Keith you did a remarkable job and it was the great pleasure of all of those that attended. Your energy and presentation is truly an example to us all. Your coaching will no doubt improve our song services and your impact will be felt for a very long time. We hope that you come back our way again soon; you and yours will always be especially welcome at Yorba Linda. I was pleased to take the photos and was rather surprised to see one posted to your blog so very quickly. Would love to get a copy of the photos I took. I also took some time to look over your web site and your own photo gallary - some excellent photos there. Had I known you were also a shutterbug another avenue of conversation would have been opened. May God continue to bless you and your work ...

Keith: Thanks for a great weekend. I was amazed how your talent was able to bring our congregational singing to a level I never thought possible. And, thanks for your commitment to keeping 4-part harmony an active part of the heritage we pass to the next generation.

Wayne

Keith, I am not sure what I can add to what others have said about the weekend. The worship leader program sounds amazing and I think that more churches would find themselves out of room at their building if they spent more time and energy on preparing worship and event leaders. The singing aside, Jennifer and I had a wonderful time with you and Sharon. You touched our lives with your ministry, your warmth and your friendship. Our continued prayers will be for your family and your ministry.

God Bless- Michael Mazo

Thanks for the encouragement, Phil, and for taking some photos for me.

Wayne, one of my primary goals is to show each congregation the potential they have - as most churches are not even getting close to their potential for great singing and enthusiastic worship. I feel that if I can convince them of how it can be, that is an important first step.

Thanks Michael and Jennifer, for being such wonderful hosts. I agree with you - if we would begin to train leaders as we should (there is NO comparison to the emphasis, reward, expectations we place on preachers compared to the emphasis on worship leaders), and encourage leaders to be trained thoroughly, our singing and worship experience would ignite our people and draw others to Jesus. - KL

Dear Brother Keith:

Recently I attended your Praise and Harmony workshop at Yorba Linda, California. I enjoyed much of it but also had some concerns about it. I missed you at the fellowship time--I think you left early--and I had to leave early later on. So I’d like to share this with you.

I should probably mention where I disagree with you first. You mentioned the Tulsa Workshop and the emergent church leaders who were there--you described them as people from “outside our normal fellowship”. If I remember correctly as I read in the Christian Chronicle, these were people who were invited to speak at the workshop who do not identify themselves as members of the church of Christ. While they are probably our friends who would agree with us on a number of issues facing our country today, we cannot give them such a welcome in their religious activities. (3 John 9-11)

So what is “our normal fellowship?” Your language there and in general seemed to say that the church of Christ, and acappella singing, is just our "tradition", and so it is not strange to mention fellowship outside the church--even to the point of invited speakers--casually. For this reason alone, I would have to say I could not recommend one of your workshops to members of the church. Many brethren who are unfamiliar with God’s Word will find their personal ecumenical views supported here, and casual mention of such things will only encourage their fellowship of various religious groups, a decision based on your example and presentation rather than on God’s Word.

Also during the workshop you brought to mind a dear brother in Christ when you talked about how some brethren take a long time to come up for the prayer. In my mind’s eye I immediately saw an old preacher who used to walk slowly up to the front of the auditorium to lead us in prayer or singing. As a boy I was always amazed at his patient dedication, and seeing him walk up to the stage slowly impressed me in a way that I have never forgotten.

You proceeded to call him “Slow Moe Joe” and make fun of him. Then you said you weren’t making fun of him, but you already had. I appreciate you catching yourself, maybe this was just a mistake on your part, but it was an echo of many who make fun of wonderful brethren in Christ who have gone before us. What was even worse was the reaction of many people present at the workshop. They obviously didn’t like the pace of the worship at some congregations, and enjoyed the chance to make fun of it. I found this to be very disrespectful. This may not have been your intention, but you might consider the effect such words have on those who are listening. (I Tim 4:16)

I do want to commend you for stressing the importance of congregational singing. You talked repeatedly about how important it is that everyone be involved, and how terrible it is that some people are afraid to sing because they have been told they can't sing well. I have found that many people have this problem, and your words on the subject were right on target. It is important that all members of the church sing and make melody in their heart, as we are commanded in the Scriptures. (Eph 5:19, Col 3:16, Ja 5:13) This is the beauty of God's people singing together, and it is more beautiful than the most musically talented chorus in the world. I was encouraged by this aspect of your presentation--I would love to talk to you about it sometime.

I would like to leave you with a few musical ideas about four-part harmony, perhaps some things you might enjoy thinking about. Your presentation mostly just assumed that everyone present could read notes or catch on quickly to the voice parts on the projector. But what if you have a group that has little or no musical knowledge? You also said you didn't like the sound of unison singing "when people don't take the time to learn their parts."

I have worshiped with many Spanish-speaking churches where the brethren sang almost if not completely in unison, and I found it to be a glorious sound. Some brethren have apologized for not being able to sing in four-part harmony, but I have always assured them that this is not the most important part of our singing to the Lord. A little music history will show that the New Testament admonitions to sing were not specific about what kind of harmonies to use, especially since four-part harmony as we know it would not be invented till over a thousand years later!

While I share your appreciation for four-part singing--it is truly a beatiful tradition--it is only one of many traditions. For example, some indigenous melodies of other countries are difficult to harmonize, and in places in Africa and even here in the States harmonies are improvised or based on tradition, not on classical four-part harmony or carefully thought-out arrangements like yours.

You mentioned how few songs we sing in a minor key. I haven't researched this, but perhaps this is because of the complexities added to the harmony by most minor scales? The average church member who can sing major harmony with no problem will usually run into some troubles with a minor key. But I have sung many, many beautiful, heart-wrenching songs in minor, in unison, with my Spanish-speaking brethren. (Including lots of the Psalms!, which you also mentioned in your presentation.) Perhaps they are able to learn them and use them often because they don't feel the need to learn the harmony.......?

I know that God has given you a great musical gift. From the time I was a teenager, many of your songs touched my heart, and I am grateful for many of them. My prayer is that you can always use your talent to the glory of God and for the edification of His church. I hope you'll consider a few of the things I have shared with you, especially about the purity of the Lord's church. The purity and simplicity of our singing is a physical representation of our pure and simple devotion to the Lord and to His Word, qualities that by definition will not be found in denominations (I Cor 1:10-13, 3:1-4, 4:6-7) or sects (Gal 5:19-21). You have a unique opportunity to encourage the members of the Lord's church to maintain this purity of worship and doctrine, and I encourage you to take it.

I hope our paths will cross soon, I would enjoy the opportunity to talk personally with you about some of these subjects.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Hinckley

Hi Jonathan,

Thanks so much for taking the time to write and thank you for sharing your heart! I appreciate it very much.

It is wonderful to see a resurgence in congregational singing. Of course, I will never elevate four-part singing above the command, joy and privilege of worshiping God with all your heart - which is of paramount importance. I will always emphasize that part. However, my workshops happen to be about helping churches who desire to practice four-part harmony a cappella singing.

I don't have time, at this writing, to address all the concerns you offered, but allow me to mention one. The Nazis wanted to rid the world of (their definition of) impure people and build a perfect, master race. There are many who seek to take upon themselves a similar role in religious matters. These folks remind me of the Pharisees. (Yet, the Bible says God will ultimately handle the separating process and judgment.)

In short, I ask folks to consider for whom Jesus reserved his harshest rebukes ? It was the ultra-religious, purity-seeking Pharisees who criticized Jesus for associating with "sinners." Was Jesus endorsing all the evils of the world by associating with people that the Pharisees rejected? I think not. If "guilt by association" is a valid condemnation, then Jesus would be rightly accused.

In following Jesus' lead (a great mentor!), I want to associate with people outside my comfortable circle for many different reasons, realizing there are numerous, dedicated believers who encourage me by our association; and likewise, I can teach and encourage them in areas (as countless have indicated such to me, for which I'm humbled and grateful). I want to associate with anyone who can help me learn more about Jesus and not turn a Pharisee-type cold shoulder to the majority of folks who don't think exactly like me.

Acappella has often been rebuked for singing for so many different denominations. In my estimation, it is a huge mistake to draw ourselves into such a limited circle, when Jesus practiced the opposite.

You've made some outstanding points. So glad that we agree on so many things! I'm sorry I don't have time to discuss every item you introduced, but perhaps in a different venue we can talk about these things further.

Thanks again, Jonathan for your encouragement. May God richly bless you as you serve him!

- KL

Keith I pray that the comment introduced by Jonathan do not taint your experience in California. Rest assured that his one voice does not represent inclusively all the churches of Christ in Southern California, and the Christians that attend them.

This is the one negative comment expressed from over 155 in attendance. Thank you for the work and ministry you are doing.- Michael Mazo