Getting to know....Kevin Howard (Chief Music Arranger of HOW)

Tell us how you got started in music? 

As a baby, I crawled first to the piano.  An aunt told my mom when I was born that I had piano fingers. I never remember a day where music wasn’t my life.  

First song ever played? 

When I was 6, I was a ring bearer in a wedding.  I came home from that wedding and sat down at the piano and played the wedding march.  My mom wanted to know who taught me and I told her that I heard it at the wedding.  She immediately started pursuing piano lessons for me.

 Favorite music class in college? 

I loved the master classes we would have for each student….it was interactive and we all had to play and critique each other.  It was pressure but pulled out the best in us. 

Which pianist/artist did you want to emulate most? 

In my early years I think Thomas Whitfield and Richard Smallwood were my biggest influences. 

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? 

London

 What is your favorite pastime?

Exploring DC on my days off (or any of the wonderful East Coast cities)

Favorite restaurant? 

This is hard…..I’ll just pick one….Emeril’s.

 Favorite food city in the world?

New Orleans

 We’ve heard your favorite type of food is Mexican. So tell us…Favorite taco shop?

Torchy’s!   At my funeral, I want y'all to cry around my casket, shout when the choir sings, and then party with Mexican Food for hours afterwards!!  I can eat it 24/7.....There is this big deal about "authentic" versus "texmex" versus "calimex" and which one is superior....i think they all rock!!  I'll take it in any form I can get it!

What's playing in your iTunes now? 

A little bit of everything….Kim Burrell/Thank You Jesus to Steve Cole/Maximum Cool to Kathryn Scott/Sing on the Battlefield….

What is a book you are currently reading and love?

Essentialism by Greg McKeown.  I am working on simplifying my life in many ways in this current season.  Learning to say no to good things is a hard lesson to learn so there is an available yes to the great and best things.   I love living life to its fullest and sometimes I feel like I must experience every single thing there is to experience.  I'm learning how to focus my energy.  This book is extremely challenging for me but I want to be 100% effective at what God has called me to be.  I want to spend my life on the right things.

Favorite bible verse?

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Favorite choir ever?

....just one...lol Ricky Dillard and New G

When did you first get involved in Heart Of Worship?

In the early 2000s either the first or second year when Laura started it at CLC in California.

What keeps you coming back (besides the fact you're in the leadership team)? 

Because I believe in the mission of our movement to create a safe place for those who lead worship and for those who are hungry for more of the presence of the Lord.  And for the fact that we create a place where excellence and anointing can coincide and are not counter to each other.

If you could live forever in any "worship generation" which would it be, and why? 

The one we are in.  It is super challenging but incredibly exciting all at the same time.  I think we are so close to a spiritual revolution and I want to be a part of it! 

We all learn from each stop on our journey, can you tell us one thing you learned from each ministry stop on your journey thus far? 

That the joy is in just that, the journey.  We learn so much no matter if the situation is good or bad.  Something good can come from all of it.  God can and will get the glory if we are willing to let Him.  That means I have to deal with my preconceived notions about things and let Him be God. 

Explain your thoughts on what creates a genuine, dynamic move of God and, what is something that you find hinders it the most in our churches?

I think a church must know who they are and flow in that.  Unapologetically.  Being sensitive to reaching new people but allowing them to experience a safe, real environment.  People that know their calling and have confidence in that calling, not in themselves.  Many churches are caught in the trap of trying to do it like churches they perceive are successful and doing it right.  I think it is great to be influenced by great ministries but there is a lot of hard work that goes into a great ministry.  I think churches must realize that we all are responsible to do that hard work to learn the ways of God for our local assembly.  What does the God song sound like in our house?  What does the move of God feel and look like for us?  What is the DNA of our members?  Our community?  It does not just happen because we want it to, it happens because of serious intentionality to discover all that God has for us.  Being fearless to try and not fear mistakes.  Giving people a chance.  To lead, to grow, to learn.  Every corporate meeting must be our MOST IMPORTANT.  No mindless services.  We don't have time for that.  Every minute counts.  Every song counts.  Every lyric.  The band needs to play in tune, in the pocket, growing together.  The singers need to rehearse, put their best effort toward making the praise of God GLORIOUS!  I am extremely passionate about this topic. I bet you couldn't tell!  

If you could impart one thing to every worshiper on the planet, what would it be? 

Make God big….in your life, in your community, in your church.  Get to a place where there are no limits and every challenge, every day, every situation is a new opportunity to see God greater, more glorious.  Hunger for it…..remove things that are feeding your appetite that take you away from passion.  Resist the emotional fatigue that comes from dealing with the dysfunction of our world and lift your sight, lift your eyes, hands, heart to a God who is mighty and waiting to be found!

Should The Lord tarry, where do you see Heart of a worship in 5) years?

I see it being a world-wide movement and network of worshipers and worship leaders and musicians changing their local areas for God’s glory!

Questions & Answers with Music Pastors

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How often do you meet with your pastor to review his vision for the church & how the music ministry can support & move that vision forward?

We meet every week.  We discuss the weekend’s services, and what went right/what we could do better.  We also talk about the position of the church, the music ministry and the music ministry’s role in the next step for the church.  My pastor, Lawson Whitson, is a great communicator.
Aaron Underwood, Music Pastor, New Life Church of Jesus Christ, Concord, NC

Wow, what a question. since my dad and brother are my pastors I guess my situation is a little different. Being raised with the same pastor, values and views make it both easier and difficult. Because sometimes there are assumptions made on both sides. Our music program has been a training ground for young people which is a passion for our pastors. We have discussions about how music ministry is the visual part of the church but because the overall vision remains the established it's mostly tweaks. However as a staff we meet once a year when our pastor gives us specific direction for our ministries.

Also, I want to add, that I took this position from the greatest role model in Music Ministry and Prayer Leading one could ever ask for, my mother and pastor’s wife, Judy Doughty, I haven't had to do much but maintain her vision and continue investing in the next generation.  Marlo Spidle, Minister of Music, Apostolic Center, Mattoon, IL.

Key ministry leaders (pastoral staff, student ministries, creative arts, multi-cultural ministries, guest services, community connections) meet every other month to discuss the vision of the church along with other important topics. We do this by asking questions such as, "What is your ministry's mission? How does this tie in with the overall vision of the church? What project(s) are you currently working on? What are your greatest obstacles? What can we do to help you?"
Chris Sims, Minister of Music, Apostolic Life, Urbana, IL

Because I am his wife, I kind of know what he wants for a service. We don't have "formal" meetings. I try to pay close attention to what's coming up & plan accordingly. If there's a special service with a particular theme, I'll look for something to go along with that whether it's a special song or a new worship song.

I'm sure that's not how most places do things - because it's not a family connection. Our former pastor - when I was music director was my brother-in-law. I've been blessed.  I believe a lot of confusion & frustration can be eliminated (or at least lessened) if a person will just pay close attention to what's happening - what's on the schedule? What has the pastor been preaching lately? And if they will stay prayed up themselves!
Karla Holley, Worship Leader / Pastor’s Wife, Life Tabernacle, Wichita Falls, TX

We have a weekly meeting with Pastor Warman to go over "things". Then once a month all the department heads get together to discuss upcoming events and what everyone needs if it's their event. We have a monthly production meeting that includes media, sound, music, live stream, to go over any changes coming up, programs, etc.
Buffie Dumas, Minister of Music, The Apostolic Church of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, MI

My pastor and I meet about one to two times a year.
Lana Lyman, Minister of Music, Eastside Apostolic, Redmand, WA

Well I'm married to the Pastor! Our vision was knowing that music plays a huge part in what people feel when they come to church. So the worship at the beginning, song during prayer, song for the offering, 2 choir selections for Sunday services. I am adamant about having a choir Sunday Am & PM. We have Praise Singers that lead worship in addition to the choir. People love to sing, and having choirs and worship teams give people a chance to minister and be involved in the worship. People have told us over and over that the first time they ever visited our church, or even viewed us on live-stream, they loved the choir. We realize that if you are going to have a choir, you must have a strong leader, loyal to the Pastor. I am over all the music, but I have a Chorale Director, Youth Choir Director, Children's Choir Director, as well as a Director that helps me with my Choir. We always have goals to accomplish and practice new songs for Christmas, Easter, Pentecost Sunday, etc.
If we have invitations such as General Conference, Camp Meeting, District Conference, How Sweet The Sound, or other conferences such as Building the Bridge and Fueling the Fire, we work towards special songs and our sound. We may have Anniversary Service, Dedication service, All Nations Sunday, always gives us incentive. We have had special choir workshops with music ministers especially if we are hosting a big service. That way the guest choir leader teaches new songs and leads the music to free me up during these times. I also interject an old song, chorus, or hymn just to engage visitors. Such as a couple of Sundays ago, I sang "O Happy Day." The whole church was one big choir, and the visitors were singing and smiling. Music moves people. Music and worship gets people ready to receive The Word!
Alexa Olson, Music Pastor, The Pentecostals of Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL

One thing I can say about my pastor is that he does like communicating with his staff and wants details and options for any situation whether it’s about financial issues, event/service planning, or the spiritual condition of the church. How often we communicate is really determined on the time of the year and approaching deadlines to upcoming projects.

On average we do try to meet up at least once a week to have our Tuesday staff meeting. Most of the full time ministry tries to have a consistent time of rest so our first day back in the office is on Tuesday and that’s when we have a round table discussion about department progress.  Sometimes the focus is on creative ministries that I oversee (lighting/media/music/av) and other times the focus is on other church related matters, again it just depends on what function of the church is considered priority at that time.

I have tried to do my best to really cater my communication in ways that the pastor prefers and learn to work around his work schedule. Every pastor that I have assisted has a different way of going about it so I never expect any two situations to be the same. It’s not uncommon for us not to meet in person to go over broad vision goals. Most of the time you catch it as he is speaking to the whole staff and he allows us the freedom to create how we interpret that vision.

Some pastors tend to be very specific in what their vision is for the music department. I have been blessed to have pastors in my life that all have a musical background of various degrees. In many ways it has helped me because they have a better understanding of why you may be asking for improvements in the music department or appreciate the people and the role the music department has on the health of the church. Other pastors tend to not be musically inclined so they rely more on your interpretation of the vision and goals for the church. I have found that each have their pro’s and con’s in terms of communication and as the MD part of the job is learning how to communicate back to your leaders/pastor.

In regards to how we help the pastor move his vision forward, I think it’s important to know where your pastor’s heart is. After hours of listen and watching my pastor I feel confident in saying that his main priorities for the church are

1. Everybody participates in worship.
2. New people are being trained for ministry.
3. That you connect with people on a personal level.

Overseeing our departments I try to keep this in mind and find ways to implement them.

However communication goes two ways so I have to make sure that I am prepared to communicate back to my pastor so that I’m ready to hear what he has to say and be sensitive to the leading of God’s spirit because your communication and relationship does have to ability to effect the whole church whether the congregation understand what’s going on or not. As a minister of music I constantly have to remind myself of a few things and I hope this helps someone.

1.     It’s not your job to change your pastor and “fix” personality or leadership flaws. Just have a plan and way of getting the vision done.

2.     Know that your called to ministry and when you don’t feel like going on because we all get frustrated, remember,… you’re called to be where your at and let God be in control.

3.     Your pastor has a vision for the church and for your department and chances are you too will have a vision for your church and for your department. It is very possible that they may look very different and that is okay. But remember, you are there to support his vision first, and if you can find ways to insert your vision into the process, even better.

4.     Be honest, be passionate, be respectful (always).

5.     If you are using the church to build a name for yourself, you will always be frustrated. But if you are serving because you love people so much you want them to experience the same presence of God that you get to experience every day and use music as an expression of your praise and worship then you will meet your goals. Lead with love.

Every relationship is different, but if the relationship ever starts to feel strained, don’t lose all hope. Remember, like in any relationship, sometimes conflict can make it stronger…………… if you work through it. So no matter the problems or differences, communicate with your pastor and work through it.  
Luis Lenzi, Worship Pastor, East Valley Pentecostal Church, San Jose, CA

Getting to know....Laura Payne (Founder of the Heart Of Worship)

Could you tell our readers where you're from?

The question of where I am from always stresses me out a little bit. Because I don't quite know how to answer :-) when I was four, my family went to the country of Greece as missionaries. I spent the next 14 years of my life there, with only two visits back to the US. So I guess I'm from Greece. But I don't speak English with an accent or anything! 😂

Since coming to America for college, I've spent 14 years of my life in California, and then almost 9 years in Nashville. But I'm getting ready to move to St. Louis. So you can understand why I am terribly confused when you ask the dreaded question, “Where are you from?"

What do you miss/love most about Athens, Greece? 

I really love everything about Greece. It's the one place in the world that feels completely like home. I love the bustle of Athens, the genuine warmth of Greek people. I am amused by the fact that they are strongly opinionated and caught up in their own bravado. I adore Greek food. I love the Islands and the sea. The country today is quite a tragic, desperate place. That makes my heart ache.

What got you started in music ministry? 

I feel like I landed in music ministry completely by accident, and yet by God's providence. I went to Bible school with the intention of staying one year. I chose to be a music major because it seemed like a good chance to strengthen my musical skills. Now here I am, with two Bachelors in Music and a Masters in Music. That one year of study turned into 10! I really feel myself first as a minister, and secondly, that music is my unique vehicle for that ministry.

What are your biggest pet peeves on the platform?

My biggest pet peeve on the platform is people who do not seem emotionally engaged to the presence of God while they are playing their instruments or singing. Dull affects drive me crazy! I think some people get so worried about their notes and the rhythm that they can't seem to engage their heart. I can handle a million mistakes. But my spirit gets riled up every time I see someone who is disconnected from God and trying to lead others in worship.

How did Heart Of Worship (HOW) start?

Heart of Worship started in Stockton California at Christian Life College. I had always said that I would never do a music conference unless God gave me a unique perspective and a model that was not just a re-creation of other great conferences that were already happening. I can honestly say that the Lord started to download his plan and intention. That's when I first got excited about doing a worship conference. From it's very inception, great voices such as Kevin Howard helped me form and shape what was really needed in our movement. Our first Heart of Worship Conference took place in 2001. We began taking it on the road in 2006.

Where will HOW be in 5 years?  What are your vision and goals for this conference?

It is my prayer that Heart of Worship grows to be much more than just an event, but rather a movement or a fellowship of worship leaders and participators. We see this happening already. People becoming part of the Heart of Worship feel very linked to one another. There is such strength in doing life and ministry alongside people with a shared perspective. I believe that Heart of Worship will begin doing tours, taking the spirit and vibe of what we do in our conference to local churches. I believe in the next couple of years Heart of Worship will release a recording. We have a very unique, God directed sound, and I want to see that released.

What is your favorite pastime? 

I'm not much of a lone hobbyist. My favorite pastime is probably doing anything with the people that I love. That includes my family and my dear friends. I love being outdoors. That nourishes my spirit in a very profound way. Or just sitting around a table playing games. And of course, I'm a foodie, so a great restaurant with friends or family is always a joy!

Who is your favorite author?

My favorite author is Paul. Isn't that spiritual of me? But seriously, I love the incredible balance of intellect and heart that Paul's writings show. And then after Paul, I enjoy crime fiction. That doesn't sound so spiritual does it? But since I'm raising three boys still, I don't have much time for reading. Except the Bible, of course!

Who is your favorite musician/worship leader alive or in their heavenly reward?

This is an incredibly difficult question to answer. I feel like I don't get many opportunities to sit under worship leaders because for the past 10 years I've been the worship leader. This might be a very sad commentary, but I'm just being honest. The worship leader who has impacted me the most in recent years is probably Shawn Bigby. (Shawn, you can buy me lunch at Monell's later for the shout out). His ability to lead both intimate and high-energy moments is beautiful. His voice is as smooth as butter, and he doesn't lead out of nervous energy or awkward attempts to pump up the crowd. So many worship leaders create, unknowingly, nervous energy in the room, and that becomes emotionally draining. I love the fact that Shawn can lead us through a variety of emotional, spiritual moments without ever projecting his own personality into the moment.

What is your favorite part of being a mother?

I really love being a mom. It’s an incredibly heavy responsibility, and the weight of it is crushing in a way that nothing else in life is. But I love every phase that my children have gone through. I enjoy those precious moments that we can just hang out as a family and have fun. I also love seeing my children's growing relationships with God. That is incredibly precious!

Who created the best "Slain Payne" meme?

I think I deserve the credit for the best “Slain Payne” meme because I was the one who was willing to share that precious picture of Jaeden laid out in the presence of God. LOL. And for all of you who have no clue what we're talking about, don't worry about it. It's just one of those goofy HOW moments. Some things in life are just better left unexplained.

If you could plant any nugget of wisdom into every worship leader, what would it be?

One nugget. Hmm. Only one? LOL. Worship leaders need to become incredible communicators. This means communicating with your pastor and catching his vision and his preferences, and learning how to articulate your own feelings in a healthy way. This also means communicating from the platform to the pew. Learning how to lead out of a relaxed, authentic place. Learning how to communicate with your team through struggles and personality conflicts. Without communication, we don't thrive. Most train wrecks, disengaged leaders, people moving on, unresolved conflict and ministers leaving the ministry can be traced back to something that needed to be said that never was communicated in a healthy, productive way.

Nuggets Of Wisdom

In our "Nuggets of Wisdom" posts you'll get exposed to the writings of one of our Staff Members or like this week, we're going to talk to one of the original "Praise & Worship" leaders that paved the way for all of us, in this Apostolic movement, none other than Sister Bobbie Shoemake.

The following are "Nuggets of Wisdom" taken from a conversation we had with her about Worship in our Churches today:
 

Sister Shoemake, as someone who paved the way for the Praise & Worship to become what it is today, we wanted to ask you "what are your thoughts on the way our Worship Services are operated today?"

As far as I’m concerned, I feel like some of the young people being used today have yet to create their own private consecration time...if you don’t have a private relationship you can not have an authentic worship experience in public and you can not expect to have an Anointed worship service. 

Does everyone really have the mindset that it IS REALLY ALL ABOUT GOD, or is it really about them and their own time to shine on the stage? 

If people would pray more than they practice, there would be a flow in the Holy Ghost, He (GOD) will provide the Excellence that we want.   
(If we) give Him us, He will give back to us all the desires of our heart.

In the old testament, when they went out to war, they would send the worshipers out first, they would worship before they went into Battle.   (Today) We’re in a spiritual battle and the people on the front lines are the ones in music, and we’re all NOT prepared for the battle.  The praise team practices, as they should, (because) we need to be excellent before God, but we need our praise teams to practice prayer and practice worship as much or more than they practice a song.

What do you have to say about the songs we use in our worship services today?

Some of our seasoned songwriters have moved on and we’re now trying to “mimic” what is happening in the Charismatic Movement, when we need to create our own “Authentic Worship” from our own experiences and stop mimicking what others are doing.

We, Pastor Jimmy Shoemake and I, have been in music for years and years, we raised our kids on music, but times were a lot simpler then. People (still) like simple, you want to leave people wanting more..you want them to remember that song all week long, they’ll remember the melody and the lyrics, but not your licks and tricks.

People don’t need to hear a “hot-lick” they need to feel a God Connection.  
We need to go back to the basics, just because a song is old doesn’t mean it needs to be sung, and just because it’s brand new doesn’t mean it needs to be sung.  Songs that have something to say need to be sung.  We need to know who we’re singing about, we need to love the person we’re singing about.

Do you have advice for Worship Leaders, anything you want to share with us?

You can’t whip people into worship with your words, you need to lead them into worship with your own heart of worship.

Another thing, Ad-Libs aren’t required, sing the melody, sing the lyrics, you do not need to ad-lib on every chorus of every song. Keep the song simple. Ad-libs can throw a congregation off from what they are called to do and that is worship.

Remember it’s not about my (your own) choice of songs, you need to be smart, (you need to) be sensitive, (you need to) know when a song isn’t working and move on. Give it a decent burial and lay it aside.

Years ago my daughter, Nanci Holston, and I went to an Integrity Music Conference and something they said stuck with me.  “If after singing a song two or three times, if the back row isn’t singing it with you, put the song away.  If people on the back row are not connecting and engaging you need to make a change”.   We’ve got to stop singing for what is happening on the front row, sing to help those sitting in the back of the church. If you can connect with them and God can reach them with the flow of the Holy Ghost, then you’ve done your job.  “God, Let me be sensitive enough to see through Your eyes and use me to help meet the needs of all the people in my church the way You want them to be met”.

How do you teach song transitions or how do you "flow" from one song to the next?

Flow can’t be taught, you have to live it. But, Flow is imperative to having a move of the Holy Ghost, you can not just “find” it, you have to seek it.  Those that are hungry for it will find it, there will be some that just want to play their “hot-licks” and rely on their talent.  
You have to get in One mind and One accord, you have to get those in the back connected with where you’re feeling God wants you to arrive for that service.

The anointing will break whatever yoke there may be in the building.   Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after God’s ways, they will be filled...Filled with the anointing ... but you (first) have to hunger after it.   

My mother, Ople Thornton, always told me, Bobbie there is always a key in a service, she would feel after the Lord, you have got to be God Conscious, if you find that key then you will know what to sing all the time.  For years Mother would tell me what to sing and I would sing what she told me, then she started asking me what I felt to sing, and then when my answer was the same as what she felt was right, then she knew I had found the Key through my prayer. I didn’t know what she was doing, I didn’t know she was teaching me how to feel after God, she just lived it, and was teaching me the entire time.  

It was an honor and privilege to speak with Sister Bobbie Shoemake.  We hope you enjoyed reading her words of wisdom.  We look forward to sharing more "nuggets of wisdom" from other praise and worship legends in the near future. 

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