Tommy Walker is no stranger to song writing and worship leading.  I met him at GMA in Nashville a few weeks ago at the top of the hotel elevator.  He gave me a firm little nudge, wondering why his album hadn't shown up on PraiseCharts yet.  We love Tommy Walker and I know that thousands of our worship leaders love his music.  This album, I Have A Hope, kind of represents a new beginning for Tommy, back in the fold with Maranatha Music.  I've heard lots of rumors that this is his best album ever - and that says a lot, considering the giant songs he has written in the past.

Not long ago, my wife and I visited a large church on a Sunday morning. We arrived just in time to get our cappuccinos and to find a good seat on the back row. The service kicked off with an amazing worship team that started the morning off in loud high-energy form. We entered tried to enter into worship with them. Being a worship leader myself, I can understand what goes into organizing a team of that size. They had great musicians, amazing singers, and the sound quality was first-rate.  The whole experience led me to think, “what about all of the small to mid-size churches that don’t have all of those blessings?”  I immediately began brainstorming ways to help equip these smaller churches. Here are some of my suggestions for the “Budget-impaired” church.

When people refer to me these days, it is often in the context of ‘you’re the guy who wrote that song we sing in our church’. While this may be true on the surface, I do not think of myself as being a song writer. I know. It sounds crazy coming from a guy who has written several thousand songs! A much better moniker for me – one that better describes who I am – is that of song receiver. How did I get to that place of self-identity? What does it mean to be a song receiver?

The worship service can be presented and viewed in numerous ways; but what is the right Biblical way? How are our worship services perceived by the unchurched and de-churched in our Western Culture and Post Christian society in America? Are we authentically showing up to worship God and to share the Gospel or are we merely putting on a show?

Charlie Matz, a filmmaker with The Veracity Project, tells his personal story of God calling him to be a filmmaker. This inspiring story will offer hope and encouragement to all aspiring artists to fulfill the unique calling God has given them. Charlie’s story of passion and purpose is everyone’s story: When God calls, you go.