Worship Leader Magazine Discussion from Blogs

**fmckinnon** · 03-25-2008, 04:21 PM

Hey Everyone,

Over the last few weeks, there have been multiple blogs posted re: Worship Leader Mag and SongDISCovery. Julie Reid, the Editor (a wonderful person, by the way, though we've never met personally, but probably will this Summer at the NWLC) actually popped in and posted some comments in a few of these blogs asking for input from Worship Leaders.

So this is our opportunity to speak out ... as regular, every day worship leaders, musicians, and technicians out there ...

So, I'm adding a poll to this thread ... please do the poll, and leave your comments. Ask questions ... if you aren't a subscriber, you can still participate!

Finally - and this is very important. Our natural tendency when asked for input is to only give critical, negative input. I'd encourage you strongly to also share your positive input and support as well. For example, one of my FAVORITE parts of the magazine is the "Song Stories" segment, where we learn about the stories behind the songs that are written.

So ... if you have some constructive criticism, share it in love, but at the same time, please do be an encourager and share the positive as well!

For the Kingdom,
Fred

Original blogs with ongoing discussion re: Worship Leader that I saw:
Live to Worship
CECWorship
BlendingWorship
ChrisfromCanada

**dave97402** · 03-25-2008, 05:11 PM

I use to be a subscriber at another church I was at, but did not continue. It's been a while since I read it, but most material, articles and such were not relevant (sp?) to the smaller church type worship situations. That and most of the songs offered to be honest were not very good. We only used one of them I think if I remember right in all the issues I received.

**humbleservant** · 03-25-2008, 05:17 PM

Perhaps you should separate the magazine from song discovery. I subscribe to the magazine and really enjoy it, but have never perceived a value in song discovery.

Daniel

**fmckinnon** · 03-25-2008, 05:22 PM

Daniel,
Good idea ... but was trying to keep the poll simple, plus, I think they come together as one resource, right?

Anyway - feel free to start a separate thread re: SongDISCovery in this same area if you'd like!

Fred

**alhilgendorf** · 03-25-2008, 06:33 PM

Our church has subscribed to SD for a long time and we've used songs on the average maybe 2 or 3 a year. I started subscribing recently myself but before I would always pick up an issue of Worship Leader at the local Christian bookstore. It's probably the best "niche" resource that we have even though it's difficult to be all things to all music leaders. If you don't like the CD, though, you CAN just subscribe to the mag.

**girlworshipleader** · 03-25-2008, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by alhilgendorf

If you don't like the CD, though, you CAN just subscribe to the mag.

That is a wonderful idea! I didn't know you could do that.

**BillyChia** · 03-25-2008, 07:08 PM

I subscribed the mag for a year this last year (my sub. ran out about 2 months ago.)

I found extremely little value in the magazine. Very little that was thought provoking or challenging. Almost no practical insights or suggestions that I could use in my ministry.

I don't even think I bothered to do more that skim that last 2 or 3 issues the previous ones were all so trite.

The alternative?

I believe blogging has given me way more value than the magazine.

**girlworshipleader** · 03-25-2008, 06:31 PM

Ok

I subscribed to SongDiscovery since Vol 13...

Originally LOVED The music HATED the magazine.

Then about 2 years ago the magazine got really good.... I LOVE the Mark D Roberts, Matt Redman, and Brenton Brown articles as well as the song stories. I looked forward to reading them each time. Too bad it is not a blog.

In California with taxes, gas prices, etc going up (I'm just a regular 40-hour-work-week person who is the WL at my church) and the fact that I've used only 1 song (HE IS HERE: AWESOME!) from SongDiscovery over the last 1.5 + years, I have to decide NOT to renew my subscription. $60 a year for maybe one song is hard to justify.

I think Song DISCovery has lost their way. The songs are nice, but they've forgotten that we need CONGREGATIONAL (non arrangement-dependent) songs that can be used in church and possibly with only one instrument (the bulk of worship leaders being very very small bands to only themselves).

I'm torn up about it, but $60 a year has become hard for me to keep paying when the songs aren't that great.

bridge

**Dvinechild** · 03-25-2008, 08:03 PM

I enjoy the mag for the most part but feel that a bit more could be geared for smaller church bodies. There's not a lot of mega churches in the north! I don't use songs from the SD CD's provided, however, I have used a bunch within the SD community. I would say that the selection process for the CD could go beyond what's "hot" on the scene sound wise, and more for practical use. (have used artist like Gary Rea, Wendy Wills, Mike Holholz, Michael Bahn, Matt Boswell) Some of the emerging worhsip leaders that live the everyday worship leader life and writing for their churches have the best material I believe. Real, relavant, heart-felt and usually not overly produced.

I would give up getting the CD b/c my needs are met other ways. I also subscribe to Worship Musician which is very helpful for various levels.