Do You Ever Feel Like Giving Up?

There are times when ministry is easy. Details are in order. The plan is in place. The vision is cast. Nobody on your team is leaving. There’s no tension.

But there are also times where it’s a war to even show up. You don’t feel like doing it. You don’t feel appreciated. You know you aren’t doing the best job you can. There’s tension everywhere. People on your team are going to other churches. You think about giving up.

What do you do in those moments?

Here's what helps me:

1. Reconnect with the vision - When I feel off base, it's often because I've lost sight of the vision. Not just my vision but the vision of the church. It's important to get back to why we do what we do.

2. Encourage someone - When you're feeling down, there's nothing like stepping outside of yourself. Depression flourishes inside your own head. The more you can get out and encourage someone else, the more alive you will feel.

3. Connect with someone you admire - Do you know one of the biggest lessons I've learned after producing over 100 podcasts? The power of a great conversation. Oftentimes I'll be in such a big funk. But a well-timed conversation with someone further along than me, or someone I look up to can help lift me out and give me perspective. You don't have to produce a podcast to do this. Simply reach out via social media to connect with someone.

4. Do the next hard thing - This is massive for me. I get in a funk when I put off doing what I know needs to be done. Getting started on the next hard thing can lift the fog. What is it you know you need to do? Get started on the next step right now and watch the momentum surface.

5. Worship - There's nothing like getting in the presence of God and casting your cares on Him. I once heard a preacher say the best therapy session is worship. It changes your view. It puts your issues in proper perspective. Especially for worship leaders, this can't be overlooked.

By David Santistevan
Copyright © 2015 David Santistevan, All rights reserved. 
www.davidsantistevan.com.

Read More

BeatBuddy- Drum Foot Pedal

BeatBuddy was invented out of frustration at not being able to find a drum machine that enabled hands-free live control.  Other drum machines were either complicated table-top devices that are difficult, if not impossible, to control while jamming, or are poorly made afterthoughts in loopers that grant no control of a single repetitive beat loop -- no fills, no rhythm changes, no accent hits, no tap tempo, no pause/unpause feature, and of course no computer interface.

With detailed input from the musician community, the BeatBuddy was designed to be the perfect solution to this frustration: The power of a drum machine with the simplicity of a pedal.

BeatBuddy is the first drum machine in a guitar pedal format that enables full hands-free, creative control of the beat. Musicians can effortlessly insert fills, transition from verse to chorus, add accent hits, throw in drum breaks, and more, to create an unprecedented live drummer effect.

No programming is necessary: Included are ten hyper-realistic drum sets and 200 songs in a wide variety of genres.

For the advanced user, infinitely more songs and drum sets can be created with the included PC/Mac software, downloaded from our ever-expanding online library, or discovered and shared on the BeatBuddy Community Forum.

Featuring a first-of-its-kind visual display of the beat, BeatBuddy also makes it easy to improve rhythm or learn new time signatures.

It's the power of a drum machine with the simplicity of a pedal.

Overview

Company: Singular Sound

Product Name / Model: BeatBuddy

Gear for: Worship Leader, Guitarist, Keyboardist 

Features

10 realistic drum sets and 200 songs in a wide variety of genres.

Additional accessories like a MIDI interface cable and foot switches are available.

Free downloadable software to configure and customize songs and patterns.

Review

The BeatBuddy is a drum machine that's a foot pedal! It's the best tool for a guitarist or keyboard players that would like to add drums to worship but may not have a drummer. 

Perfect for a smaller church worship setting and is a perfect tool to help every worship team practice playing in time and enhance worship with simple drum.

Read More

TC Helicon playAcoustic

The TC Helicon playAcoustic is one of those products that every worship leader can benefit from. The playAcoustic offers specific features that will serve the worship leader and the sound crew in a way that will provide consistency each week. Churches often have a different sound crew each week and that can mean a different overall sound each week. With the playAcoustic the vocals of the worship leader will sound polished and more professional.

Overview

Company: TC Helicon

Product Name / Model: playAcoustic

Gear for: Worship Leader, Vocalist / Acoustic Guitarist

Features

Vocal features including Tone, Harmony, Reverb

Guitar effects with styles from Hall of Fame Reverb and Corona Chorus

BodyRez™ EQ, compression styles optimized for undersaddle piezo pickup acoustic guitars

Review

TC Helicon adds the acoustic guitar to its already popular foot pedals for vocalist into one box. The playAcoustic is one of those products that every worship leader can benefit from by offering specific features that will serve the worship leader and the sound crew in way that will provide consistency each week. Churches often have a different sound crew each week and that can mean a different overall sound each week. With the playAcoustic, the vocals of the worship leader will sound polished, more professional and consistent. Add the newest feature from TC Helicon called BodyRez and the sound of your guitar will be smoother, filled with natural tone and is always customizable with presets and  EQ. The unit has separate XLR outs for the vocal and guitar which will clean up the tuner, DI and vocal processors on stage. In addition, there is a ¼ inch AUX IN that can be used to add an MP3 player or another compatible device to the mix without a separate channel to the mixer. One of the biggest features in the playAcoustic is the ability to add reverb and harmony to the vocal. The sound tech won’t have to worry about the amount or style of reverb, it will be in the hands (foot) of the singer. The harmony feature in the foot pedal will add a little or a lot to a song. A touch of the third or fifth above can either help the other vocalists find a harmony better or add a lift to a chorus and bridge. Leading a small church or group using the playAcoustic will add professionally produced sound for both your guitar and vocals and add just enough harmony to enhance the creativity and energy of any song.

Read More

Small Churches are a BIG Part

So where do you fit?

If you're involved with a "small church" (300 or less people) then you're considered normal. 

Wow! I'm normal? 

Here are the facts:

• The average church in America has less than 300 people.
• 90% of the Protestant churches in America have less that 300 people.
• 59% of the Protestant churches in America have less that 100 people.

I've searched high and low and at this point I haven't found a resource online that would serve the "average" or "normal" leaders in a small church. Sure, there are the BIG resources out there but I'm a worship leader of a small church and know that being in a small church has its BIG challenges.
We have less money for the greatest equipment, limited volunteers (musicians, vocalists, tech support) and most of all we can become discouraged because of these limitations. But we serve a BIG God, right?

SmallChurchWorship.com is YOUR resource for things like Team Builder, Encouragement, Gear Reviews, Audio and Video aids, Musician and Vocal resources.

Let me know if you have any questions I can answer as we help each other be NORMAL but NOT AVERAGE for God.

Read More