How important should the cross be in our regular worship?

Why would worship leaders want to study theology books instead of just devotional guides?

Magnificent singing echoed across the campus of what once was Cascade College, formerly Columbia Christian. Yes, the legacy of Columbia Christian lives on, as I remember the great music that has sprung from this campus, including the original His Heirs singers. A great turnout for our workshop in Portland Saturday evening fueled the enthusiastic atmosphere of fellowship and praise. Everyone fully invested their hearts and voices into the combined worship experience! Some traveled three hours to join us for this event. The spirit of the participants was quite impressive, moving us to look forward to our tour of the North West in April, with the express purpose of helping individual congregations with their singing. Let's teach four-part a cappella singing to successive generations and pass along the torch of praise!

Is there a danger in worship songs being too vague?

We are looking forward to working with a very special church in Portland, Oregaon - the Agape Church. This group of God's people specializes in inner-city ministry, reaching out to the homeless, abused, runaways and those bound by addictions. They are actively taking God's love to hurting people. Isn't that what our mission should be all about?

I would love to post some photos from this weekend, but my blog is still having difficulties. We are working to upgrade my blog to a brand new platform, so standby. Thank you so much for blessing me with your comments and insights. Blogging is an enjoyable and fruitful supportive activity to our worship and Praise & Harmony ministry.

How can a “concert mentality” side-track the worship leader?

Does reaching the top of the worship sales charts automatically mean that the worship leader has something worthwhile to say?

We have made quite a number of new friends through the European Christian Workshop in Lancaster, England. Christians attended from all across the United Kingdom and continental Europe. I was the designated worship leader for the entire event. The singing was fantastic!

I didn't have much time to take pictures until the very last day of the workshop. Here are some candid portraits I captured today of some of my new friends.

We are using Bob Kauflin’s book, Worship Matters as a source for these weekly discussion questions. How does this statement apply to the current commercialization of worship music: “God hasn’t called us to be successful or popular – he’s called us to be faithful”?

How are modern worship leaders similar to the Old Testament Levites?

We enjoyed another year with this special congregation, who hosted a very encouraging weekend.  Participants came from the entire region.

Is worship the same as singing?

For those of you within "shoutin' distance" of Texarkana, load up the cars and head to Ashdown this weekend to participate in the Praise & Harmony. Check out the details here.

With the younger generation, is the worship leader and quality of worship becoming as influential a factor in their choosing a church as the preacher?

"More songs, less talk" sounds like a radio station slogan, emphasizing an effort to showcase more music.  This happens to be a phrase from Terry Rush's blog post about improving worship.  I agree, that this one principle can make a tremendous difference in the atmosphere of the assembly.

Does your song leader always start, stop, start, stop, start, stop, pausing in between every song?  Or, does he plan medleys of songs that flow seamlessly together through related keys or thematic / related topics?

What’s the difference between a song leader and worship leader?

Has God’s demand for purity (as evidenced in the Old Testament) changed?

Who would have thought that our home church would be the Park Plaza Church of Christ in Tulsa, Oklahoma?  God moves in mysterious ways.  Here’s the recap . . .


This congregation is no stranger to our Praise & Harmony ministry.  Keith Webber (now the business manager for the congregation) made a concerted effort to ensure that our workshop came to Park Plaza, and we did just that; in fact, three times.  One visit, I was invited to lead worship on Sunday morning at the new civic center in town, allowing all the services of the church to combine into one very special Sunday celebration.

But why Park Plaza? Simply put, Park Plaza is an Antioch church.  I have never seen a congregation that is more outward-focused and so heavily involved in missions around the world; even to the point of involving a majority of the members in all types of missions and mission trips - - Park Plaza is seriously immersed in kingdom business.


With an outstanding group of elders, this congregation is also very committed to encouraging and preserving a cappella congregational singing.  Instead of merely offering a tepid endorsement, the leaders are willing to invest in strengthening the practice and participation of singing and worship.  In addition to developing worship leaders and enhancing the singing at Park Plaza, Sharon and I will continue our busy Praise & Harmony workshop schedule as well as international mission trips. 


We are grateful that the congregation is sponsoring  a great deal of our mission efforts; so much so, that the elders have bestowed upon me the title of “Musicianary.”  I’m very happy with the implications of this label, as I’m fully convinced of the power of music to convey the tenants of the Gospel, as well as being the ideal language through which to address our Creator.


Senior minister, Mitch Wilburn, is a true man of God who knows the Word and delivers it with skill and unsurpassed passion.  It’s a joy to work with him and to see the way he lives his sermons.  I’ve always been thankful for preachers who are not afraid to bear their souls and express deep emotion when sharing the message.


Our workshops were not our first introduction to Park Plaza.  In 1984 (the previous century, you know), the Acappella van and trailer rolled into this church’s parking lot, to unleash the latest version of our group at the time.  I remember how five of us presented a concert as we were beginning a tour to the West Coast.


But why Tulsa, Oklahoma, you say?  Actually, it is not that strange for this Tennessee boy to feel totally at home in Tulsa.  In fact, I consider it more of a “Jerusalem” to me than how others might claim Nashville, Abilene, or such.  Our first introduction to this oil town came as Sharon and I were students at Freed Hardeman, attending the very first International Soul-Winning Workshop.  Hearing David Powers, Marvin Phillips and so many others preach a practical message geared toward mobilizing for evangelism, proved to be a magnet to our hearts.


It was at Tulsa that I first learned of Williamstown Bible College.  The second annual International Soul Winning Workshop in Tulsa found us attending as newlyweds, about to move to West Virginia to continue our studies in the Scriptures and in Christian service.  Although I thought I’d given up a serious musical pursuit upon graduating high school, the first semester at Bible College provided a surprise opportunity to audition for an a cappella quartet that was destined to travel the country on behalf of the school (and would become the prototype of ACAPPELLA Ministries.)


By the third year of the Tulsa International Workshop, our college quartet was featured at Garnett and throughout the workshop.  We developed a relationship with my mentor, Marvin Phillips, a relationship that has now spanned decades.  In fact, some of the greatest mission memories that I cherish are of spending time as a “Silas” to Marvin in accompanying him in Australia, South Africa and across this nation.

It’s great to be at the same congregation with Marvin, as we held many worship workshops in the 90’s, (a definite precursor to our Praise & Harmony ministry.)  I love Marvin so much, that in 1982, as we were moving back to Tennessee, I was trying to decide if I wanted to launch a full-time a cappella group, or approach Marvin about being a worship minister with him.  (God led us to launch a full-time singing group.)


Yes, I’m a Tennessee boy.  Reared in West Tennessee and with a home in Nashville, we spread our time between Tennessee and Oklahoma and claim “dual citizenship.”  Most of you know how strong the church roots are in Nashville and Dallas.  But now, maybe you can understand why I can claim such a tie to Oklahoma and to the good people who live in this area, viewing this as "my Jerusalem."


Tomorrow, we’ll spend time with the Clark family, who serve the Agape church in Portland, Oregon.  They are also supported by Park Plaza.  We are looking forward to conducting a workshop for them in September.  Earlier this week, we spent quality time with the  Calegari family who minister to the church in Brasilia, also sponsored by our congregation.  We’ll look forward to being with them in Brazil in only a few weeks from now, as we join Acappella to conduct evangelistic concerts.


We’ve been approached to minister to another church sponsored by Park Plaza that is in New Orleans.  The list goes on and on.  You can see, there is a parallel to the Biblical mission home base of Antioch.  One of my dreams has been to find a home congregation that views our ministry as an extension of their work around the world. God has blessed us more than we asked or imagined.


Although we continue to travel quite extensively, it’s always a blessing to return home to recharge, meet with the worship committee, fellowship, lead singing and gear up for the next mission - whether that mission is Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria or the “uttermost parts of the world.”

Keith Lancaster
 -  Musicianary

How important is accountability in the life of a worship leader?

ACAFEST photos are starting to come in.  Here are some shots taken by Randy Glover at the 8:30 A.M. class.


Check out the ACAFEST gallery here (we'll be updating it.)
We also have some great shots taken of the Praise & Harmony recording by my friend, Mary Lewis.


Check out the entire P&H recording gallery here.

I grabbed a few portraits of some of the wonderful people who sang on the upcoming Praise & Harmony CD.  I believe that happy people make happy recordings!  I believe that hearers can tell so much more about the singers by listening to the finished product and can actually "hear it in their voice."


Check out some of the other folks in my Portrait Gallery here.

It takes quite a number of people to make a recording run smoothly.  Here are a few from our team, including the recording project leader, John Bynum.

Mary Lewis captured quite a few photographs I'll be sharing as soon as I get them uploaded.

Are leaders held more accountable for their speech?