i can remember the first 'stream in the desert' that i attended at golf course road church of Christ, midland, texas. it was just a bee hive of excitement. nothing like i had ever seen or done before. that was cool!

since we have moved to l.a., that's lower alabama, we have missed out on those stream events ... until recently. the distance was a barrier for us financially, and the price of gas, even then, was too much. however, now that ken young has started the stream fanklin events, we have been there the past two times and we just love it! each time we try to take those at our church that may have never participated in an event such as stream, and they come away so pumped ... its great! remember it is nothing that i have done, but what has happened to them by being able to show their love and admiration for their Creator. we'll be there in january, again! kristin will just have to drive about 15 miles or so from lipscomb ... LUCKY!

i remember the best thing about the stream events in midland were the saturday night communions. if there were elders and their wives there, they would go to strategic locations and would take there station. then the attendees would come to them and they would serve the communion to the attendees. they would make it personal. see everyone wears a name tag and the elders would take the emblem and as they served it to the person they would call them by their name. it would go something like this, since you and i share the same great name, ken, it would be like this. "ken, This is the Body of Christ broken for you." "ken, This is the Blood of Christ shed for the remission of your sins."

it was such a moving experience. many, myself included, would walk away with tears streaming down their face. it made it so real. so personal. ahhh ...

Thanks for sharing, Ken! I have never been to Streams, but have heard great things about it.

Also, I guess I didn't have to emphasize "big" events, since so many opportunities come in small retreats, camps, mission opportunities and smaller packages.
- KL

keith, i haven't checked to the right or anywhere else on this page, but if i'm not mistaken, you do come to churches for singing/praise team training, right? if so, what do you charge for something like that? we might be interested here at port city. you can come to the gulf coast and see some great scenery, not that you haven't posted some great shots from around the world, you can also get some great seafood, if you like that sort of thing.

ken harris
ki4wxd@gmail.com

Seafood, Sightseeing and Singing! What a great trip!
Would love to come to Port City.
- KL

No, I'm not brown-nosing when I say the Praise & Harmony workshops have been memorable. There's nothing like turning in the direction of others and have them turn toward you and sing praises: to God; to one another; and at one another. In one year I will have participated 4 times (including 3 times this year) - Man!! does it get any better?!

Keith: it's no wonder you're always smiling when you lead these things. The glory given to God and the edification to one another is heavenly.

D

Derek,

That CAN be normal for congregations, if they just make the decision and if the worship leaders take the lead. After all, we are told to "speak to one another!"

- KL

Absolutely! One of the nice things about our building is that it is shallow and wide, making the "speak to one another" a little easier. Recently, I've "made" everyone look at one another as we were singing. They were quite sheepish about it at first but now, well now...they're still a little sheepish...but I get good comments about the closeness that is felt when we do it.

D

Over the years there have been so many, including Tulsa, a variety of youth events when I was youth minister and teen parent, and things like the Christian Ed Conference and Christian Counseling events.

Probably the two events that have most touched me at deep levels and challenged me in a variety ways have been the ZOE conferences and the Pepperdine Bible Lectures. I have to say that all-in-all, Pepperdine is my favorite. There are perhaps bigger events, but Pepperdine is unique and really special... and it's in Malibu. :-)

I've never been to Acafest, but Jeremy was there once when he was in Won By One, and he had a blast. Maybe one of these summers...

Rick,
Pepperdine lectures has got to be near the top. I LOVE the way Jerry plans singing activities throughout the campus. And, yes, Malibu "ain't too shabby." - KL