Best Corporate Worship Experience

Gospel Music Association (GMA) week just began. GMA is a time when Christian artists, radio affiliates, record labels, management, and the whole industry get together in Nashville for a few days leading up to the Dove Awards which take place Wednesday night. Interviews of all kinds are conducted. Concerts are presented in order to showcase new as well as experienced talent. Several other meetings are held during GMA.

Last night, I went to the worship service. I thought that it would be difficult to really worship God with all of these great top Christian performers. Michael W. Smith led most of the time. Amy Grant was just a choir member. About 100 artists were in the choir including Clay Crosse, Point of Grace, Todd Agnew, Avalon, BarlowGirl, and many other big name musicians. At first, people were snapping pictures right and left. Video cameras were coming out. I thought, "Here we go." However, by the end of the night, every single person looked as if they were into it. It being worshiping our Lord. Here were all of these talented singers, yet I felt as if we were all just children of God.

As the night drew on, the line between the audience and the stage became blurred and we were all one huge choir praising the Lord with all of our might. At one point, a portion of the audience began to sing the hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy." Michael W. Smith and the magnificent "choir" joined in.

The most powerful times during the night seemed to be when Peter Furler from The Newsboys led in the song "He Reigns," Darlene Zscech with "Shout to the Lord," and Micheal W. Smith directed "Healing Rain." I think that they were the most exuberant because it was almost a testimony since they are the authors of the songs. I wish you could have been there. The Holy Spirit was thick in the auditorium and He was leaping for joy inside my heart.