Southern Gospel Music

Author's Website:
http://southernspin.com

To mentor or not…

I was born in and spent my childhood in the Assemblies of God. When we moved from the St. Louis area to the Memphis area - we started attending a Church of God (Cleveland). So, I spent my my formidable (read: terrible teen) years and most of my college years in the Church of God culture. Heck, I even attended and graduated from the Church of God's shining star - Lee University.

The two aren't much different at all - very very minor theological differences. Mostly the political nature of the churches are what separates the two. Both churches have a way of mentoring young people in their gifts. In the Church of God - it's called Teen Talent, which is what I participated in. In the A/G - it's called Fine Arts. Both of these programs are designed to help encourage, strengthen, and develop the talents of young people - whether that's through music (everything from vocals, instrumental, songwriting, composing, etc.), pulpit or children's ministry, puppetry, sign language, human videos and drama, art, dance, and much much more.

The way FAF works is that these kids have to make it through their state districts (and in some districts multiple rounds) to be invited to participate at the national level (National Fine Arts Festival). These kids get scholarship money, learn vital information about their craft, and in some instances get bragging rights.

When I started going back to an Assembly of God after I graduated college - I was fortunate enough to be asked to an evaluator in the Tennessee District Fine Arts Festival. This was something that I always wanted to do - because I've always felt that there would be a portion of my calling that involved mentoring artists in some way. In what way I still don't know - but I saw this as a great way to get started. I was, and still to this day, remain absolutely floored at the talent that is just oozing from some of these kids. In addition to evaluating at the District level, I also evaluate at the National Fine Arts Festival - and it's a highlight of my year.

Why, you ask? Because this is my opportunity to share the things that I've learned over the years as a singer, songwriter, and musician to young people who are really only at the tip of understanding what their calling is and where they are meant to be in the grand scheme of life. When I was in Teen Talent as a teenager - I didn't want to hear things like "watch your control" or "don't over sing because it causes your pitch to waver" or "cool it on the runs." I thought I knew it all. Turns out I didn't - and I needed to hear it from people that actually knew what they were talking about and could in turn help take me a step further to becoming the kind of singer that the Lord called me to be.

Taking that kind of constructive criticism was what I needed to be able to take criticisms today. When I go in a writing session today, it doesn't bother me that the other writer throws out my line because it wasn't developed well enough or because it was too cliched and typical. How am I going to be a better writer if I can't learn from those who have experienced more in the writing world than I have?

I say all of this to let you know that I'm going to be having a blast this weekend pouring into the lives of young people from all across the state of Tennessee. Then, I get to do it all over again in August when I head to Detroit to evaluate at Nationals.

I wish that others in this industry would get behind our developing artists and mentor them to be the best possible artists they can be. If we don't show them, how can we expect to get out of the creative and musically mediocre slump that we are in? Come on guys - share what you know, seek out what you don't know, and let's take this industry to the next level.

I'm in. How about you?