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Letters
May 29, 2006 Once again, we have a larger-than-normal amount of letters—mostly dealing with the Apostolic Music issue. Obviously this has either struck at people’s frustrations or a passion of theirs. Regardless of why you wrote, we thank you for sharing your ideas and views—that is what this zine is all about! More importantly, it can start a movement for change in this area. For further postings and comments on Apostolic Music don’t miss out on Lee Ann’s blasé attitude, Collideoscope’s thoughts and views, and Chantell’s tortured take in “Month in the Life.” It’s not enough to be dissatisfied, it’s important that we offer solutions, as some of our letter writers did below. Enjoy!
Re: “The State of Apostolic Music...How Bad is It?” I personally believe that we have all that we need. We have the talent both as vocalists and as musicians. We have the anointing that sets us apart. We have the added dedication of holiness, and we know how to yield to the presence of God. However, what we do not have as an organization is a means of recording, producing, and mass-marketing our material. I believe that we are as good as, if not better than, most mainstream artists. (I personally cannot hold a note past 2.5 seconds) However, I do beat a mean drum! :) We, as an organization need to invest in a top-quality recording studio for our singers and musicians. We need our own label. My wife sings like a pro. She is an awesome singer. She has been asked many, many times “Why don’t you make a CD?” Well as stated by Sis. (Courtney) Ballestero, It would take us selling our furniture, and buying tons of peanuts and working the saints of our church silly to get the job done. We need to invest in our own! My opinion is worth how much? Pastor Rick J. Musick, Texas
“Marilynne Robinson’s Comment” I don’t know who Marilynne Robinson is, but, boy! do I agree with her! David Agriesti, Ohio (Editor’s Note: The link is to our coverage about Robinson from the Festival of Faith and Writing, while the quote he’s referring to is from the home page this week: “The problem with contemporary worship is that it is synonymous with mediocrity. It’s not that the music is new; it’s that the music is poor. It’s not that the lyrics are new; it’s that they are almost ridiculously poor. People are smart: they know when they’re being condescended to.” Marilynne Robinson, 2005 Pultizer-Prize winner
Re: “Apostolic Music....” Well I can’t think where to begin to discuss this subject. I’ll guess I’ll start by letting you know where I’m coming from. I own and operate Synergy Media 7. A sound, lighting, video, and recording company I have provided the aforementioned services for things such as Youth Congress (Phillips Arena 2001 and Nashville 2003) as well as sound and lighting for smaller things like IBC Music Fest down to the smallest tent revivals. And I have come to the realization that as Apostolics we have become great copycats! As a for instance, at this year’s Music Fest the tables were loaded with CDs from very different types of artists but you could find the same songs on most of the CDs—and I don’t mean the same style of songs, I mean the same titles just performed by the different artist. I attribute much of this to the way we just follow (usually a year or two behind) “popular” music. Look at our praise and worship services how often do you have a song service of all “original” material? So enough of the complaining what to do about it? Push the envelope! Let’s skip all of the mediocrity that has befallen all of our church services, put our money where our mouth is, and start putting out great material that people (20somethings and the like) will want to listen to! Also, as 20somethings youth pastors they need to make it available to our youth by inviting these groups to perform at youth service and host concerts that our youth will be proud of. I have been blessed to be able to be a part of a church that, for lack of better terms, will sometimes “buck the system.” Ten years ago my youth pastor came to me and told me of a vision about a concert called “Inferno” and he let me design the lighting and sound for it. We even had pyrotechnics during the concert! Can you believe they let me blow stuff up in church 10 years ago! Inferno has grown beyond belief. And the anointing is there and the spirit falls and young people come to the Lord. And to this day we are allowed to still push the envelope and make a bigger and better show each year. I think we, as Apostolics, lose sight of our intended audience—the lost of this world (remember them?). I mean, it’s great that we might get invited to sing at Youth Congress and perform in front of our peers and possibly make a couple of bucks by selling our CDs. But it’s time to start a grass roots marketing campaign to reach the lost of this world by using these Apostolic artist at our local gatherings where our youth can invite their friends and not be embarrassed when someone like the Magruders show up and play southern gospel. When I was growing up (And I’ll start to show my age here) Stryper was the coolest Christian rock group out there; it was the only, and I do mean only, way to hear rock style music with a positive message. And I remember all of the parents getting together to discuss what to do about this rock music all of the youth was listening to. Because, after all, you can get a good message with rock music right! Anyway after much talk about burning our cassettes and other varied way to rid our youth group of this maniac, my grandmother Ruby Newman got up and said there is no bad music only bad messages and we have to look at the message not the messenger. After that my mom never complained again when I was cranking up Stryper and “rocking out” to a good message. That being said I know most of the people “in charge” are not going to like the style of music, but as Apostolics we can take any style of music and put our message into it and deliver it to the people who otherwise would never come to our churches. We must put on concerts that youth and 20somethings will want to come to and this must be done with a spirit of excellence because the world doesn’t do things half-way and neither should we. That being said, I will be the first to put my money where my mouth is. I own recording studios here in Michigan and I will cut my rate in half for anyone who wants to record. And I’m not talking about a little home studio. You will use our Studio A and have any gear you see in “Nashville” I will help any artist put out a top-notch product as well as help with the publishing and marketing of their product. Also, any youth pastors out there please contact me about any events you may have coming up; you may not be able to put on an “Inferno.” but there is no reason not to make it at least a little bit exciting for your youth. There are lots of companies across the U.S. that can provide low-cost special effects, lighting, and sound. I can put you in touch with them! And I hope the people in charge of all of the bigger conferences will step out on a limb and bring in some of these artist that aren’t mainstream, but do appeal to those we are trying to reach. I apologize for all of the rambling and if I have offended anyone by my comments please forgive me. Dan Newman, Michigan
Re: “Becoming Invisible...” I think every Sunday school teacher, regardless of age, should read this! These basic concepts are what most Sunday school teachers miss in connecting with today’s youth. I thought it was really great! Katie Jackson, Michigan
Re: “Pentecostal Divorce” Sometimes, despite our best efforts, divorce does happen. This is a wonderful article that honestly addresses an often-ignored problem. It might be an interesting series to follow Mrs. Becker as she copes with the aftermath of divorce, learns to be a single mom, and reconnects with Jesus. I don’t know if she would be interested in baring her soul like that, but I’d like to know how things turn out for her. Janette Mobley, Florida
Re: “Apostolic Music - How bad is it?” In reading the letters this week about this subject, I noticed a lot of people feel that too many churches refuse to acknowledge new styles because they are “worldly.” This is true. I think elders or traditionalist need to be reminded that early Pentecostals music was very cutting edge. Contemporary religions considered our music, and while we’re at it our worship, vulgar. Our music was too “fast” to be appropriate for a church. But our music is what drew people too us. In early Pentecost church was held in a tent. So anyone passing by could hear, and they heard something different. Not only was it anointed, it was lively and exciting and different. We were culturally relevant. Music is not made holy or anointed by the way the drum beats or what instruments are used, but by the singer and musicians being in submitted to God. We once had cutting-edge music, we were the liberals and non-conformist. I fail to see how today is different. If it was good enough then, it’s good enough now. How did the song go, “Give me that old time religion, give me that old time religion, give me that old time religion, its good enough for me.” Maybe we need to look at those words in a different light. Jolene Price, Louisiana
Praise the Lord, I have been praying for some time that God would raise up a people who would preach and teach on the Gospels. Especially on the teachings of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It has been several years since I heard a sermon on the teachings of Jesus. Thank you and may God bless you and your work. May it touch every pastor in every church and spread throughout all of USA, and the world. God Bless you. Lucille McMillan, Virginia
Re: “Romance without Dating - A Godly Alternative” Ditto, Robin. I couldn’t have said it better myself. Any update to give us?” Rebecca Newton, Oklahoma
Re: “The State of Apostolic Music” In my mind the reason so much Apostolic music is ignored by Apostolics is because it is more of the same of what we have heard from Sunday school to Youth Congress. There is a uniformity of thought that pervades our movement, in a term, it’s called group-think! But you asked for solutions not complaints. The solution (ninetyandnine.com is a start) is to open up the lines of communication and debate on all things considered untouchable in our movement, including doctrine and music. I can imagine that the creatives among us often feel limited by the parameters of our inflexible ideas. Considering a different point of view is not necessarily acceptance, and if some minds are stretched along the way . . .great. Contemplation is often the birthplace of creativity. As one creative thinker put it “A mind once stretched never returns to its previous dimensions.” or something like that. Freedom of thought will produce better artist, better songs, and better Apostolics. Scot A. Loyd, Arkansas
Re: “Apostolic Music” The Apostolic music has lost its soul. Their organ is hid or the sound is turned down. The baby grand is hid. The choirs sing generic music. You can go into just about any Apostolic church and you’d think you were in just another Charismatic, Baptist, Methodist Church. The music and the choirs of the seventies were the best. We’ve lost our soul. Bring the soul back, the organ, the baby grand, the choirs of soul, especially the organ played by someone who still has soul. Dave Barnhill, Texas
Re: “Pentecostal Divorce: My New Reality” I applaud Jody for putting her name to this soul-bearing article; that in itself takes much courage. I am thankful to read that she allowed the situation not to jade or destroy her, but to drive her back into God’s arms and into renewed relationship with Him. Being a now-grown child of divorced parents, I experienced first-hand the pieces of a broken family, and am sensitive to its life-long effects on myself and others. The term “Pentecostal Divorce,” however, does not sit well with me. Jody’s article would have carried just as much weight had it been simply titled, “Divorce: My New Reality.” Just because something occurs within a church with the term “Pentecostal” on their sign doesn’t mean that the term “Pentecostal” may somehow be applied to it. To be sure, there are things that happen in our churches that are not “Pentecostal,” and should not be so labeled. Russ Faubert, Michigan
RE: Apostolic Music “Me and my mom were just talking about this and it is so true. I am a young Pentecostal artist and I travel singing mostly to non-Apostolics. It kinda makes me sad that the Pentecostals don’t really want me because I am different. But on the plus, I get to witness to kids all around the USA and the best part is they like that heavy side, but all the adults love it for the holy—it’s like a win-win. It would be awesome to see more Apostolics getting out of the box. My music has got the two sides though—my new CD actually is called The Heavy and the Holy. Half of it is rocky stuff and the other half is well Holy. But anyways good article! Kristyn Leigh, Kentucky
Re: “The Future of the Apostolic Movement: The People of Principle” The principles you advocate are good advice for all believers. I am not of your group. I read this researching a new channel on the G3C satellite I am curious about. God bless your Service. Charles Carden, Florida
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