The brand new If you get the magazine, check out his two-page spread on pages 66-67.
Amidst his profile and a sample set list from a Sojourn Gathered worship service, you’ll find a Q&A interview. Here are some of his quotes from the Q&A:
On Sojourn’s biggest challenge in adapting the hymns of Isaac Watts:
Bridging the language gap was often difficult. English has changed significantly in the last 250 years, and we had to decide at some point in the process that it was okay to get pretty radical in changing and adapting the lyrics for the sake of comprehensibility.
On songwriting and choosing songs for corporate worship:
Songwriting (and song-choosing as a worship leader) is a pastoral task. It’s an amazing moment in our week when we (the congregation) allow someone else (the worship leaders) to put words in our mouth. Where else do we do that?
On the biggest lesson he’s learned in leading worship:
I had some radical eye-opening a few years ago when I spent a season in the book of Hebrews. I learned that our job is actually pretty simple. The hardest work — making a way for people to come before God — was already done in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our job is to lead in a way that makes it clear that Jesus is our worship leader. We don’t have to “lead people to the throne room” (as people often say), we just need to point them to Jesus.
Glad to see an article about someone who understands worship and what it means to lead worship in Worship Leader Mag.
It’s not all bad, but enough junk for me to cancel my super cheap subscription…if they have more stuff like this I might have to consider re-upping…
Thank you for reminding readers that Jesus is the Worship Leader. (Heb 2:12) Our gymnastics take us nowhere if they do not lead solely to the sufficient Christ.
Hi Rich, thank you for your insight on the content of the magazine. I know it wasn’t meant for me, but it sure caught my eye.
I’d like to know what exactly are you referring to with the term “junk”? I don’t mind the term at all, because all thoughtful feedback is always welcome.
please forgive this moment of slight defense, though, in the past few issues we have had theologians like Hughes Oliphant Old, Mark Noll (one of the top 20 most influential American Christians according to Time magazine), full issues dedicated to the mediation of Christ (feature written by Dr. Robb Redman) and the role of the Trinity, and worship around the world. We are pretty proud of the past year’s content, and we were certainly honored to have Mike lend his voice to the conversation.
My guess is the inclusion of popular worship artists is what you consider the “junk”? Anyway, i usually don’t troll like this =) but the people in this community seem thoughtful and intentional, so i would be happy to hear your insights on the magazine’s content.
Jeremy (editor of WL mag)