By Paul Herman
First let me tell you how all this came about…
My name is Paul Herman. I grew up in church, helping lead worship and serving on worship teams all my life. For the past 17+ years, it was my privilege to work on the marketing team at CCLI, the company that provides licensing so churches can legally project or print copyrighted song lyrics for congregational singing. At CCLI, I was honored to become friends with a number of prominent Christian songwriters, especially Jennie Lee Riddle (writer of “Revelation Song”), along with her husband, Darrin, their family and the entire circle of writers and artists known as PEOPLE & SONGS.
I grew to dearly love these people—and their songs. I connected with them whenever my schedule would allow. So when my season at CCLI was finished, I was ecstatic at the opportunity to join PEOPLE & SONGS here in LaPorte, Indiana, as their new Marketing Director. Jennie thought that a great way to acclimate to my new position would be to join the group on their 5-week fall 2019 tour.
From Texas to Mississippi to Georgia to Florida
I love the Facebook meme that says: “Buying snacks for a road trip should always look like an unsupervised 9-year-old was given $100.”
Let’s just say we would’ve made that 9-year-old proud, mostly courtesy of Buc-ee’s, the undisputed Taj Mahal of southern truck stops. We needed every bit of them, too, because that first leg, LaPorte, Indiana, to Texarkana, Texas, was 17 hours!
This was PEOPLE & SONGS’ 2nd “Turn Up The Lights” festival in Texarkana and the continuation of the vision to unite the churches and lift high the Name of Jesus over the city. Throughout the 2-night event, God showed up in powerful ways. Many lives changed. 19 baptisms, deliverance from addictions, depression, fear, bondage. We were overwhelmed. And there was much, much more to come…
Texarkana was the first time I heard the new PEOPLE & SONGS’ anthem, ”Hell or High Water,” live. I had heard the recorded single when it was released, and I loved the song. But to hear it live—Wow! It felt like the whole room lifted. The bridge was written in an amazing call-&-response format:
Steady, constant (I have this confidence)
Mercy, goodness (I have this confidence)
Awesome, Mighty (I have this confidence)
I know Who You are
Defender, Healer (You are my confidence)
Protector, Shepherd (You are my confidence)
Jesus, Savior (You are my confidence)
I know Who You are
The sound of the crowd rose to meet the amplified singers and band. Let’s just say it was a room FULL of confidence!
Across Texas
We then drove all the way across Texas, bound for El Paso, with a wonderful respite for a few days in Dodd City, as we joined Lannius Church of God for 3 nights of Revival meetings. I loved the variety of venues on this tour—from big arenas, auditoriums and state-of-the-art audio and lighting systems to smaller, down-home churches. Same God. Same Spirit. Same Presence.
Jennie spoke about the power of community and reaching beyond the awkwardness. It was beautiful to see a group of believers reach across aisles and beyond natural boundaries to “get up in each other’s business” and really pray and minister to each other. Again, we saw many chains and bondages broken as God’s healing power swept through the room.
Lights Over El Paso
We had scheduled a “Turn Up The Lights” festival for El Paso, TX, months in advance. But 3 weeks prior to the event, we—along with the rest of the nation—were horrified to hear of the deadly mass shooting at an El Paso WalMart.
We weren’t sure what to expect, but what we found immediately upon arrival were people ready to worship and ready for a mighty move of God. So we kicked in to a new favorite opener for us (and also a growing number of worship teams across the country), “Welcome King Jesus.”
Shout all you people, dance through the town
Come celebrate because Heaven’s come down
Jesus, Welcome King Jesus
Kaden Slay, co-writer and lead vocalist, said, “God continues to use this song in such an awesome way to give everyone the opportunity to just cut loose and celebrate our King!”
One thing I love about all our events, and especially this one, is that it’s not a typical concert or night of worship. Our PEOPLE & SONGS people have the freedom at any time to come off the stage, pray with people, worship with people, and just simply minister. It’s beautiful. It’s powerful. It’s how it should be.
Night one was unbelievable. The responses from the wonderful new friends we made in El Paso lifted our spirits. It was such a privilege to interview Teresa Anekwe, the event coordinator, and hear her heart for the city.
But as we prepared for Night two, we received word of another shooting, this time in Midland/Odessa, TX, just a few hours away. As the night began, our group and the entire audience gathered and recorded a spontaneous phone video to those hurting in Midland/Odessa, extending the same comfort with which we all had been comforted.
Spontaneous Stop in Odessa
The following day, on our way to Fort Worth, we stopped at Odessa for an impromptu worship and prayer gathering with local pastors and church members in the city park.
The Lord’s presence joined us there for an anointed time of comfort and healing. I was standing next to a 12-year-old boy who looked completely shocked and numb. I prayed that comfort and peace would come over him, and as we worshipped, I saw life return to his face. The Lord was near.
Bethesda
We were so honored to join Bethesda Community Church in Fort Worth for a Friday Night of Worship (joined by their 100-voice choir), then a keynote message from Jennie at their Saturday women’s conference, and we wrapped it up with an amazing Sunday morning worship service. Once again, it was beautiful to see our singers come off the platform to pray and worship with people. On the Night of Worship, with May Angeles singing “Wide-Eyed Wonder,” the Bethesda Choir joined us in front of the stage to serve as the Prayer Team for a beautiful time of prayer with all who came forward.
We stand in wide-eyed wonder
Here in this Holy place
We humbly dare to ask for
More of Your glory
More of Your unveiled face...
Texas Football
Part of any road trip is trying to understand and appreciate the culture. Our AirBnB was in nearby Arlington and fairly close to AT&T Stadium, otherwise known as “Jerry’s World” and home of the Dallas Cowboys NFL Football team. I’d heard about Texas football, but I hadn’t really experienced it first-hand until now. On the day before the opening of the NFL season, I had to shop for a few items, and the closest WalMart was right across from the stadium. You know how WalMart always features seasonal items right up front? I’m not exaggerating—from one end of the store to the other and about 5 rows deep was nothing but Dallas Cowboys gear! And the vast majority of shoppers were already wearing Cowboys gear, but still coming in for more. These people are football crazy!
Kaden’s Home Church in Lucedale, MS,
It was wonderful to minister for 2 nights of Revival at Crossroads Church in Lucedale, Mississippi, where Kaden Slay, one of our People & Songs artists, grew up. Appropriately, the physical CD copies of The Slays debut album from Kaden and his wife, Melanie Tierce, were available for the hometown crowd (more than a month before the official album release). As you can imagine, Kaden’s father Rev. Warren Slay, lead pastor at Crossroads, and Kaden’s mother Alisha were two VERY proud parents!
The release of The Slays album was also a great moment for the entire church, since the album opens with their congregational prayer of intercession, blended and layered with intercessory prayers from the entire PEOPLE & SONGS community. Pastor Slay’s reading of the familiar Scripture passage from 2nd Chronicles 7:14, is a fitting preface to the opening song. “That opening prayer and Scripture is my favorite part of the album. It adds so much heart,” says Melanie. “And it’s the perfect lead-in to ‘Heal Our Land.’
Over the two nights of revival, it was wonderful to see the younger members of PEOPLE & SONGS step up and lead with true Kingdom authority. Kaden, Melanie, May Angeles, Wesley Nilsen and Mary Grace ushered the congregation straight into the Throne Room of God.
Onwards to Georgia
Our next stop was Azalea City Church Of God in Valdosta, GA and their “Sounds Like The Kingdom” conference. Leaders from more than 30 local churches attended, and we had an amazing time together.
It all began with a songwriting session with our PEOPLE & SONGS writers and about 60 conference attendees. This approach had worked previously, at the first “Time To Rise Up” conference at Metropolitan Church in Birmingham, AL, where “Hell Or High Water” was written. This writing session was a success as well, and “The Source Of My Song” was birthed.
The Thursday night “Worship In The Round” for conference attendees, the Friday “Night of Worship” for the entire Azalea City Church, and the extended worship time at their Sunday morning service were all glimpses of Heaven touching earth. Just astounding!
The Friday Night of Worship crescendoed with one of my favorites from PEOPLE & SONGS, that Jennie wrote with Shane Bernard - an anthem that vividly describes the unbridled power and majesty of our God. It’s called “Psalm 46 (Lord Of Hosts).”
The oceans roar, You are the Lord of all
The One Who calms the wind and waves
And makes my heart be still
Though the earth gives way
The mountains move into the sea, the nations rage
I know my God is in control
I KNOW MY GOD IS IN CONTROL!
Gator Tail
I also have to mention our Southern cuisine adventure at Bubba Jax Crab Shack. I sat across from Daniel Riddle, the only one of us brave enough to order gator tail for lunch. His reasoning was sound. “I’m coming into their territory,” he said, “so I need to show ‘em who’s boss.”
The Ones You Hardly Notice
Let me pause for a moment and introduce four PEOPLE & SONGS members you don’t often see:
Daniel Riddle, (Darrin and Jennie’s oldest) runs ProPresenter and coordinates travel and event logistics for the group. Quiet, unassuming, dry sense of humor, and a razor-sharp wit. I love hanging out with Daniel!
Lexi Pearson is the Hospitality Queen at the People & Songs Headquarters in LaPorte, and just as Queenly on the road. Lexi coordinates the merch booth for People & Songs, and she makes sure all the details are covered. She is a true Godsend!
Gannon Gager is our amazing photographer. You may not notice him, but you see his dazzling work throughout this article. He’s a master at capturing PEOPLE & SONGS artists at just-the -right angles, with just-the-right lighting and with just-the-right expressions.
Andrew Riddle (Darrin and Jennie’s youngest) seemingly has boundless energy, and he puts it to good use as our primary videographer. You’ll see him on stage, camera in-hand and weaving his amazing choreography to get the perfect video angle, all while trying to stay out of the way as much as possible
I love these people!
WFX: Worship for Techs
Our final stop was the Orlando Convention Center for the WFX Conference. I had attended WFX previously, representing CCLI, so I knew what to expect. This conference is very tech-and-gear focused, and to be honest, I always thought the worship sessions took a back seat. The central hub of the conference is a mammoth exhibit hall with booth after booth displaying huge LED screens, the latest projector and video equipment, audio and post-production equipment, and every other church tech thing you can think of. The teaching and worship sessions were typically located in a ballroom or auditorium that’s a lengthy walk from the main hub, and sometimes difficult to find.
Our opening session began pretty much like I anticipated it would. The audience seemed more focused on the sound, lighting and projection systems than anything else. But midway through the session, something turned and the Spirit of God moved through the room in a mighty way. After our worship set, Renaut van der Riet, lead pastor of Mosaic Church in Winter Garden, FL, presented the Gospel story with such passion and clarity, reminding us all why we do what we do.
Beth Vinton was the primary event coordinator for WFX, and it was her vision to make the worship and teaching sessions a more prominent focus of the conference. It was truly exciting to see that unfold. One of Beth’s ideas was for us to “flash-mob” unannounced and spontaneously right in the middle of the exhibit hall aisles. That was a blast! Smiles all around…
At the end of the event, the Tech Director for the whole WFX Conference told us, “I’ve never seen church tech guys worship like that before.” This was a real breakthrough. God be praised!
Reflections
The thing I’ll remember most is the joy, contentment, and yes, relief that I saw in the faces of hosts that had scheduled us for their event. More than even their words of gratitude and affirmation, I saw in their eyes that God had accomplished what they’d hoped and prayed for—and in many cases, abundantly more!
When we left a tour stop, our hearts were overflowing, even though we’d left a piece of our hearts there! Funny how that works.
In my new role here, I’m AMAZED to see how many online friends we have! It’s wonderful to know that we’ve touched your lives in a meaningful way, and our tour stops are where we get to deepen those friendships as we spend time together with the Lord. So let me encourage you, if you haven’t yet joined us live, here is my personal invitation. We’d love to greet you, look in your eyes, pray for your needs, and rejoice with you in victories.
2020 is going to be a very busy year for PEOPLE & SONGS. Check our upcoming schedule at peopleandsongs.com/events and hopefully we’ll see you soon!