New Video: Elevate

As many of you know, I (Gary) was a pastor for forever.  I was the guy preparing for the big show every weekend.  All week long, I was thinking, praying, and working toward this one event.  The teams of people responsible for making our weekend worship services happen needed to get ready, so we rehearsed during the week.  So by Sunday morning, our hearts were absolutely prepared to elevate Jesus above all else.

But their’s were not.

For the most part, the “normal” person in the congregation does not come into our worship services ready to surrender themselves, or elevate God.  I am learning this now, because I’m learning how not to think like a church staff member.  I’m discovering that we are, for the most part, good people who are excited about being together.  But we are not generally ready to elevate Jesus above all the other mind-consuming crap in our lives.  That doesn’t make us bad or nonspiritual – it just makes us normal.

That’s the back story for our latest video called “Elevate“.  In this video, we’re trying to give worship leaders and teaching pastors something to play early in their services that will help bridge the gap between self-focus, and God-focus.  Both of the actors in the video have served in full-time Christians ministries for decades, so this is very authentic.

We pray that this video serves the global Church well.  And we pray that it hits home in your unique congregation.