can damage hearingafter  3.75 minutes exposure per day
Car horn Propeller aircraft Air-raid siren	120	256 times as loud	Can damage hearingafter  7.5 minutes exposure per day
Sand-blasting Squealing pigs Inboard motorboat Typical night club Unsilenced motorcycle (7m away)	110	Over 128 times as loud!!	Maximum vocal effort. Can damage hearingafter  30 minutes exposure per day
Amplified Rock Music	110-130	Over 128 to 512 times as loud!!	Can damage hearingafter 3.75 – 30 minutes exposure per day
Helicopter Motorised/power mower	105		Can damage hearingafter 1 hour exposure per day
Jet takeoff @ 500m Train horn @ 30m Diesel truck Pneumatic drill/jackhammer	100	64 times as loud	Can damage hearingafter 2 hours exposure per day
Heavy truck @ 15m Busy city street passing motorcycle Lawn mower Loud shout Screaming child	90	32 times as loud	Very annoying. Can damage hearingafter 8 hours exposure per day
Average factory Electric shaver	85
Busy traffic intersection Motorway construction site Outboard motor Alarm clock (with bell) Freight train (15m away) /td>	80	16 times as loud	Annoying.
Motorway traffic @ 15m Roadside traffic Train horn @ 500m Vacuum cleaner Mixer electric sewing machine Noisy restaurant Conversation in a loud voice	70	8 times as loud	Telephone use difficult.
Washing machine/dishwasher	65
Light car traffic @ 15m City or commercial areas Noisy office Normal conversation Clothes dryer Background music	60	4 times as loud	Intrusive.
Quiet office	50	2 times as loud	Speech interference.
Refrigerator	45
Quiet residential area Kitchen/bathroom Public library	40	Arbitrary Base  Reference Level	Quiet.
Leaves rustling Very soft music Recording studio Living/dining/bedroom	30	1/2 as loud	Very quiet.
Threshold of sound perception	10	1/8 as loud	Just audible.
Threshold of hearing	0	N/A	Not audible.

"Who's Going To Hell"

I used to think that the issue of "Speaking In Tongues" was the most confusing subject to gain an understanding of but ohhhhhhhh!! was I mistaken. The issue of  who's going to Hell is even more confusing and here's why. Depending on what church you go or what denomination you belong to there is a different interpretation out there as to the certainty of  Hell and Heaven and who will make it to which. It wasn't until I grew up and started visiting other churches that I realized that people and theologians interpret the Scriptures differently. That's why some Pastors don't like you and me visiting other churches because they do not want you or me to hear other interpretations which could be confusing. However I think its the various interpretations that ultimately lead us to the truth.

Everybody claims their right and everybody else is wrong on so many biblical issues. I do believe that the Bible is clear but we aren't. Some believe in Eternal Security that means "Once saved always saved" and others believe that Salvation is a process and that even though we accept Him initially, we have to continue to work on our salvation or we could lose it and end up in HELL. On one hand you have John 3:16 and on the other you have Hebrews 12:14. WHICH IS RIGHT?  I thought the word of God was supposed to be simple.

I can tell you that there is one common denominator in all of this and that is BELIEF. If you deny the existence and Lordship of Jesus Christ  your mansion in Heaven is defiantly on hold. I also know, based on my study, that it is possible for one to be saved and not sanctified. I think that many people confuse the two. Just because your saved don't mean you Holy.Well.... All the other stuff is debatable and I will leave it for the scholars and prognosticators of the Gospel and to comment on.

Peace,
Phillip

"Dealing With Unruly Church Employees"

As I stated in earlier blogs, being a leader is quite a daunting task especially in the church. One of the challenges that leaders often face is dealing with unruly employees. One of the definitions of unruly is " Disorderly and disruptive and not amenable to discipline or control" (Google). I would suspect that the latter part of that definition applies to most of our unruly situations (lacking discipline or control). There are 2 kinds of unruly employees. There are those who do all of their dirty work behind the scenes using the telephone, internet and group discussions. They secretly plot against you or someone else and form regimes to either overthrow you or to make your job difficult, unproductive or sometimes unbearable. Then there are those who have no fear in publicly displaying their displeasure's, thoughts, emotions about anything and everything you do with no complete thought in mind as to the effect of their public outcry. In other words they choose to hang themselves.

I know some of you are thinking "I would rather have the public outcry then the private stabbing in the back". Well keep in mind that the public outcry can cause folks to leave ministries, choir stands and pews. It does just as much damage. So how do you deal with unruly employees. If you are a Pastor, or a person who has authority to hire and fire, then you could just fire the person right? Well that only works if the person has no credibility or fan base within the congregation. I've known many Pastors who have fired employees on the spot for valid reasons and suffered consequences because they did not take into account the public sentiment for the individual they fired. Maybe you could sit the person down to talk and pray with them about the situation in the hopes that they will change right?. Well that works sometimes but most of the time it doesn't because the unruly individual does not see their own behavior as a problem. They view you, the employer, as the problem and maybe you need to change rather than them. So here are some tips that have worked for me and others when dealing with an unruly employees.

1. Keep an accurate timeline and documentation of where, when and what was said and done by the individual(s).

2. Try to avoid public confrontations with the individual unless your support system is so strong that it can withstand the possible backlash.

3. Always approach the unruly employee with kindness not letting him know how you really feel or what your possible strategy is in dealing with that person.

4. If your a Pastor, never call out that particular employee from the pulpit. Again you never know the public sentiment for a person and you do not want to gauge it from the Pulpit. If your public rebuke does not work in your favor then you have lost credibility and respect among your parishioners regardless of whether they express it to you or not.

5. Approach the individual with your evidence of their unruly behavior and ask them to stop or face the possible consequences that you have laid out. Most will not stop but they might change their method of attack so keep that in mind.

6. When the dismissal takes place never offer up the reasons why unless someone asks. You weaken your position as leader if you have to over explain your self to any and everybody. Just have the evidence ready if and when they come calling for it. NO ONE CAN ARGUE WITH THE TRUTH.


These are just a few ways to deal with unruly Church employees but there are others that I am sure some of you will mention. I welcome your thoughts, ideas and suggestions and I pray for you if you are in one of these situations.


Peace,

Phillip Carter

"Leading A Music Ministry"

What Does It Involve?

Leading a Music Ministry or Music and Arts ministry can be a daunting task. It involves administration, psychology, the skill to lead and most importantly a comprehensive musical understanding of the needs of the particular congregation you are serving. Great leaders are also great followers. When you learn how to follow you learn how to lead. In leading a Music Ministry, you have to take into consideration the different parts of the ministry you are attempting to lead. You also have to have a clear understanding of the vision of the Pastor and church that you are serving. If they do not have a clear vision then you will need to assist them in creating one based on their wants and needs as a church and Music Ministry. You would be surprised how many churches do not have mission and/or vision statements concerning their Music Ministry.

Whether you are currently a Minister of Music, getting ready to be one, or aspiring to be one its important that you understand your job in a particular ministry. In general a Minister of Music is in charge of the overall operation and musical health of the church. In my opinion, you should possess the skills play, teach, direct, sing and administrate especially if you are working at an African American church. You should not be dependent on anybody in order for you to be successful in your job. NOW, even though you possess those skills having a staff is surely helpful in being successful.

HIRING AND BUDGET

 If your church has the budget for you to hire help then you should always hire the kind of staff that will aid and enhance you and the church in the worship experience. In other words, do not hire inferior musicians. You should always seek to hire people who can make a significant change in your worship experience musically and spiritually.  I always seek to hire people who can do what I can't.  

Sometimes as the Minister of Music, churches try to short change you financially by forcing you to settle for less qualified musicians but they want the best quality of music and worship. ISN'T THAT IRONIC. Its like they don't get it. They do not understand that quality comes with a price. Quality musicians are NOT hard to find they are just hard to keep. They are hard to keep because if they feel hampered by the restraints that are sometimes put on them by Ministers of Music's, Churches and Pastors then its time to leave and seek other opportunities. Restraints can be spiritual, music and/or financial. Churches are quick to honor Pastors but ignore the musical leaders in the house. A "Thank You" sometimes can go a lonnnnngggg wayyyyy.

SONG SELECTION

Ministers of Music who are great build comprehensive programs for their choirs, praise teams, musicians and congregations that they serve. They not only teach music but they teach the Ministry of Music which is more than just reading and/or learning music and notes. They are sensitive to the musical and spiritual needs of the church they serve and often pick music that is relevant to those needs. You should pick music that is also relevant to the vocal ability of the choirs you teach. Always be mindful that unless your choir is vocally super natural they can't sing everything. You should carefully select music that will bring the best out of a particular choir. For some of you that may mean doing a lot of unison singing until your choir can handle some part singing. You should research musical selections and not just the Top 40 songs you hear on the radio. Most of the time you, and the people you serve, will receive the greatest blessing from songs that are less popular. You should always teach music that has some scriptural basis to it. Songs that have scriptural background to it are more effective and more likely to stick in the hearts and minds of your choirs and congregation.

NON-  MUSICAL RELATED ACTIVITIES


It's important to coordinate a few activities throughout the year with your music ministry that are non music related. Fellow shipping out of the choir stand is very helpful in attaining unity. Sometimes the people just need to know that you as the leader are a human being and that you like to do other things. People trust who they know and like. If they can see another side of you, every now and then, it helps in the choir stand.


TRAINING AND WORKSHOPS


Leaders who do not attend training sessions and workshops are stag net and boring. You should always be in a posture of learning. Its VERY important to get out of your church as much as you can and attend workshops so that you can hear and see what others are doing. Workshops are often great sources of opportunity to get new music. The bible commands us to sing unto the Lord some new songs. It's hard to get new songs if you can't get out.

LEAVING A LEGACY


Everybody should aspire to leave something positive behind for the next person to use providing that you had a positive impact on the people you were serving.Creating a musical library of your works, whether physical and digital, is important to the next person who will have your job after  you. A great Minister of Music does not operate out of spite but out of love for the Ministry of Music and the people you serve.


Peace,
Phillip Carter

"What is Church/Gospel Music Supposed To Sound Like"

This is a great debate in a lot of churches and among Christians around the world especially in the US. This debate is not a new one. The great Thomas Dorsey,  whom we revere in all of music, was ridiculed for emulating a blues sound in church with his piano playing and singing. Edwin Hawkins was slammed for his hit song "Oh Happy Day" which was initially rejected by church audiences for sounding to secular or what about The Saint's in Praise Vol 1 which was spearheaded by the West Angeles COGIC in 1992 and was initially rejected by its own church members and mainstream black gospel radio for sounding too white.  I remember when "Stomp" by Kirk Franklin was released to radio and many Christians and Clergy went completely bananas over theology of the song. Now we have Holy Hip Hop which is being completely ignored on mainstream Gospel Radio due to the fear of rejection by mainstream church audiences. We also have Christian Rock, Neo Soul Gospel and and many other sub- genres of Gospel music that is out there right now being embraced by some and rejected by others.

We all have our ideas about what Gospel Music/Church music is supposed to sound like. All of us need to consider the fact that our ideas have been shaped by someone or something else. If you grew up in church then most of your thinking and opinion is rooted in what you heard in church as a child or what you were taught. Because many of us have our own ideas,  its important to define what church music is then to verbally assault or reject a modern day sound that you or I may or may not understand. Church music is defined as "music intended for performance as part of services of worship"(The Free Dictionary). Its a broad definition with little specifics. I would define it as "music rooted in scripture or personal experience to be performed in worship or other venues for the purpose of edifying the body of Christ".

Church music has evolved from the Gregorian Chant to Holy Hip-Hop. If society and its music were not allowed to evolve then we all would still be chanting in service with cloaks on. Its important that we do not judge the sound of the new wave of music but rather the content. I can name many songs from Negro Spirituals to some of Gospel Musics current hits that were not rooted in scripture but it had the so called "Church Sound". One example is the song 'Down By The Riverside" which has no biblical meaning but rather a cultural meaning instead. When slaves needed to converse with one another or arrange meetings they would say words and catch phrases that the slave master could not understand in order to meet up such as "I'm gonna lay down my burdens down by the riverside" which  means meet me at the river, I got something to tell you. Now that song is considered a church son by many and some of us shout over it but it has no spiritual significance. It's important to remember, appreciate and pass down our heritage as African Americans but it shouldn't be mistaken for a church song.  Just recently there were major questions over the hit song "Back To Eden" by Donald Lawrence and its biblical meaning. Does God really want us to go "Back To Eden"? That's for you to decide. I never sung it in church because I could never understand why I needed to go back. I prefer to go forward to Heaven.

We are more opinionated about the sound of something then its content. We tend to shun what we do not understand. Some of the deepest, scriptural based lyrical content I have ever heard has come from the Holy Hip-Hop generation and its music. On the other hand, I have also been blessed by the poetic scriptural lessons that have been placed in Hymns. Any song that blesses God and edifies the believer can be a "Church Song" or can be sung or spoken in church. It's fine to have your preferences about the kind of song or style you like but it's not ok to ridicule others for theirs. In many of our churches today our youth and young adults are shut out from expressing themselves in their modern day vernacular with music. Many of us who are older were treated the same way when we were young yet we do not extend the grace, that we wish we had, to our younger generation. Let's get over our narrow mindedness about what Church or Gospel music is supposed to sound like and lets embrace what, I believe, God is doing through the new sounds that are out their today. All music comes from God. It's what man does to it that makes the difference.


Peace,
Phillip Carter

"My Top 10 Gospel Music Pioneers"

There are many great artists  past and present in Gospel Music and not just the top 30 that you hear on the radio. However their are only a few who have really shaped our worship experiences and musical styles since the inception of Gospel Music and those are the true pioneers(some of which are living today). Pioneers are people who create new avenues of thought, research and development whereby we all can eventually benefit from. I need to say that there is a difference between great artists/singers and pioneers. I have listed MY Top 10 Gospel Music pioneers of all time along with a brief description. This list is fully debatable and I am sure that many of you could add or take away names based on your preference. This list is not in order of importance.

1. Thomas A Dorsey-  Most of us in Gospel have heard of Thomas A Dorsey, his story, his music and one of the greatest songs ever written "Precious Lord". He pioneered bringing Gospel Music into the church. During the Dorsey era, Gospel Music was considered to Jazzy an inappropriate for worship but Thomas pressed on and now musicians today have the freedoms to express themselves freely in worship through their playing and singing thanks to Thomas Dorsey. He caused the acceptance of the use of  Blues and Jazz chords on Sunday morning. 

His other pioneering contribution is the National Convention Of Gospel Choirs and Choruses which is held every year in August. This is the oldest Gospel Music convention in the world. Its a forum where people can come and learn how to sing, play, teach and learn new music to take back to their respective choirs and congregations.

2. Mahalia Jackson- One of the greatest singers of all time in any genre of music. Mahalia is a pioneer for bringing Gospel Music to the mainstream music community and to the World. She was well respected and cherished like Rock Bands in Europe. Mahalia Jackson is one of  the reasons why Gospel Music and American Gospel Artists are so loved in Europe. She is considered an American Music Icon not just a Gospel Music icon. 

3. James Cleveland- The King of Gospel Music and the founder of the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA), which is still the largest of its kind. The GMWA has been the starting block for too many artists to name. Without the GMWA, Gospel Music would be far less popular and advanced then it is now. Rev. Cleveland also helped so many artists and choirs across America by giving them a national platform through recordings that he spearheaded. With just his voice on an album, one was ready to go and purchase it.

4.Brother Joe May- Before there was a Bobby Jones there was a Brother Joe May. He hosted a show called TV Gospel Time(look it up on youtube). Joe May was a pioneer for bringing Gospel Music to Television. During his era, anybody who was doing anything in Gospel Music was on the TV Gospel Time. Joe May was also a great singer and artist in his own right.

5. Kenneth Morris-Many people, in this day and time,  haven't heard of Kenneth Morris but Kenneth was the Gospel Music publisher and transcriber for so many artists. His company (Martin and Morris Music Company) co-founded by Sallie Martin is the oldest Gospel Music Publishing Company. He played such a key role in preserving the music that is now golden to us and will live on through sheet music.

6. Richard Smallwood.- Richard Smallwood is and will forever be known as the one who gelled classical music with Gospel. His style of playing, writing and production is unique to him only. He has influenced generations of musicians, choir directors and singers all over the globe with his style of Gospel writing and singing.

7. Thomas Whitfield(The Maestro) - One of the greatest Gospel musicians and producers of our time. Besides his Gospel Music hits that are still being sung in churches today, his style of playing and writing has influenced so many of our mainstream artists such as Donald Lawrence, Fred Hammond and Kurt Carr. His musicianship like Richard Smallwood led musicians to a whole new style of playing Gospel Music especially in the Midwest portion of the United States and He was one of the first artists to display a different style of  worship after the song is over on his albums. A lot of our style of worship can be attributed to Thomas Whitfield approach to Gospel Music and worship.

8. Patrick Henderson- During his tenure as the Minister of Music at the West Angeles COGIC, Patrick Henderson, under the leadership of Bishop Charles Blake, is the one who introduced Praise and Worship music to the black church. It was not readily accepted but eventually it was through the recordings of West Angeles under his leadership that Praise and Worship, in the African American Church, is what it is today.

9. Kirk Franklin- Kirk Franklin is the most successful Gospel Artist of our time and his songs have raised up generations of young people into soldiers for Christ. His ability to draw Gospel and Secular audiences with his music has aided the church in reaching souls for Christ.

10.Edwin and Walter Hawkins- This dynamic duo is directly responsible for breaking Gospel Music into the mainstream with their 1960's hit "Oh Happy Day" which opened the doors for so many other artists like The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Kirk Franklin, William Becton and Yolanda Adams to receive the same airplay opportunities. Edwin and Walter Hawkins are one of the main reasons why we have music to sing on Sunday morning. They have written so many Sunday morning compositions which has added to the Spiritual fabric of so many across the world. "Oh Happy Day' penned by Edwin Hawkins is still thee most popular song in Europe and one of the most popular songs in the world Gospel or Secular. Every year Edwin Hawkins hosts the "Edwin Hawkins Music and Arts Seminar" which gives many artists and songwriters opportunities to share their gifts to a mass audience. 

HOLD UP- I GOT ONE MORE

11. Andre Crouch- I could not possible leave Andre Crouch off this list. He has given us so many songs for worship past and present. Songs such as "Jesus is The Answer", 'Take Me Back", "Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus", "My Tribute", "Oh It Is Jesus" and lately "Let The Church Say Amen" and so many more. Andre Crouch is one of the few Gospel Artsts who appeared in church Hymn Books in the 80's and 90's.  Andre Crouch was one of the first Gospel Artists to appear on a network television show with appearance on the "Jeffersons". He is a consummate song writer with every lyric based on scripture. He along with his sister Sandra are true pioneers. You could literally sing a Crouch song every service for 6 months and not run out of songs to sing.

Praise and Worship vs. Hymns

What is the real difference between a Praise and Worship song and a Hymn. Well here it is. The best analogy I can think of is the difference between fast food and a slow cooked meal. Praise and Worship songs are quick and easy songs designed to engage the worshiper. Praise and Worship songs are not meant to be complete works but rather a collection of simple versus and musical hooks with lyrics speaking directly to or about God. Hymns are complete musical works that often follow a pattern. The language of Hymns tend to walk you through this life and introduce you to life eternal. Hymns are a slow cooked meal. They don't always grab you or engage you right away. Hymns written in the earlier periods often require some understanding of the language before an appreciation can be developed. While Praise and Worship songs are designed to engage the worshiper right away, Hymns  are designed to grow and develop the worshiper. Praise and Worship sets the atmosphere while Hymns tend to preach the sermon.

It's important to have both in the lifestyle of the believer.  They both serve a greater purpose. I pity congregations who exalt one style over the other. It's not the style of Christian music that is the most effective but rather the attitude behind the music being offered up in worship. Many Pastors and Praise and Worship leaders have replaced Hymns with  Praise and Worship songs because the hymns were being presented poorly and  Praise and Worship songs do not require as much energy and time to learn, sing and produce. In other words,  fast food music was preferred over music which is rich in information about the One we worship. Many do not realize that the phrase "Praise and Worship Music" encompasses all Christian music. It's ignorant to say that one song is Praise and Worship and one is not when both glorify God in one way or another.  It bothers me to see that many of our churches, who only do Praise and Worship music, have relegated hymn singing to funerals and special occasions. Isn't it ironic that when a funeral happens we, all of a sudden, want to hear "Amazing Grace" or "Precious Lord". It also bothers me to see churches who refuse to embrace Praise and Worship out of fear that it may somehow replace the Hymn experience in worship.  When you understand the role of both then the intimidation will go away. Praise and Worship is no longer a phenomenon, it is here to stay and churches who refuse to embrace are also doing themselves a musical and spiritual disservice.

The slow cooked meal is always a necessary meal to eat although sometimes you need to eat a little fast food first as an appetizer for a boost. Praise and Worship music, as we know it today, serves as a spiritual boost to any dead situation. It also helps to have an anointed song leader who understands how to lead the congregation in singing Praise and Worship songs. Some of our greatest songs written to date have been Praise and Worship songs. Its important for every church to have a healthy musical diet. It keeps our spirits in a posture of expectation.

 Praise and Worship (Fast Food) can get the job done but Praise and Worship alone can also lead to spiritual and musical immaturity.  Hymns(slow cooked meal) have served a vital role in our lives as Christians but God has given us new songs to sing along with the Hymns that take us threw new experiences with Him. The most powerful services I have ever been in are the ones where the leaders and congregants understand, accept and apply both well in the worship experience.


Peace,
Phillip Carter