Kim Gentes

I've spent the last 15 years evaluating and recommending resources for worship ministries, churches, leaders, musicians, vocalists, audio/video techs and pastors. I've even written a book highlighting the best of those resources that I've found relevant to worship and music. But in that time and search, I've yet to recommend a resource that completely covers the topic of how to lead worship. There are several books and DVDs and resources that drill down on specific details, skills, issues or ideas- all of them good and needed. But what I was looking for was the one book that could serve as the manual or textbook for those with a calling to leading worship.  My search has ended.

In "How To Lead Worship Without Being a Rock Star", Dan Wilt has crafted a values-based approach to the calling, development and practice of worship leading. As the title indicates, Wilt is as concerned with answering the question of why to lead worship as he is to how. Right from the start, the author identifies the 800lb gorilla in church music: the fact that leadership of sacred worship has collided with the "American Idol" pop-culture on the Sunday morning music platforms of churches around the world. Wilt's pithy phrase brings these tensions into crystal clear focus in his introduction:

Excitement and danger - that is the privilege of worship leading.1

From that place, the book takes the reader on an eight chapter course that will engage all the necessary components of development to bring a person through detailed information, study, evaluation and questioning- all as a means to growth into worship leadership. The first chapter drills deep into the subject of why we worship and why leading is a part of local church expression of worship. This flows nicely into the second chapter which continues to carve out the foundations by addressing the core values that we must have undergirding our understanding and practice of worship leading. The final foundation stone of his book comes in chapter three, which is titled "The Character of the Worship Leader", in which the reader is made to face the hard questions of motivation, calling and desires in their hopes of participation in leading worship. These first three chapters are worth the cost of the book on their own, and as someone who has worked for years at developing other worship leaders the importance and value of these foundations can't be overlooked.

Chapters four and five kick into practical guidance on the skills, planning, practices and thinking behind great worship leading. Chapter four focuses on the functions, techniques and skills of the worship leader and chapter five drills down on the leadership of a worship band. Chapter six deals with the pastoral relationship and the role of mentorship as you help others in growing in worship leading. Chapter seven culminates this practical guidebook approach by articulating excellent points to helping you in "Becoming a Great Worship Leader". The final chapter revisits the main points of the book and returns the reader to foundational concepts of values that undergird this book.

Dan Wilt's book is as virtual "course in a book" on worship leading 101. If you are looking for a rock solid manual to help with teaching the foundational values of worship leading along with the essentials of practical worship ministry, you have struck gold with "How To Lead Worship..." by Dan Wilt. I would especially recommend this to those of you who may be training, mentoring or leading other worship leaders (whether Sunday morning or small groups)-- this is the one manual that can help you and those that you are mentoring! Because the book is laid out in eight distinct sessions (including salient points, chapter discussion questions and summaries), you can use it as you "ready-to-use" study that both you and your trainee will learn from. Wilt has used his years as a local church worship leader, pastor, college professor and mentor to worship leaders around the world to inform his very practical approach to creating and developing this manual- and it shines through.

There are certainly more things to learn and technical concepts to be drilled down on as a worship leader develops, but this book should be at the starting point as a foundational course text for churches, worship departments, and Christian colleges everywhere. It is practical, readable, honest, values-centered and encouraging! Get a copy of this physical printed book in your hands now! While it will be life-changing for the beginner, it can also serve as a great structural inspection for the values and operational architecture of those already operating in the call of worship leading.

Book Link: http://bit.ly/1a3U5w9

Review by Kim Gentes

1. Wilt, Dan (203). How To Lead Worship Without Being a Rock Star: an 8 week study.  (Page 4). Wild Pear Creative.

Many of us didn't grow up in a traditional church background. We had heard of Jesus as children, but only remembered his figure on a felt flannel board in our few visits to church. We knew he died, but weren't quite sure how that mattered to us. When we later became followers of Jesus, it took a while to learn the new bespoke lingo. After a few years of being Christians, we felt too embarrassed to admit we still hadn't figured out the seasonal words like lent, passion week and advent. (I was a Christian 10 years before finding out lent had nothing to do with that stuff in my pocket, passion week had nothing to do with earthly desires and advent didn't sound very "adventurous" at all)

If we had dug deeper, we'd have found out that those words were just a capstone to a world of devotion that could transfix the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Christ and the celebrations of the historic church across an entire calendar year. For almost two thousand years, the church has remembered this story of Christ and his followers not just by historical writings, but by participation. This remembering by participation is the crux of Christian liturgy and the Christian calendar.

In "Rise: An Eight Day Easter Devotional", Dan Wilt (author, teacher, speaker, radio host) crafts a planned but luscious menu for the soul of the Christian, feeding them through the Passion week. If this devotional is a menu, each day is a meal- and a full meal it is! Beginning at Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter), Wilt lays out a daily devotional that brings you through to Easter Sunday with clear purpose and rich understanding. Each day's devotional contains an introductory paragraph, a short scripture quotation, a concise devotional teaching, a brief reflective prayer and a summary question. And while the devotional resource has an inspiring aesthetic, the beauty of this booklet is its terse format woven around such a deeply meaningful prose.

The devotional is just twenty pages in length, but begins smartly by opening the reader to an understanding of the language of what Easter is, and even an historical and scriptural sketch of its significance. Having personally walked through the devotional myself, I found each day a significant encounter for my mind and heart to engage with God. As Wilt says in his prose, "Baptism has always been the perfect visual for what happens when the Easter story becomes our own", so it is in this devotional. One becomes engaged not through the accumulation of good teaching (though that is here). Rather it is through the participation in which the believer is guided that this devotional springs to life.

Through this daily journey you will learn to see the triumphal entry, turn the table on idolatry, wait in the right way, make worship lavish, feast on the last supper, enter the cross, live between the times and rise with Christ to life! This resource is concise, and so is my recommendation- engage with this devotional! It is excellent!

 If you have the privilege of reading a printed version already provided through your church (and many thousands of you already do), I encourage you to take it in daily through this week. Even if you haven't begun yet- start now! I am going to be re-using this for regular reflection times throughout the year.

If you don't have access to a printed version of the devotional, you can purchase a digital copy here:

http://bit.ly/15OfpDD

The "Rise: An Eight Day Easter Devotional" is a produced and distributed through Vineyard Resources, but is applicable and useable for any biblical Christian or group.

Risen in Christ,

Kim Gentes

Review of "Naturally Supernatural" by Gary Best

View more about Gary Best.

Gary Best

Over the last 25 years, I have had the opportunity to meet Gary Best only a few times. Each time, Gary has continued to live out his desire to train others, to see the kingdom of God expand and to see the love of God reach the hurting. Gary's book, "Naturally Supernatural" is written to help explain the process of praying for others and living a naturally supernatural life that exemplifies his understanding and practice of that kingdom of God teaching.

Since I first met him in 1987, Gary was the first person I knew of that used the term "Naturally Supernatural". The book title seemed appropriate when I heard it. It's a phrase that has since been used elsewhere, but none more fittingly than the no-hype, low pressure, but faith-building and love-centered approach that is unique to Gary. In this respect he the best of what he represents from his Vineyard tradition- solid biblical examination of the working of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and kingdom of God (i.e. continuationist) theology.

Gary Best served as the National Director for the Association of Vineyard Churches, Canada and oversaw the Pacific Rim theatre for AVC missions. He has traveled extensively, speaking in conferences throughout North America. Europe and Asia. He is married to Joy. He was the founding pastor of the Langley Vineyard Christian Fellowship, BC. Five congregations developed out of the church during their leadership. Gary and Joy now reside in New Brunswick, Canada, where they oversee the Dominion Hill retreat center near St. Andrews, NB.

Gary continues to travel and speak on "Naturally Supernatural" and other topics of ministry. I highly encourage you to contact Gary if you are interested in inviting him as a guest, speaker or conference leader. I've been to a number of events he has led and they are some of the best, most impactive events for equipping churches and their leaders.

For more info on Gary Best, his teaching and ministry, go to naturallysupernaturalthebook.wordpress.com .

Let me share a true story with you.

It was 1987. I was visiting friends in Surrey, BC, Canada. One night, they invited me to go to a church class on praying for the sick. I went. At the end, the leader announced it was 'clinic time'. He invited sick people to get prayer. Brave man, I thought. He asked each person what was wrong, and taught others to pray for them. One person had to literally whisper because his throat had swollen so much over the last few days, it was causing him to barely be able to speak. The leader stopped, like he wasn't sure what to do. He looked at the class and said "Jesus often healed from compassion. Let's see who the Lord puts His compassion in their heart for this man."

As soon as he said the word "heart", my heart took one giant beat, feeling as if it was going to explode out of my chest. I'd never experienced this before. At the same time this happened I involuntarily and immediately gasped for air. The leader turned and looked straight at me.

"Oh no," I thought. I wasn't sure what was happening to me, but I didn't think it had anything to do with the meeting and I hadn't meant to get his attention. I quickly said out loud, "Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you."

"No, that's ok. What happened?" he asked. I explained that the moment he said the word heart my own chest felt like it was going to explode. He smiled and asked me to come to the front to pray for the man. I was unsure and not filled with faith. After a few moments of following his instructions and praying for the old man with the throat problem, the man's eyes got wide and excited. He smiled, and his eyes began to tear up. He started speaking. The swelling had gone down and he was feeling completely better. I was shocked.

This was my first time meeting Gary Best. From that time forward, my life has been changed with a desire and faith see God's kingdom become present in my life. I became aware that God's love was ready to intervene, to heal and to confront the evil of this world with the power of His Spirit. This book clearly articulates the main points of Gary's thesis- that the Good News of the gospel of Jesus is really "good news"; and that we are to join in the mission of Jesus and the early disciples to see that same good news demonstrated today.

The book is well written and very easy to follow. Beginning with Gary's personal story of his reluctant introduction to the "Naturally Supernatural", the author traces through the gospel of Mark and explores the challenges of the equally confounded first century apostles who found stepping out in faith as mystifying, yet necessary, if they were going to follow Christ. The author explores a logical progression of his own building faith through trial and error as the book teaches the reader about the gifts, seeing what God sees, prayer, empowerment, reaching out and persevering.

The content and personal exploration (and humility) of the author with the topics make the book not only easy to read but enjoyable. If you are the type of person that is skeptical about "healing", I'd recommend this book to you. Not because it argues indepth about theological points and wins the day, but because it balances nicely between the concepts, the scriptural underpinnings and personal examples. More than any other book I've read, "Naturally Supernatural" clearly articulates the passionate, yet thoughtful approach that is the main-stay of the Vineyard church's kingdom of God approach to ministry. What makes the book wonderfully Christ-centered, in my opinion, is it's unrelenting focus on God's love. As Best puts it:

"Our great encouragement," I told them, "is that we can't heal anyone. If anything is to happen, the critical factor will be God's faithfulness. What we can do, however, is love and then simply reach for all that God will gift us to do."1

Gary Best never allows the gifts become the "toy" or trophy of his teaching or practice. In "Naturally Supernatural", the place of healing and all supernatural gifts are the subordinated functionaries given to spread the good news of God's love to a broken world.

After reading through this book, I realized how much of Gary's teaching had been a lifelong dedication to seeing God's good news become reality for others. What I had encountered back in 1987 was just a sample of how God has continued to use Gary over the last 25 years and, by God's grace on his continued ministry, travel and writing, the good news of Jesus has been flourishing.

If you haven't read this book, I strongly encourage you to get it and read it. Very good, and very worthwhile!

Let me end with another personal story.

I just finished reading Gary Best's "Naturally Supernatural". That night, my family decided to drive to a small chicken stop in northeast Nashville (a unique place called "Prince's Hot Chicken Shack", very spicy). While we were eating, a lady walked by our table, talking across the room to a friend about her recent battle with cancer. When we were done eating, my son Jared told me he felt like he should pray for the lady before we left. I encouraged him to go with that compassion. My other son, Jordan, joined him. They approached the lady and soon were welcomed at her table. They listened intently, and with compassion, to the lady's story of her battle with cancer. Then they prayed with compassion and asked God to heal her completely. She began to tear up and hugged Jared. Other members of the table shook his hand and embraced him as well. My sons had prayed in faith, taken a risk of showing love to a stranger, and left trusting that God's faithfulness would have to prevail for the woman to be healed. As a parent, you're never quite sure how your "words of wisdom" are being heard by your kids. But the things I'd been introduced to in 1987 have impacted my life and, later, that of my children. And what I have continued to learn, my sons had been learning too.

What encourages me about Gary's book is that it's message is something that can be a teaching tool and lens through which people can better understand the kingdom of God and its practical application of the good news of Jesus.

If you are interested in reading something that will encourage you in learning about those things, I strongly encourage you to consider this book.

Amazon Link : http://amzn.to/13XrKcn

 or 

Order from the author directly at : naturallysupernaturalthebook.wordpress.com

Also, if you are interested in more about the author, or contacting him you can do so at this link: Gary Best.

In Christ's love,
Kim Gentes

1. Best, Gary (2005-03-01). Naturally Supernatural (Kindle Locations 1290-1291). Vineyard International Publishing. Kindle Edition.

The last few days has had me pouring through a book that is proving to be a great resource for worship leaders, pastors, and worshipers alike. The book is titled "To Know You More" and it is written by Andy Park. The reading is very easy, but the content isn't fluff. So many other books on the topic of worship and worship leading are just more volleys in the ongoing debate of the "worship wars", but Andy Park rises far above those entanglements with "To Know You More".

View an interview with Andy Park.

An Interview with Andy Park, Author, Songwriter and Worship Leader

Q: Briefly explain your start as a worship leader.
Andy Park: I started worship leading when I was seventeen years old. I was in my first year of studies at UCLA and had just begun to enter into a real relationship with Jesus. Playing the guitar wasn't the most challenging part of worship leading-I had already been playing guitar for about six years. Singing in public was a challenge. So, with a good dose of fear and trembling, I jumped in with both feet. I learned all kinds of songs, devouring everything I heard from other worship leaders. I started leading worship in a small group among college students.

Q: What did you learn to do and NOT to do as a worship leader?
Andy: There are lots of things I've learned not to do, mostly by trial and error. For one thing, I've learned to choose songs that I have adopted as my own language for worship. I hear all kinds of great songs performed by other people. But I don't use a song in worship times unless it strongly resonates with my heart and connects me to God. It has to be something that I personally want to say to God and to the church. And it has to be in a musical style that works for me.

I've also learned over and over again to get the focus off myself and onto God. It's so easy to fall into the trap of introspection and performance versus worship. I try to stay away from evaluating the quality of a worship time based on how good it made me feel. It's really not about my feeling good, it's about approaching God with faith, singing honest prayer-songs and proclaiming truth.

Q: What would you say is the most difficult aspect of being a worship leader? What can you do to overcome it or work through it?
Park: The most difficult aspect of being a worship leader is dealing with the reality of living "between the times." We live in the age in which Jesus has unleashed the authority of his kingdom on earth. We see the outworking of his power in many ways-broken lives are turned around and healed. In worship, the Holy Spirit brings peace, joy and a striking revelation of God's power and beauty. But we haven't arrived at the point in history when the blessings of the kingdom are with us in unlimited measure.

So here's the rub-the windows of heaven aren't always thrown open in our earthly worship times. In the best of worship times we see so clearly and drink so deeply of the wine of the Spirit! And many times we feel disconnected from God. When you've drunk deeply the sweet wine of heaven in worship, it's hard to be satisfied with a "grape juice" worship time.

To deal with this tension, I remind myself that worship is all about faithfulness-doing, praying and singing what I know is right-no matter how much of God I can feel at a given moment.

Q: What does it mean to cultivate the heart of a worship leader? How does that happen?
Andy: It's all about a lifestyle. Surrounding yourself with people who love God. Immersing yourself in a culture that is saturated with all kinds of "God-things." Lots of worship, teaching, great books. What you pour into your heart and mind will come out in your worship "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do" (Prov. 4:23). The one most important thing about leading worship is your heart. Also, to cultivate a heart of worship, we must be doing acts of worship. Serving the poor, the church, our family and friends.

Regarding cultivating the art of worship leading, that involves watching others do it and then doing it yourself. If you can, try to get some personal input from experienced people. But don't wait for the perfect mentor. Make it your responsibility to take initiative to expand your box of worship. Try new things, and ask for input from your pastors. See what works; see how the people respond. See what seems to lead people right into God's throne room. Also, so much of being a good worship leader is being a good people-person. You have to care for people along the way of developing a musical worship style. All of these issues are addressed in To Know You More.

Q: Describe the purpose of and your hope for To Know You More.
Andy: Over the past 15 years I've done over a hundred worship seminars. Since my traveling schedule is limited, I wanted to pass on in written form the things I've learned. For many years I've felt that one of my primary tasks should be to "teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others" (2 Tim. 2:2). It's not that I've come up with reams of groundbreaking new information. Lots of the content of the book is timeless truth from God's Word applied to our contemporary worship setting.

In my seminars and in the book, I've simply taught what I've learned from experience. (And I'm still learning). For those who are new to this model of worship, there may be all kinds of new insights that are gained. I hope and expect there will be helpful insights in these pages for people from all kinds of different worship traditions. For some, the heart behind the worship model will be the most helpful, while for others, the practical how-to's and examples will answer their most pressing questions.

Q: What does this book offer pastors and other church leaders?
Andy: Understanding a worship leader's world is essential for the pastor who wants to nurture and cultivate musical worship leaders. I think this book will help church leaders understand the challenges facing a worship leader and give some advice for supporting and guiding the worship leader. Having healthy co-worker relationships is huge in developing a vital worship ministry.

There is also an applied theology of worship peppered throughout the book that address a pastor's concerns for balance and depth. Key values and priorities, with the Bible as a foundation, provide the non-negotiables for the worship practices of a local church. If a church leadership team is on the same page regarding the goals and boundaries of worship, it's much easier to build a worship ministry and sustain it over the long haul.

---

Andy Park is a co-pastor and worship leader at the Surrey Vineyard. He has led worship in small and medium churches as well as megachurches and large conferences. He is also a songwriter whose credits include In The Secret (I Want to Know You), Precious Child, My Delight, Only You, The River Is Here, Blessed Be The Name, We Will Ride, Yahweh, Yet I Will Praise, and Wonder Working God and he has led worship on numerous Vineyard recordings, including The River is Here, Blessed Be the Name and All I Need. Andy lives with his wife, Linda, and eight children in Surrey, B.C., Canada.

This book is many things. First, it is the most concise practitioners guidebook (especially in the area of pastoral development of the leader) ever written on the topic of contemporary worship leading. In contrast to other works by contemporary worship leaders, Park is exceptionally well thought as a pastor, while still maintaining the perspective and personal experience of an excellent musician and songwriter.

Also, the book is written with some excellent scriptural depth. Andy Park has the unique perspective of having served years as both a worship leader, pastor and senior pastor in various churches (big and small). He speaks candidly about the experiences of each role related to worship. While having a thorough grasp of Biblical underpinnings for his life's work, he is able to communicate scriptural truth from both reference text and real life. A rare combination to be sure.

But "To Know You More" is as much a story as it is a textbook. Conveying the life one of the most prolific worship writers in our time, this story is one we can all enjoy and learn from. From the endorsements of the all the well-known personalities (M. Redman, B. Doerksen, etc) that speak of the honesty of this book, I can assure you they must have also read the book. I would venture to say that you might even find this book too honest at times, because it will squarely challenge you on your own motivation.

Because Andy Park is so well known, I am sure many of you will be interested in this new book right off. But others may just be hearing for the first time about him. To help you get acquainted with him, we have also published a recent interview with Andy Park right on the website. To see an overview, list of features, and table of contents of the book, check out his book at the Amazon link below.

Also, remember to check out the new online interview with Andy Park.

This book should be required reading for all worship leaders and pastors. Really.

Run, don't walk, to get a copy of this great worship resource! This is such a great resource, I am giving it the Editor's Choice Award, and it is very deserving.

Amazon Link:  http://amzn.to/o6p4OU

Blessings in the Father,
Kim Gentes