Joplin Bound!

The team from Colorado is ready.  The trailer is almost packed.  We will be on the ground in Joplin on Wednesday afternoon.  There is still much work to be done but the excitement is building.  I want to make you all aware of a few things.

First, if you are a church or organization that is serving meals everyday to volunteers and victims please consider taking off the dinner service on Monday July 11.  We would love to be the ones feeding you that night along with the people you would normally be feeding.   We are planning BBQ sandwiches with chips and a dessert.  We will also have cold drinks!

Second, please help us spread the word.  Hope and Healing-Night of Worship will be an amazing time of modern worship, restoring Hope and allowing God to Heal the people of this broken land.  We have flyers available for you to put up at your place of business, church or organization.  Please contact us if you would like some flyers.

The flow of the Night looks like this:

5:30 PM Event starts with a meal being served

 

Mercury Rising – Wichita, KS (mercuryrisingmusic.com)

Jared Harder – Joplin, MO (www.reverbnation.com/jaredharder)

Gold Star Rebellion – Colorado Springs, CO (The Mountain Springs Church Band)

The Sonflowerz – Colorado (www.sonflowerz.com)

Jared Anderson – Integrity music (www.jaredanderson.com)

 

This is a FREE event open to the public in fact we would like for everyone in Joplin to realize they are welcome at this event.

God has been speaking to us about this event.  He is set to move in the hearts of the people of Joplin.  Lives will be changed.  This night has God’s Blessing all over it.  The question is are you ready to see God take a horrific situation, where a tornado ravaged the City of Joplin, and turn it around so that much good comes from it?  We believe this night will propel a movement of God on this city.  We hope you make plans to join us Monday July 11th starting at 5:30 PM at Landreth Park – Joplin, MO

The Road to Hope and Healing

Today was a very exciting day.  Each day we get a few more details worked out and in place to make July 11th a great night.  We pray for this event all the time.  One of my prayers continues to be, “God be glorified in what we are doing.  Don’t let me get in the way of what you want to do this night”.  We went to an organization here in Colorado and picked up 340 Bibles that were donated today.  We will pass them out to people who accept Christ at Hope and Healing – Night of Worship.  We also had 200 booklets donated that are a collection of scriptures all centered on hope.  The Ministerial Alliance is going to be sending out an email tomorrow to 160 churches and organizations in the Joplin area promoting and giving information about Hope and Healing – Night of Worship.  This is something very exciting because little by little the word is being spread.

If you have information about churches that were destroyed in the tornado please send it to me.  We want to make sure to extend a special welcome to these pastors and parishioners to Hope and Healing – Night of Worship.  Feel free to email me any information about how to contact these churches at kris@sightandsoundtech.tv.  I know that we will probably reach them with the message being sent out by the JAMA (Joplin Area Ministerial Alliance) but I want to personally connect with these churches.

Today we got some more of the rental equipment taken care of. We also talked with Ozark Christian College and they are going to let us use their parking lot for our event as well as parking in and around Landreth park.  Today was definitely a day of very good news.

We can’t wait to have Jared Anderson, The Sonflowerz, Mercury Rising, Gold Star Rebellion and local Joplin artist Jared Harder all coming to play and lead us in worship to Heal and restore Hope.  For some it will be Hope for the very first time.  Please continue to pray for this event.  Pray blessings over all the volunteers.  Pray for the last $5-6,000 that we need to raise to come in.  Pray for the people to come and receive Hope and Healing.

 

Joplin worship event perfect timing?

I got an email yesterday from a lady who has a connection to all the churches in Joplin.  She is excited about Hope and Healing- Night of Worship in Joplin July 11.  She went on to tell me that on Sunday June 26th there is a  Public Memorial Candlelight Observance at the Campbell Parkway from 8-9pm. The Pastors & The City of Joplin are officially asking that flags be returned to full mast following the Service to publically show a sign that hope & healing has begun.  Then 2 weeks from that event is the worship night.  God is so good.  I wish I could accurately convey all the conversations I have had with pastors, city officials and tornado victims that have communicated the same message.

If you are contemplating getting involved with this amazing event.  Please know that you will be helping to facilitate a God breathed vision.  His hand has been active in the planing of this event – So much that I can honestly say I have never been a part of such an obvious move of God.

If you are in the city of Joplin this night is for you.  Please allow us to just bless you.  Please be willing to take a night off form the complete chaos that is part of your life, come eat a great smoked pork meal, take a deep breath and allow God to work in your heart.

If you are outside the city of Joplin then we would love your help.  Prayers are very much appreciated (see the prayer list at the end of this post) Financial support is very needed www.mountainsprings.org/joplin (confidential online giving, receive tax giving credit). We also would love for you to come and help us serve the people of Joplin.

Prayer needs

Pray for the people in Joplin that God opens their hearts that they receive all that God has for them

Sound system (we may have the lighting system shored up- Praise God)

Getting the word out

Financial needs

Pray God leads our team to the right projects that need our help while we are there

 

God Sized Vision

Today we have been working to follow up on connections, send emails, finalize details and on and on it goes.  I got to thinking about Hope and Healing- night of worship.  I went to the story in Matt 14:13-21.  It is a story I know very well.  Jesus feeds the 5,000 (BTW that was men only  not including the women and children).  I haven’t taken a lot of time in the past to really study this passage but there are a few key things happening here.  First Jesus is not the no who performs the miracle.  It was the disciples.  Jesus tells them that they are the ones to give the people something to eat.  The other thing I notice is the doubt that you hear in the voices of the disciples when they protest telling Jesus that they only have 5 loaves and 2 fishes.

I relate this story in the Bible very easily to what God has called us to do.  I think I realized just how big this night is when I was heading for a meeting with the guy heading up the food for Hope and Healing- night of Worship.  I was praying and asking God to give me the number of people that will be at Landreth Park on July 11th in Joplin, MO. God Said 10,000 people.  I prayed 3 times thinking that maybe I just heard wrong.  Each time God said 10,000 people.  Essentially God  is saying here is what I want you to do. Hold an event in Joplin, MO, get them all together, feed them and I will heal them.  Now that is a God sized vision.

The details are coming together. We still need continuous prayer. We are in need of funding.  We believe God is orchestrating every detail of this event and we are excited to be a part of it.  We need your help.

Mountainsprings.org/joplin

Joplin Day 3

We had to leave to come back to Colorado today.  There is still so much that needs to be done that it is hard to leave.  I met a guy yesterday from Minnesota who had come out a few weeks ago with a group.  Then they had to leave but he couldn’t stay away. He got in his car and drove all the way back to be there on the ground helping with the relief effort.  Today was the first full day that the semi trailer with the showers were completed at Calvary Chapel Joplin.  This is a big need.  Places to shower are few and far between and there are usually significant wait lines.

Hope and Healing – night of worship is coming together.  We got the contracts form the city of Joplin today to use Landreth Park  amphitheater an pavilion shelter.  We also received a very encouraging email from our main contact at the city.

We are very excited to announce that Integrity artist Jared Anderson with be playing in Joplin and well as The Sonflowerz, Gold Star Rebellion and Mercury Rising.  These great worship leaders will be leading us right to the Father who is our Hope and the One who heals.

We still have a lot of details to work out and take care of but the night is coming together.  So other big news is we now have the Facebook page up for this event.  Just click this link and be sure to “like” the page.

If you are outside the Joplin area we need your financial support.  Please go to mountainsprings.org/joplin to donate to this amazing event.  Be sure you designate “Joplin Immediate Relief” when you give.

Prayer needs

The city and people of Joplin are still in great need.  Keep praying for them

Pray that many come to Christ through our event.

Pray that we get the audio and lighting system we need.

Pray that all the necessary funds come in.

Pray that we have all the volunteers we need to pull off this event.

Pray for the amazing people organizing the feeding of the 10,000

On The Ground in Joplin Day 2

I worked this morning to spread the word today to more churches in Joplin getting them on board with Hope & Healing-a night of worship.  I am amazed at the amount of support building here in Joplin for this event.  I talked with a local radio host who told me that he would spread the word about the event and do everything possible to get the word out.  I talked with another pastor who currently has 500 people sleeping in his sanctuary.  I told him about the vision for the event, and he says to me, “I can see this event, and our church is fully on board with you.” That seems to be the general consensus here.  Even the city of Joplin is telling me this event is needed here in Joplin.  Hope & Healing-a night of worship has now been scheduled with the city.  I have a few forms being sent to me that need to be filled out.

Today I also was able to drive through the majority of the tornado-affected area.  It was heart-breaking.  I am planning on putting together a video of the footage that I shot today.  We drove down a side street where every single house was completely destroyed.  All we could see was piles of rubble where houses once were.  Then I saw a man who looked to be about 50 years old standing in his yard raking up debris.  He had no house, only a slab where his house once was, just raking his yard.  I saw houses with a big X on them showing the date the houses were searched and how many people were found in the house.  I saw the place where a Wal-mart once stood.  I saw the remaining walls of a Home Depot.  Yet I continue to meet people who lost everything at the churches helping pass out aid to fellow tornado victims. The people of Joplin amaze me.  Spirits are good.  The outpouring of support from people all over the country is amazing.  Yet everyone I talk to continues to communicate to me that people here are in survival mode.  They have not even looked up long enough to realize their Spirit needs nourishment.  This is why were are doing what we are doing.  If you are reading this and your church would like to be involved, please go to www.mountainsprings.org/joplin

We still need a lot of prayer.

Pray for the people of Joplin

Pray for the rebuilding of Joplin

Pray for volunteers

Pray for the Audio and Lighting systems

Pray for funds for the event

Pray that we get the word out to the entire city

On the Ground in Joplin day 1

Had a lot of great meetings here in Joplin today.  I met with a city of Joplin official who loves the idea of what “Hope & Healing – a night of worship” is all about.  I should get Landreth park officially reserved tomorrow.  I met with the former Mayor of Joplin.  He is also the pastor of a church here.  I was able to talk with the receptionist at his church while I was waiting for him to get out of another meeting.  She told me she lost everything in the tornado.  I told her about the event that we are planning.  She began to cry and proceeded to tell me that she has already seen this event taking place.  Before I told her we were going to have it at Landreth park she told me what she saw was an out door event at Landreth park and every church in the city was represented – coming together for a time of healing.  I then told her that we were planing on holding the event at Landreth park and the title of the event was Hope and Healing.  She cried even more and so did I.

This story – or some variation of it it was what I received at virtually every church I went to today.  God is moving and stirring in the hearts of the people of Joplin even now.  Please keep praying.  Visit www.mountainsprings.org we need your prayer support and financial support to make this event happen.  We hope to have the facebook page up soon.  Be watching for that.

Prayer needs:

Location finalized

Financial needs

Teams of people coming to help

Sound and Lighting rental system donated or very discounted

Feeding thousands organized and detailed

More prayer needs to come…

Joplin Immediate Relief

On Sunday night May 22 a powerful F-5 tornado ripped through Joplin, MO destroying 75% of the city. My sister and her family live in Joplin.  They were in an IHOP when the tornado went right through the restaurant.   They were able to move into a large walk in cooler in the back of the restaurant and because of that survived the tornado with minor scrapes and bruises.  Many were not so fortunate.  My brother in law is the Children’s Pastor of  Calvary Chapel Joplin and is heading up their massive relief effort and works tirelessly from sun up till sun down along with my sister (8 months pregnant) and their 5 kids.  God has been moving in the heart of my wife, Tara, and I.  What I feel very strongly that He is saying is to hold a night of worship relief concert.  We are calling it “Hope & Healing – a night of worship” We are not holding some big benefit concert we just want to give these people an opportunity to turn toward God and also give them an opportunity to heal.  We need your help!  There are multiple opportunities for you to get involved.

Give  It costs a lot of money to pull of an event like this.  We are planning to feed all who attend.  An outlying church in the area  is helping with this part of the night. We are responsible for providing the food. They will provide the people to cook and serve it.

We are providing transportation meals for all the artists we are bringing in for this night.

We also want to be able to provide some financial support to Calvary Chapel Joplin for their continued effort being the hands and feet of Christ.

Backpack drive. This year we expect to need more than 2000 backpacks for the students of Joplin.  These need to be NEW backpacks for kids ages K-12.  Please contact us for a shipping location.  You can also donate funds for backpacks and we will purchase them for you.

Come with us!  We will arrive in Joplin Wednesday July 6th and will be there until July 14th.  If you would like to be part of the Joplin missions trip please contact us for more information

Pray! We need a lot of prayer support.  We are seeing God’s hand moving already but there are so many details that still need to com together.  We need a lot of prayer.

For more information please go to www.mountainsprings.org/joplin

Donation instructions. Click here to give online.  This link takes you to Mountain Springs Church online giving form. Choose create an account.  Once logged in choose Fund drop down menu and select “designated giving”.  Then choose “Joplin Immediate Relief” as the sub fund.

A great resource

Hey everyone!  Just wanted to post a quick blog to help you with a constant problem in churches… Stage design.  We need them to look really cool or sometimes convey a specific message.  Our stage designs seem to change often so that the people who see it weekend after weekend can have a fresh and new worship experience.  There is a place where churches can help churches.  Check out www.churchstagedesignideas.com.  My friend Jonathan put this site together and it has been a huge help for a lot of churches already.  You can check out the site, see what designs other churches have submitted, find out how they did it and submit your own designs as well.  Check it out!

Art of Mixing Part 2

In this blog, Art of Mixing part 2, we will get into a few more of the mixing details that need to go in to the process of building a good mix and maintaining it.

Parametric EQ

 The Parametric EQ is the EQ that is set on the actual input channel.  This is not to be confused with graphic EQ that is inserted in a channel and is used to notch certain frequencies and is usually configured in either 15 or 31 channel formats.

The most important thing to remember when setting the EQ whether parametric or graphic is to take away – not add.  Every frequency on an input is already present.  What happens is the frequencies that are desired are covered up by frequencies that are not desired.  This is why you want to find the un-desirable frequencies and pull them out.  Don’t over do it.  Keep in mind every time a frequency is pulled out gain is also being pulled out.  Only pull out what you need and nothing more.  It is the tendency of many engineers to boost frequencies.  Do not do this.  There are very few exceptions to this EQ principle.

During a sound check or rehearsal it is safe to boost a frequency for the purpose of helping you find the frequency that sounds bad then pull it down.  Remember, don’t pull it all the way out. Usually it is a pretty slight notch.

Gates and Compressors

 The use of a gate can be very effective in controlling what is allowed to pass through the system through and open mic.  Use a gate on snare drum mic and tom mics.  Sometimes a gate on the Kick drum is in order.  There are very rare occasions to use a gate on anything other than these mics.  Only use a gate if you are familiar on how to set thresholds, range and decay etc.

 Compressors are a very effective way to make an instrument or vocal mic stick out in a mix.  Do not over compress anything.  Light compression is best.  If you are unfamiliar with setting compressors then no compression at all is better than compressor that is not properly set.  Vocal mics, acoustic guitars, snare drum, kick drum, sometimes toms and speech mics are all appropriate for compression.  Don’t compress keys or electric guitars.

Mixing tips

 Once the base mix has been established then it is time to begin mixing.  A band rehearsal is a great time to practice mixing.  Using the pyramid from Part 1, set the kick drum and bass guitar and then build from there.  After the drums have been placed appropriately in the mix and the lead vocal is out on the top then the trick to mixing begins not by having everything in the mix at the same time.  Rather it is more important to bring instruments in and out of the mix according to what is happening during the song.  Treat the soundboard as the primary instrument in the band.  As the audio engineer it is important to pay attention to what is going on with the song.  Is it an up tempo song?  What instrument is driving the song?  Are there any instrumental solos?  Where is the solo in the song?  Is it after the second Chorus?  Does the electric guitar intro the song?  In addition to asking these questions constantly (about every 10-20 seconds) ask yourself, “What does the song need right now?” Normally, the base of the pyramid and the top don’t change much.  The two layers in between are the mixing variables.  These are things that will constantly be changing in the mix.

In some situations the quality of the musicianship has to be addressed in the mix.  Keep something very important in mind:  It is your job as audio engineer to make the mix sound the best it possibly can.  So, you will have a singer from time to time singing flat.  You have to back that person down in the mix.  If you have an acoustic guitar player who cannot seem to find the rhythm, you have to back that person down in the mix.  This is nothing personal toward that person.  It is simply what needs to be done in order to achieve the goal of good sound.

Volume

The volume of the overall mix is a very delicate issue.  It is easy to say that in a typical worship service the volume should sit around 92-94db.  However, there are many things to consider while achieving this level.  First, understand that SPL meters have a few settings.  A and C weightings, fast and slow settings.  OSHA rates safe sound levels using the A weighting.  The difference in A versus C weightings is C weighting measures full range; highs, mids and lows and A weighting measures only high and mid range frequencies.  The reason A is most important is that Low frequencies don’t damage hearing so OSHA doesn’t regulate low levels when measuring safe sound levels.  Most churches use C weighting so bear in mind the differences.  94db C weighted will usually read less using A weighting.  The best setting for SPL meters is A weighted slow setting.  The volume based on SPL meter A weighted that is ideal for worship services is 90-92db with a peak of 95db.

The other issue to address with regard to overall volume is quality of the sound.  If the audio engineer has built a full mix with all frequencies well represented then the over all volumes can be louder.  If there is too much emphasis on high mid (vocal and guitar ranges) frequencies then the mix becomes more painful to hear the louder it gets.  If the overall volume is too soft other issues are encountered.  The goal in church sound is to create an atmosphere where people feel welcome to engage in worship.  Often times if the mix is too soft people will hesitate to engage and not sing because they are afraid people around them will hear them singing.

During the worship service watch the audience.  Are they engaging?  Can you hear the crowd singing?  This is a sign that the mix is loud enough that people feel comfortable singing and not so loud that you cannot hear them singing.

Hopefully these tips and tricks will allow a great worship experience for your church.  This has been a basic introduction in to the art of mixing.  Feel free to contact me for more information.