An online magazine for pastors and church leaders.

Categories
Creative

Curating Beats Creating

I’m sorry for words that follow. They may hurt. I’m not even sure I like what I’m about to say. But I’m saying it: Sometimes art does more harm to the Church than good. What’s the difference between a vandalized wall and a wall in an art gallery? Both contain painted pieces. Both contain true […]

Categories
Creative

Your Creative Endeavor Will Wear You Out

Emotionally sapped. Physically wiped. Excited. Disappointed. Energized. Quicker to anger. Longer to grace. A little depressed. A little relieved. I?m not sure what you feel like as you labor through an artistic or creative endeavor, but the phrases above describe me. It?s crazy, really. This thing I get to do every day, this thing my […]

Categories
Creative Social Media

Curating a Visual Library

Before reading,?click here and ‘Like’ CreationSwap.com. If you’re into downloading thousands of high quality free church graphics, logos, photos and more, visit?CreationSwap.com.   One of my all-time favorite books is “The Art of Curating Worship: Reshaping the Role of Worship Leader,”?by New Zealander Mark Pierson. In his book, Mark offers up an idea: seeing the […]

Categories
Creative Social Media

Designing a Stage With What You Have

Before reading,?click here and ‘Like’ CreationSwap.com. If you’re into downloading thousands of high quality free church graphics, logos, photos and more, visit?CreationSwap.com.   I love to create beauty in black boxes. Stage design is an evolution within the Church to engage all the senses of its congregations. It?s something to create beauty and visual stimulation […]

Categories
Creative Social Media

Free Media You Should Know About

Before reading,?click here and ‘Like’ CreationSwap.com. If you’re into downloading thousands of high quality free church graphics, logos, photos and more, visit?CreationSwap.com. ?- This article is a bit older. Check out our updated list of free visual media resources here!? – ?- Start your engines and get ready to download, peeps! We?re hitting the free […]

Categories
Worship

Owning the Songs

?You can tell everybody, this is your song.? Inspiring words from the classic 1970?s Elton John ballad. As a worship leader, I have always had an appetite for seeking hidden treasure: great worship songs that no one else seems to be singing.? I?ve also written a handful of songs over the years. And, as I […]

Categories
Worship

Worship Album Reviews

Passion 2012 – White Flag The Passion movement has introduced some of the most influential modern worship songs in the past 10 years. This year?s release, “White Flag” is no different. I’ve been listening to and leading their songs ever since “One Day” released in 2001. The album kicks off with “Not Ashamed,” a song […]

Categories
Leadership

Leading the 4 Types of Creatives

One of my earliest leadership debacles took place when I was just a young twenty-something entrusted to manage my very first official employee.? I was so excited and eager to put my leadership strengths to work. But this employee of mine was simply not doing things the way that I wanted them done.? With an […]

Categories
Leadership

Seamless Services

You have been given about 1 hour each week during your worship experience to counter the 167 hours that our world is bombarding your community with. It’s your own David and Goliath story ? happening each weekend inside your local church. Sure, you might have been able to encourage a percentage of your church community […]

Categories
Technology

Making Musicians Love You

There are many battles in church on Sunday: What color will the nursery walls be? Which usher will get the coveted center isle? What greeter will have to stand in the rain or the comfort of the auditorium doorway? But the most heated battle on Sunday is really between the band and the sound mixer. […]

Categories
Technology

Getting a Consistent Mix from Different Techs

In ministry, we all experience good and bad weeks.? We hope everything goes as planned, but there are times when we crash and burn.? The fact remains that each week, people take the time to come to church and meet with God. As ministry leaders, it?s our job to facilitate that. We?re in the business […]

Categories
Communication & Marketing Social Media

Curating Your Communications

Remember those infomercials for the Showtime Rotisserie cooker? ?Just set it and forget it!? I think too many churches approach communications that way. ?Let?s set up a Facebook account! Let?s set up a Twitter account! A LinkedIn account! A Google+ account!? And so on… Each new social media and communications option brings new excitement and […]

Categories
Communication & Marketing Social Media

Curating Your User’s Experience

These days we hear a lot?about “UX” (user experience). We see job boards listing positions for?”UX Designs” and friends saying they are “user experience?designers.? What is?the user experience and what does in mean to you? Most people tend to think?about user experience in relation to a website or software product. But user?experience design isn’t limited […]