INTERVIEW WITH MUSICIAN/WORSHIP LEADER KATHLEEN HOWELL

 

Becky and I lived in Nashville, Tennessee for a half dozen years. Would you be surprised to learn that I got acquainted with several Christian musicians while I resided there? Those who know me would be surprised if I didn't actively search out Christian musicians. 

One place I hung out was at a couple of monthly Christian open mike nights at Koininia Bookstore (part of Belmont Church). This is where I was introduced to Kathleen Howell.

JR: I'd like start by asking how you came to Christ and how you became interested in music.

KH: I got saved in treatment for an eating disorder when I was 19. I didn't know anything. I mean, I was raised in church, so I knew to give my life to Jesus, and that He was God, but I had hardly read my Bible at all. I needed discipleship, but unfortunately, that was hard to find. So I languished with some wrong believing that kept me in fear for many years after.

I sang in public for the first time at 3, with my Dad accompanying me on guitar. I barely remember it, but I know I sang "Sing a Song" and my Mom said they could hardly pry the microphone out of my hands! Later, by the age of 13, I had determined to make music my career. 

JR: I first met you and became familiar with your music while we both were in Nashville, Tennessee; you and your family are now in Asheville, North Carolina. In regards to spiritual life and to music, what's the difference between the two cities, besides a missing letter? (I love driving down the I-75 into Knoxville, and seeing the sign: I-40W - Nashville; I-40E - Asheville.)

KH: Well, for one thing, it's more expensive to live in Asheville I think! There’s just as much construction here as I remember when I lived in Nashville but Asheville is growing faster than the new roads are. Seriously though, Nashville is full of wanna be stars. Asheville, not so much! There is a music presence here, but it's mainly bluegrass. Not sure of the political differences. Asheville is very left leaning, but it seems country music has become way more politically correct than it was in the nineties..

JR: You also are a worship leader. How do you prepare for leading a worship service? How does that resemble and differ selecting songs when you're doing a concert?

KH: How do I prepare for worship? Personal intimacy with God for sure and sometimes asking Him about songs, but honestly, more just planning what I'd like and The Holy Spirit works it out. I mean really! I can't tell you how many times He has had me do songs that fit so well without me knowing anything beforehand. 

I don't get to do concerts much anymore, but worship is certainly different. It's one of the reasons that I, as a rule, where I might have a lost person play with me in a concert, I usually don't in worship. There's a personal sense of God's presence one needs to have; a sensitivity to the Spirit. I want excellence in playing, but not perfectionism. In worship, I'd rather miss a chord or word than miss what God is doing. 

JR: If I remember correctly, your daughters are also musicians. What is it like having a daughter interested in music? How have you influenced them, and what have you learned from them?

KH: At the present time, I have two singing daughters. My youngest is only interested in that as far as a hobby, though she has led worship. My oldest is more interested in performance. I've performed and led worship with both daughters and that is a beautiful experience, let me tell you! 

Hopefully the most influence I have had, in the last ten years, has been spiritually. I had to relearn the Gospel and what it means to truly know Jesus, so I was pretty immature when my oldest was coming up. Fortunately, by the time my youngest was aware, I think she was better able to benefit from what God was doing in my life. What have I learned from them? A ton! They have called me on my inconsistencies- not fun! They have revealed the selfishness I grew up in-(I was an only child, so I never had to share!) They have helped me see how God must feel when we struggle, as His kids- like your heart is walking around outside yourself! 

JR: Your FB profile mentions you also have a teaching ministry. What's that like? 

KH: I was enormously impacted about 12 years ago by teaching that helped me understand what the Gospel really means and how one in Christ can actually be transformed in Christ. I had no solid identity before that. I was a people pleasing, stressed out Christian. I was saved, but not at peace. The enemy regularly taunted me and I had no idea how to stop him. So God changed all that when I discovered grace. I now share through teaching at my church and on You Tube, writing (I just finished my first book ) and I'm working with the youth at my church as an interim youth director. 

JR: It was back in '92, I believe, when I first heard you sing. And things 30 years later haven't changed a bit in our society, have they? Oh, they have? How has the change in our culture affected your music, your worship-leading, your teaching, and life in general? 

KH: Has culture changed in 30 years? Yeah, just a little! Asheville has the nickname "San Francisco of the South", so I imagine you can do the math on that. There's also a strong demonic presence here, unfortunately, from much Wiccan practice and freemasonry. The plus side is- the fields are ripe for harvest! 

How has that change affected your music? Not much. I don't reach that many people with my original songs, so I don't have to think much about  offending those listening! I always hope the listener will hear the truth in them and I have to say, when I've sung outside the church, I usually get a positive response from the unsaved. They seem to respect me as a musician first and I kind of then"get away" with sneaking Jesus in on them. I wouldn't say the culture has changed my worship leading.  Obviously, I want to play musically relevant songs from today's sound. I do focus on heart felt lyrics, though I try to make sure it's also doctrinally sound worship. My intimate relationship with Jesus is the biggest influence. My teaching? I've only been teaching about 10 years. I did have one sermon where I mentioned that I only believed in one man, one woman marriage and it has been one of my least popular videos. So there's that. 

I've become more sensitive to those around me, especially in Asheville. I don't want to unnecessarily turn off someone from the Gospel, at least by badly presenting it. Yet, I can't run away from the fact that bottom line is Jesus divides people. 

JR: Thank you for your time. Anything else you want to mention that I forgot to bring up? How can we keep up with your ministries?  

KH: Kathleen M. Howell is my You Tube channel. Wake Me Up is my FB ministry page. To access my original music and to support my writing, videos, an upcoming podcast, blog,etc., I humbly accept monthly (and otherwise) donations to my Patreon page.:

 

THE COMING KINGDOM OF HOPE: FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT 2021

 

Hope in a Prison of Despair by Evelyn De Morgan

 

Was it a meme? Or was it just a post by someone or even a comment? Regardless, what it read was "It's beginning to look a lot like Advent."

As I've probably mentioned before in this blog, I've grown up in Anabaptistic churches. Christmas and Easter are remembered, as well as the other essential holidays of our Christian faith: Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Independence Day. No mention of Lent. Pentecost may get mentioned, though that's not the norm. If there's anything around the end of October, it's more likely a Halloween alternative and less likely Reformation Day or All Saints Day. Advent is an exception, though I was old enough to run for Senate when I first observed Advent candles being lit at church. 

I  was fairly young when I noticed a division in the hymnal (knowing what a hymnal is dates me, doesn't it?) between Advent and Christmas songs. Eventually, I learned the difference: Christmas songs focus on Christ's birth, while Advent songs deal with Christ's coming to earth. "Joy To The World," "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" and "Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne" are the better known Advent songs.

In reality, though, the concept mirrors the radical request in the heart of the Lord's prayer: "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Think about it. Christ is a King. Not a President. Not an Anchorman. Not a Moderator. But a Monarch who will reign. A Ruler who will one day have His enemies under His feet, who will break the nations with a rod of iron. 

The first Sunday of Advent focuses on the Advent of Hope. Is hope a common commodity in this world? "Change/Hope" was used as a slogan for President Obama's 2008 campaign. How much hope was there during that period of time?

Our hope is not in this world. Rather, we need to rest our hope in Christ alone. We need to hope for His sovereignty in our lives, in our families, in our churches, in our cities, and in the world. As it says in Psalm 60:11, the help of man is useless. We need to put our trust in God.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, 2021

 

Sign at Irvington Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, IN

Best laid plans of mice and men. My plan was to write this by last night, and do my normal thing of having my blog post at 6am on Thursday morning. But no, it's not being posted until about 12 hours later. 😕

The past 18 months have included a pair of physical moves, a new church closer to our new residence, a change in employer name and in department I'm working in. And I'm thankful for those changes.

I would like this opportunity to thank my interviewees this past year and a half. These include, in reverse chronological order (because that would make it easier to find them scrolling down):

• Singer/Worship Leader Kathleen Howell (to be posted Nov. 30th, 2021)
• Singer Devin Cunningham
• Worship Leader Luke Jones 
• FB Group Moderator Richard Preston
• Singer Becca Sugg of Reclaim The Day
  
• Author/former Presidential Candidate Sam Robb
• Author Donna Fletcher Crow (interviewed in Oct. '21 and Sept. '20)
• Author Jackie Castle
• Author J. M. Hackman
• Musician Dan Schafer
• Author Terri Reed
• Angie Leyda of Always 1 Ministries (Festival Organizer)
  
• Meghan Williams of Dyed4YouArt
  
• Author Laura Scott
• Author Joshua A. Johnston
• FB Group Moderator Morgan Trotter
  
• Author John Otte
• Author Christopher Schmitz 
• Church Planter/Artist Kerry Jackson
• Author Kerry Nietz 

Also, I had written a blog thanking my Beta Readers and would like to thank them again.

One book on my 2022 reading list is Thanksgiving: An Investigation of a Pauline Theme by David Pao. 

I'm thankful for my marriage to Becky - Tuesday (11/23) we celebrated our 460 month anniversary. Also, I'm thankful for my friends.

Of course, WHO should we give thanks to? God, of course. He's the one who gave us every good and perfect gift, and He's the one who allows us to be tested so we grow in faith and maturity.

 

BOOK REVIEW: CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD BY J. GARY MILLAR

In "Calling on the Name of the Lord: A Biblical Theology of Prayer", J. Gary Millar accomplishes what he promises, giving a thorough look at what the Bible says about prayer.

What is Biblical Theology? I've heard it used two different ways. I read 9Marks book Bibilcal Theology where the emphasis is on the flow of the Bible's metanarrative (i.e. big picture). When I first heard that phrase, though, I was given the impression it meant looking at how a specific theme is developed within a book and by the author, as opposed to Systematic Theology which focuses on what the Bible as a whole says about the subject. This book takes the latter approach.

Millar focuses on what he considers the first mention of prayer, when people began to call on the name of the Lord. He then goes through each book of Scripture to see how that theme is developed. He uses the Hebrew book order as he works his way through Scripture, focusing on how each Biblical author contributes to the picture of prayer. The author then adds an afterword, analyzing how the contemporary church is doing (or not doing) as far as prayer and making suggestions.

I'll admit that I'm more used to books written for a theologically conservative audience. Millar frequently mentions various discussions on authorship, and more often than not, he points out that the debates have no affect on his thesis. While I consider those issues important, I see Millar's goal is to paint the important issue he's focusing on broad where he keeps his audience large.

His approach can be tiring to read, and Millar's writing style helps keep you focused.

This book is the thirty-eighth volume in the collection New Studies in Biblical Theology. This is the first one I've read of this collection, but it is not going to be the last.

INTERVIEW WITH GOSPEL SINGER AND PODCAST HOST DEVIN CUNNINGHAM

 

I faced a tough decision one Saturday, late September. Do I travel an hour and hear some good Christian rock 'n' roll, including Reclaim The Day (click here to see my interview with their lead vocalist Becca Sugg) or drive a few minutes to my home church and hear my friend Eric Shaw of His Voice Through Us, Victorious Trio, Divinity Trio, and Devin Cunningham? I don't believe there was a wrong choice, but I was blessed when I stayed close to home. I also was blessed to meet and interview Devin Cunningham.

JR: Let me start with the most important question. How did you come to faith in Jesus Christ? How is He at work in you? What has He been teaching you recently? And who has God been using to show what following Jesus looks like (e.g Preachers, authors, musicians, family/friends)?

DC: First off, thank for asking me to share a bit of my testimony.

I more or less have grown up in church my entire life. Even though I didn’t go routinely until I was 11 my grandparents made sure I always made it to the house of God every weekend I was with them, which was quite often. I would not be saved today it wasn’t for their witness in my life.

God is constantly working on me. LOL. Lately I have felt so burdened to encourage and remind The Body that God still knows exactly what is happening, He is still God and our faith in His love will see us through. My Pastor Rev. Josh Carson, recently preached and reminded me, “This world is dark, but we know the answer.” If we will remember who God is then we, through Jesus and overcome. If you have the knowledge of the power of the name of Jesus then you have all you need. “When we speak His name (Jesus) we invoke mercy.”- Rev. Josh Carson

JR: Your education journey took you from a private Christian School to a public High School to studying music performance at University of Indianapolis. How has the difference in the schools made an impact on your life, both in ways of challenges and blessings?

DC: Though I did end up graduating from a private institution I actually was in public school quite a bit growing up as well. Academically I have never been a great student, socially I had a well rounded education. LOL.

My time in a public high school changed the trajectory of my life. It was during that time I realized I love to sing and that it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It wasn’t until I returned to Calvary Christian School that I accepted my call to minister in song.

I taught myself how to sing up until I attended the University of Indianapolis. What I learned there has carried me to this day.

JR: I had the honor of hearing you do a solo set at an Indiana Music Festival event last September 25. Besides being a soloist and evangelist, you also are credited of singing with the AQUA (Apostolic Quartet United Association) Quartet and with the Master's Legacy Quartet. I could be a smart aleck and ask what you do in your free time, but instead I'll ask this: How do the two different quartets and your solo ministry compare with each other?

DC: Well AQUA doesn’t really travel anymore. Sadly we are just too spread apart.

The difference between my solo ministry and Master’s Legacy is style and presentation. The material during my solo presentation is more eclectic. It has a bit of everything. MLQ, although versatile, is still mainly southern gospel.

JR: Actually, I think I know what you do with at least some of your free time: Could you tell us about the To Be Determined podcast?

DC: Like most things in my life, TBD was birthed from a burden. I felt called to capture the incredible testimonies I have around me. the Bible says the we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. How will someone overcome by the blood until they hear about it. Everybody has a story and everyone needs to hear. So stayed tune because new episodes are coming out after the first of the year.

JR: We're living in interesting times, between COVID, the political division, the drastic changes in our culture. What concerns do you have, and what should the Church's response be?

DC: I know I’m repeating myself, but remember your resource. Don’t let the the failures of your past hold you back from today’s blessings. If you are reading this then you are alive and that means that God has given you another opportunity to to overcome through Him. Acts 2:38

JR: Thank you for your time. What is on the calendar for your solo ministry, your quartet, and for the Indiana Gospel Music Festival? Am I correct that you have a new solo music project out as well? How can we keep up to date with your activities?

DC: Thank you again for having me. You can follow me on Facebook and all other social media outlets to keep up with posts and upcoming dates.

Master’s Legacy is sadly disbanding but a new trio is forming out of it called Faithful First. It made up of myself on Tenor, Adam Faulkner on Lead, and Matt Denney on Baritone. We will have new music out next year so stay plugged in.

I did release a new project, "Light Up The World," which is available on Apple Music and Spotify. Hard copies available at every live concert event.

The Indiana Gospel Music Festival is scheduled to happen next summer.

INTERVIEW WITH LUKE JONES, WORSHIP LEADER AT CASTLETON COMMUNITY CHURCH, INDIANAPOLIS

 

Castleton Community Church

JR: Let's start with the important issues. How did you come to faith in Christ, and when did you get interested in music?

LJ: I came to faith in Christ through going to a summer youth retreat when I was 13. I grew up in a Christian family and knew the gospel from a young age but had not been born again. At the youth retreat, the Holy Spirit convicted me of the way I had been living for myself and showed me that the only path to true life is in Christ alone. It was shortly after that when I began playing guitar. My dad is a musician and so is my brother. I would have them show me things on guitar and I would practice every day after school. I then started helping lead worship for our church youth group and this proved to be a great training ground for me to grow in my abilities and gifts.

JR: Who would you consider influencers in your life both in faith and in music (e.g. author, musicians, family, current and previous pastors)?

LJ: My youth pastor was highly influential in my life. If God had not placed him in my life, I would not be where I am today. He really pursued a relationship with me and discipled me well. My previous pastor at Walnut Grove Chapel, Randy Worland, was another huge influence on my life, particularly with regard to theological matters. He helped me grow in my understanding of God’s sovereignty and a theology/philosophy of worship. Some musical artists that have influenced me are Shane and Shane, Phil Wickham, All Sons and Daughters, Tenth Avenue North, Matt Boswell, Bob Kauflin, and many more.

JR: I know a pastor's week includes sermon prep, visitation, and counseling, as well as other things. What does a worship leader's week look like?

LJ: It’s probably different for every worship leader depending on what their responsibilities include. For me, I am responsible for planning our Sunday morning worship services. I spend a good block of time planning out the songs and different worship elements that go into a Sunday morning service. I lead both the volunteer teams for the worship team and the tech team so this requires a lot of time scheduling and communicating with volunteers. I am over both worship and tech so if any technical issues arise with our audio, video or lighting, that falls on me to figure out. I set the stage each week for the team and make sure I am prepared to lead the team through rehearsal on Thursday nights. I also plan out our prayer and praise nights which happen once a month. These are times for the congregation to gather for prayer and singing. Outside of the music sphere of ministry, I also oversee our Global Outreach, Prayer, Facilities, and IT at the church. So when I’m not doing something worship arts related, there is no shortage of things for me to do : )

JR: What do you consider when selecting songs for worship on Sundays?

LJ: Colossians 3:16 tells us to “Let the message of Christ dwell in us richly, singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs…” The gospel of Jesus dwells in us richly when we sing various types of songs together in the church. So first and foremost, I want to make sure we are singing songs that are full of gospel truth. That does not mean every song needs to have lyrics about the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. But I would hope that at some point during a Sunday, we sing about those things. We need the gospel every day, it is not the starting point of our faith, it is the main point that we need daily! Some other things I think about when selecting songs is singing songs that are more God-centered than man-centered. We want the balance to be singing more about who God is and what He has done rather than what we are going to do for God. Another thing I think about is trying to sing a variety of both hymns and contemporary. We value singing songs from the Church throughout the ages, this communicates that we are a part of something much bigger than ourselves.

JR: In interviews, I often ask how the interviewee is doing in a time when things look like they can be difficult for Christians. But allow me to take a different angle. The coming storm is a motivation for Christians to unify and encourage one another. Yet one of the issues that often causes division in a local church is music. How can the music ministry contribute to building unity in the church?

LJ: Church music can often be divisive in church, this is sad reality. But at the same time, it has the potential to be one of the most unifying things that a congregation does! When we sing together, we are confessing together what we believe to be true. Hearing the congregation’s one voice lifted up, proclaiming the truth of the gospel and professing our love and devotion to God, is something that draws our hearts together as one. No matter what is going on in our lives or in the world around us, we can unite around the core truths we are singing together and find encouragement.

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