I’ve completed giving the entire song list from the conference over the past three entries. Now for some random thoughts on the conference:
*I don’t know how we can have many more register for this event. We were right around 1250 and we couldn’t even let the choir come down from the choir loft. We had folks standing around in the mall area and had to sit chairs out along the back of the floor level of the Auditorium. Added to that number were portions of our approx. 1000 Grace Life folks--it made for a tightly-knit group, for sure!
*I’ve been asked if the music for the sessions is typical of a service at Grace Life and the answer is “yes”. I don’t change much of anything concerning the music for our conferences (True Church, Reality Check, etc.). If I had to change anything, that would mean that there’s something wrong with the way we do it Sunday-to-Sunday….
*I’m so glad Voddie joined me for the Music Q & A. Leading up to the conference, I just couldn’t get a sense that we were even supposed to DO one. But once Voddie agreed to join me as a panelist, I knew it would be worth it. We were overwhelmed with the response! We had folks standing outside the choir room just trying to listen in. The Music Q & A is included in the True Church Conference CD packs.
*”God Of Grace, God Of Love” was the song of the conference. Bro. Jeff had mentioned to me in passing about opening the conference in a similar fashion as we had done the two previous years with an a capella solo leading into the opening song—with this year’s song being the hymn “Show Pity Lord”. We sang that hymn at last year’s conference with lots of good feedback. However, I felt like something would be missing by opening it with the hymn in that basic form. The arrangement idea came to me about three weeks out from the conference and then the refrain also came to me at that time. We threw it together quickly and wow! I’m glad we did! Speaking of “God Of Grace, God Of Love”…
*We were totally unprepared for the slam we got on the sheet music. I had asked Jeff Kitchens, one of our Music Department workers, to put out one copy of about ten songs that I had written in case one or two might sell. I underestimated a wee bit. Hundreds of copies sold and Jeff could hardly keep up with printing them! We are working on developing a new website which will make it possible to download our original sheet music.
*A lot of folks took home the 2008 True Church Conference CD’s. I pray that it will be a source of edification to those who took one home. If you haven’t gotten your copy, you can do so at the top right of this page or click here.
*I love getting to spend time with these great preachers. I can’t get enough of Bros. Voddie Baucham, Conrad Mbewe, Jonathan Sims, David Miller, and, of course, our Pastor. I didn’t get to see much of Paul Washer. He was busy getting mobbed at the HeartCry booths the entire conference!
*I couldn’t do what I do without great people working in our department. My assistant, Marlaina Steien, our music librarian, Kristi Wiggington, and our intern and orchestrator, Jeff Kitchens, do so much behind the scenes that I couldn’t adequately thank them. Bro. Jeff’s wife, Pam, who plays the piano, does so much musically to augment the direction of the song services….the musicians and the choir who faithfully minister wonderfully reflect the gospel and vindicate the pulpit. I am a very blessed man to partner with these dear brothers and sisters….
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