“Your Sunday service is the most important hour of the week. More visitors and members are present, and the tone of the entire ministry of the church is usually set in that hour…When that one hour is done with excellence every week, there is a trickle-down effect. Members begin to come more regularly because they don’t want to miss. They begin to feel more confident about bringing visitors with them. New people like what they see and want to come back…” (280-281, emphasis mine).

“Small churches often talk about hiring a youth minister as soon as they can afford one. In some cases that might be the right decision, but I’m convinced that most churches will get healthy faster if they focus first on choosing a good worship leader. Don’t go out and hire a ‘music minister’ who can lead choirs and sing solos. Find a worship leader.” (281-282, emphasis mine).

It makes sense to me! What do you think?

The hymns are familiar to many of our guests. Many church leaders are so wrapped up in reaching the culture with modern music that they never stop to think about what might be familiar to a visitor. A first-time visitor in our church has most likely never heard any of the choruses we sing. But chances are good that he has heard one or two of the hymns we will sing. (p. 68)

Is that true in your church? How many hymns does your church sing each Sunday? Why don’t newer churches sing hymns (or rarely sing them)? Is it really a big deal?

“A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper he amid the flood, of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.” - Martin Luther

Beth and I attended the NACC Minister & Spouse Retreat this week in Ridgecrest, NC. It was held at the LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center. What a place! One of the highlights of the retreat was Mark Lowry. He was hilarious! We got to meet him after the concert (see picture above).

My favorite part of the concert, joking aside, was when Lowry sang “Mary, Did You Know?” He wrote the song back in 1984. It was powerful! “This sleeping child you’re holding is the great I AM…” Wow!

Have you ever seen Mark Lowry? What is your favorite joke or memory?

Emily Swartzentruber and her band Shine Bright Baby will be playing at ALIVE ‘09. They’ll be playing on Wednesday, June 17 at 1 p.m. on The Beach Stage. Hope you’ll come and support them!