Matthew Lilley's Blog, page 5

Anna: A Prayer Missionary and Prophetic Forerunner

In previous articles I have discussed the unique ministry calling to full-time prayer & worship – what I refer to as a “prayer missionary”. One of the earliest examples of this ministry function were the Levites in David’s Tabernacle.

Before we examine Christian prayer missionaries in future articles, we need to look at one more Bible character who sits right in the gap between the Old and New Testament – the intercessor and prophetess Anna.

Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Luke 2:36-38

Luke describes Anna in the midst of the narrative surrounding the birth of Jesus. Although she is a more obscure character than others in the Christmas story, she prayed in the Temple leading right up to the first coming of Christ. God uses her intercession to spiritually “birth” His promises into the earth. In the case of Anna, God’s promise was the coming of the Messiah himself.

The Prophetess

Anna was a widow who spent decades in prayer. It is not clear from the text if she was 84 years old or if she had been widowed for 84 years, but either way it is clear that she had been praying faithfully day & night for decades before Jesus was born. This is a stunning character!

What would cause a young woman (probably in her teens or twenties) to give her life to prayer and fasting in such a radical way without wavering in her commitment? After five years, she kept going to the Temple. After twenty years, she kept showing up. Forty years. Fifty years. When no one understood, she kept showing up. When she lost friends over her lifestyle choices, she kept showing up. Why?

Seeing what no one else sees causes you to do what no one else does.

It is interesting that she was called a prophetess but we never see her prophesying. As a prophetess, she was obviously hearing from God with words and/or visions. She knew by the Scriptures and through the Holy Spirit that a Messiah was coming. She had a vision for something greater than her own life. She was living for something more than her personal fulfillment. She had locked her eyes on Yahweh’s promise to bring a Deliverer to Israel. 

God’s word gave Anna faith, which kept her steady before God even when she was all alone. She knew God would keep his promise. God had invited her close to Him to be a part of what He was going to bring forth on the earth. She had a revelation that her “yes” to show up and pray made a difference in human history. It was as if she had been impregnated with the prophetic promise, and she labored for years in intercessory prayer to see it (Him) birthed into the earth. 

Every prophetic word and vision from the Lord is first and foremost an invitation to intercession. Anna knew that God had shown her something special that He was planning to do. Interestingly, Anna’s primary response to the prophetic insight was day & night prayer with fasting. Rather than start talking, she started praying.

Ministry to the Lord

The story says that Anna “served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” Anna ministered to the Lord with her prayer. Ministry to the Lord is priestly terminology, and it is the primary activity of a prayer missionary. We see the priority of ministry to the Lord throughout the Scriptures.

The Church at Antioch “ministered to the Lord” (Acts 13:2) with worship & prayer offered to God. This is actually every Christian’s primary ministry as a New Testament royal priesthood (I Peter 2:9). This is not just the activity of prayer missionaries! Prayer and fasting is also for me and for you. Yet Anna gives a glimpse of what it looks like when someone is called to this ministry vocationally. 

Anna the Prayer Missionary

Anna is clearly a vocational intercessor. Her full-time job was to minister to God with fasting and prayer. She was so committed to this extravagant expression of prayer that it describes her doing it by herself “night and day.” She obviously had to go home to sleep at some point, but she spent so many hours at the Temple with the Lord that it was as if she never left. 

‘In this very hour, the Lord is wooing those with a heart and calling like Anna to the full-time occupation of worship and prayer. He is personally appointing and setting them into their places. The Lord is calling forth modern-day “Annas” in churches and prayer rooms around the world. Those whom God raises up as “Annas” we must celebrate as a great gift to the Body of Christ and the prayer movement. These individuals need to be called forth, recognized, and released by their leaders to obey their God-given mandate.’

– Mike Bickle

Some have an Anna anointing/calling to give themselves in extravagant worship & prayer vocationally. All believers should engage in intercession on some level, but not everyone can or should do what Anna did! 

For some there is grace to pray 40+ hours per week. That is a rare but totally valid expression of this calling. Others may spend 20-25 hours per week in prayer (and the rest of their workweek doing other ministry activities), which is typical for many full-time prayer missionaries in houses of prayer. Some may serve as part-time prayer missionaries with 10-20 hours per week in prayer. Many prayer missionaries will also be musicians, singers and worship leaders – functioning like the modern-day equivalent of the “Levites” who served in David’s Tabernacle.

If the story of Anna stirs your hearts, perhaps God is calling you as a prayer missionary?

It’s also worth noting that some enter into vocational prayer & worship for a season until God leads them elsewhere. Others will be like Anna and give themselves to this vocation as a lifelong commitment. 

Forerunners to Christ’s 2nd Coming

Anna was not only a prophetess but a prophetic picture of the end-times bride of Christ. Jesus came and He is coming again. The forerunners of Jesus’ first coming are types and shadows of the forerunners of Jesus’ second coming. Anna is one of those first forerunners that points us to the purpose and function of the body of Christ before the second coming of Jesus.

It’s likely that Jesus had Anna in mind as he taught about prayer in the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8). Here Jesus instructs his disciples to pray always and not lose heart (Luke 18:1). Jesus encourages His people to cry out “day and night” for justice (Luke 18:7), similar to how Anna was praying “day and night” in the Temple. And before Christ returns, there will be day & night worship & prayer across the earth. The body of Christ will be see as a house of prayer for all nations.

However, unlike Anna, the Church is not a widow, but a Bride who is partnered with God in covenant love. The Spirit and the Bride will say “come!” (Revelation 22:17) in unity together as we long for the return of our Bridegroom and the consummation of our betrothal to Him. Just as Anna partnered with God’s promises through prayer to “birth” the first coming of Christ, the Church at the end of the age will partner with the Spirit of God to “birth” the second coming of Christ through day & night prayer, intercession and fasting.

Regardless of our personal callings, Anna is an inspiration to all believers to be faithful in prayer and fasting as near the return of our Savior to earth. Come, Lord Jesus!

The Ultimate Guide to Spontaneous and Prophetic Worship

Updated June 1, 2020

One of the areas of worship leading that continues to remain mysterious for many people is spontaneous and prophetic worship. Some worship leaders are simple curious about this topic. Some want to dive in but are just not sure exactly where to start. Some leaders disagree with the premise entirely and believe all of our church gatherings should be planned out down to the minute with no spontaneity at all.

I like to think of this topic in terms of Spirit-Led Worship. Spirit-led worship includes spontaneous and prophetic worship, but it goes even deeper than that.

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:24

This is a very practical guide that is broken into five sections.

Spiritual FoundationsMusical FoundationsSpirit-Led PlanningSpontaneous & Prophetic WorshipFlowing Together as a Band

I want to emphasize that I think it is very important to take in the whole of this guide and not just skip to section #4. The foundations of our spiritual lives, our musical skills and our planning are vital in cultivating the tools needed to flow in effective spontaneous and prophetic worship!

Before we get too deep, I also wanted you to know about my FREE PDF Guidebook called Sing A New Song: Four Ways To Unlock Spontaneous & Prophetic Worship!

1. Spiritual FoundationsIntimate relationship with God

Eternal life is why Jesus died (John 3:16), and Jesus said eternal life starts NOW by knowing God!

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3

The first and greatest commandment is loving God (Matthew 22:36-37). Without relationship, trying to be spirit-led, spontaneous or prophetic will amount to new religious formulas, and copying those who are sincerely prophetic. Playing Bethel songs does not amount to being Spirit-led. God has a unique and personal way for you to relate to him, specific things to speak to you, and creative ways to use you in leading worship. This will all flow out of your personal relationship with the Lord. I would actually encourage worship leaders to sing alone to Jesus as much or more as you sing to Him in front of others.

Being close to God and rooted in the reality of His love for us (Ephesians 3:17-20) will free us from fear that would hinder stepping out in faith/spontaneity (I John 4:18). Many of the practical things that we will discuss happen naturally as worship leaders develop deeper intimacy with God. Do NOT miss this point. First things first.

Lifestyle of Worship

You can’t be “Spirit-led” if God is not your leader (Galatians 5:16-26). Being a true worshiper means submitting one’s life fully to Him as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). Everything we do, not just “ministry”, must be done for God’s glory (Colosians 3:23).

Lifestyle of Prayer and Fasting

Spirit-led worship leaders have thriving prayer lives. They engage in daily personal prayer and regular corporate prayer. They have discovered the worship leader’s secret weapon in the secret place of prayer and fasting (Matthew 6:5-18, 9:15). They are learning to hear God’s voice -through solitude, silence, journaling and Bible meditation.

Intentional Bible Study and Meditation

This point is super important. If you are going to sing spontaneously in worship, you must have good theology. Otherwise, you could be singing lies or teaching false doctrine through your spontaneous, unbiblical songs! I would suggest every believer and worship leader read through the whole Bible, preferably once a year (2 Timothy 3:16) – Youversion can help. In your private worship time, take Bible verses to pray through, sing through, meditate on, etc. (2 Tim. 2:7).

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16

Local church commitment

Being in a Spirit-filled, Bible-believing local church provides accountability, humility, perspective, relationship, Bible teaching and spiritual authority (Hebrews 10:25, I Peter 5:5, I Timothy 5:17, Acts 2:42-47). This is a vital spiritual foundation.

Ministering prophetically

It may seem obvious, but if you want to lead prophetic worship, you need to learn to prophesy! Learning to relay God’s word to others prepares you to do the same when you are leading worship. (Acts 2:17, I Corinthians 12-14). The book “You May All Prophesy” by Steve Thompson is a great resource to grow in your understanding and activation of the gift of prophesy.

2. Musical Foundations

Playing spontaneously requires greater musical skill than only playing through pre-arranged songs. The best spirit-led worship leaders have taken the time to develop their musical craft so that they can focus on the Lord and be ready to release the sounds and songs that God’s Spirit gives to them during worship.

Memorize songs

Many church musicians are glued to their music stand the entire worship set. I would encourage those of you wanting to engage in spontaneous, prophetic and Spirit-led worship to memorize the songs. Memorizing the songs allows one to focus on hearing God’s voice and being led by the Spirit in the midst of the worship set. You are less focused on playing the right chords, so you can focus on the Lord. Practically, not having your eyes fixed on the chord chart allows you to watch and communicate with the band during spontaneous moments, instead of staring at the page.

Playing by ear

Learn to play music by ear. Learn to recognizing progressions, intervals and harmonies. The best way to do this is to simply put on music and try to learn to play it. Keep rewinding certain parts, play them over and over until you figure it out. Eventually your ear will develop to recognize the music. Developing this skill will allow you to more easily follow one another in spontaneous worship moments.

Music theory

Likewise, Spirit-led worshipers should understand music theory. Growing in your understanding of rhythm, keys, scales, chords and harmony will be extremely beneficial.

I would encourage you to learn the Nashville number system, which allows a leader to call out chords by number in order to communicate a spontaneous chord progression to a band.

Multiple instruments

In any band situation, it can be very helpful to learn multiple instruments. This allows you to understand what is happening beyond your own parts, and it can greatly improve communication among band members.

It would be great if the keyboard player could recognize a guitar or bass playing a “G” or “C”. It is nice if the guitarist can watch the keyboard player’s left hand to learn the root notes.

This comes in especially handy during spontaneous moments, when you are trying to follow what is happening in the moment.

Various styles

Expand your musical horizons by learning a bit of multiple styles – rock, pop, jazz, gospel, metal, classical, blues, etc. This improves your musical arsenal so that you can pull out whatever style of music is needed in a spontaneous worship moment. At certain times, a unique style of music may best represent what God’s Spirit is doing in a room. You want to be able to prophesy musically in a way that reflects what God is emphasizing. You also need to be ready to follow your fellow band-mates, who may instigate a spontaneous song in a style that is unfamiliar to you.

Songwriting

Spontaneous worship is essentially writing a song in the moment. If you have not given any thought on how to craft songs, then spontaneous worship is probably going to be challenging for you and unpleasant for those who are listening.

It really helps to understand the interplay of chords, melody, lyrics, harmony, phrasing and rhythm. You can learn what melodies and scales work with what chord progressions. Then, when you are in a moment of worship, you can begin to craft your spontaneous song on-the-fly in a way that is enjoyable, musical and pleasing to the ear.

3. Spirit-Led Planning

Being spirit-led does not mean no planning, and planning does not mean the Holy Spirit can not be involved. The key is to invite the Holy Spirit into your planning, and allow Him to change/alter your plans throughout the entire process, even at the last minute. Ask Him to give you themes, songs and ideas for the service – write them down and make a plan. If God doesn’t speak specific songs to sing, assume there is freedom to chose.

Personal Preparation

As you are seeking to hear God’s voice for direction of your worship set, trust your heart in God’s presence. If you are in prayer/worship and a song pops into your head, it’s probably the Holy Spirit leading you to a song. Perhaps God will allow a certain song to connect with you personally as a way to lead you in what songs to sing.

I would suggest that you spend time worshiping with the songs on your set list and see how the Spirit leads during your private worship. Practice spontaneity and learn to flow alone with God. You may discover other songs to which you can transition easily to create a medley. You may develop spontaneous choruses that can be repeated during the service.

Spirit-Led Band Practices

Then I would also encourage you to practice spontaneity and prophetic worship at your band practices. Do not wait until you are in front of others. If you do not practice, you usually will not do it or it will be rough.

Arranging for Spontaneity

As you are planning your worship set, arrange the actual songs more loosely. Arrange the beginning and ending, but plan to have moments that will linger – a musical interlude/solo, a repeated bridge/chorus, etc. Plan to have parts that will repeat indefinitely until the worship leader cues the band to move on to the next part.

For those of you leading church services with a limited amount of time for worship, you will need to plan for spontaneity in a realistic way. If you usually do 4 songs, maybe do 3 songs and plan on some extended and/or spontaneous worship. If you are allowed 20 minutes of musical worship, then plan for 15 minutes of songs and leave five minutes for vamping, flow and spontaneous worship. Give the Spirit some room to move!

Spirit-led planning involves your personal preparation, your team preparation and planning the songs and set in a way that makes space for lingering and flowing.

4. Spontaneous and Prophetic WorshipBetter Caught Than Taught

One thing I have found is that Spirit led worship is many times better caught than taught. I would recommend that you find a way to play and sing with other spirit-led and prophetic worshipers. It will rub off on you. This could also include listening to prophetic and spontaneous worship music.

Extend Existing Songs

One of the greatest ways to break out of the rut of just playing songs is to begin to extend your songs and add repetition – the musical term for this is vamping. You could do things like repeat the chorus, return the bridge and play through the last 1⁄3 of the song again, etc. Worship leaders can develop simple hand signals to cue the band to repeat their current song portion or to return to a different part of the song (such as the bridge).

On a side note, adding repetition can actually help people start to think about what they are singing and why. Sometimes we breeze through songs so quickly that they never sink in.

Spontaneous Worship

Now for some definitions. Spontaneous worship is when a worship leader and/or singer(s) begins worshiping from their heart in a free-flow style. The Psalms instruct us to sing a new song (Psalm 33:3, 96:1, 98:1, 144:9, 149: 1). Spontaneous worship is not necessarily prophetic (more on that in a minute), but it is biblical and powerful!

Moses and Miriam sang spontaneous songs after being delivered from Egypt (Exodus 15). Simeon respond to Christ’s birth with a spontaneous song (Luke 2:29-32). The nations respond Jesus’ salvation by singing a spontaneous song (Isaiah 42:10).

There are seven Hebrew words translated into “praise.” One of those words, tehillah, has the implications of a spontaneous song.

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise [tehillah] unto our God (Psalm 40:3)

Tehillah is used each time the word praise appears with ‘new song.” Psalm 22:3 says God is enthroned on our praises [tehillah] which helps us understand why God’s presence comes in a particularly strong way when we sing spontaneously.

Spontaneous worship can happen during instrumental breaks or during a repetitious part of the song. Many times this happens at the end of a song as the band worship leader is vamping on a certain chord progression. Leaders and singers can all sing together at the same time to encourage the congregation to join in with the team, and the room can be filled with “tehillah” – but watch out! This is incredibly powerful.

Spontaneous Choruses

Sometimes a spontaneous chorus can develop. A spontaneous chorus is a phrase or stanza that is written in the moment and repeated. A great example of this is the song Surrounded by Upper Room Music, which has now been turned into a regular “song” by Michael W. Smith, Bethel and others. However, the origination of this song was a spontaneous chorus. You can see how it developed on the original video below.

Prophetic Songs

When we prophesy, we communicate God’s heart to people at a specific time. A prophetic song then is simply communicating God’s heart through a song. In a prophetic song the singer sings over the congregation from God’s perspective as the Holy Spirit speaks to the singer.

Prophetic songs in Scripture include David’s messianic prophecies in the Psalms (2, 8, 16, 22, 34, 45, etc.), Song of Solomon, Mary’s song (Luke 1:46-55), Zacharias’ prophecy (Luke 1:67-79), etc. In fact, most biblical prophecies were actually sung.

The Bible seems to indicate that music helps facilitate prophecy, because it helps us to engage with God in our spirit/heart. So then prophesying with songs make a lot of sense.

But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. 2 Kings 3:15

“…I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with understanding.” I Corinthians 14:15 (context is discussing tongues and prophecy)

While spontaneous worship is a free-flow of praise from the worshiper to God, a prophetic song is a Spirit-inspired song from God’s perspective to the people. In fact, a prophetic song does not have to be spontaneous (although many are). A prophetic song could be a pre-existing song that is sung just at the right moment as the Holy Spirit leads you.

Below is great example of a spontaneous prophetic song from the prayer room at the International House of Prayer. It starts with a prophetic “oracle” – an extended time of singing a prophetic word. It then transitions into a prophetic “chorus”, where they begin singing a few phrases of the prophecy over and over.

Prophetic Instrumentation

The Bible contains many commands to play instruments before God as an expression of praise- I Chronicles 15:16, Psalm 150, etc. Many believe that when you see the word “Selah” in the Psalms that it was indication of a musical interlude.

In David’s Tabernacle, David trained the musicians to play skillfully but also to prophesy with their instruments.

Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals. I Chronicles 25:1

If prophesy is communicating God’s heart, then sometimes the instruments themselves communicate God’s heart during worship!

Here is Leonard Jones prophesying on his violin.

You can see while the musical foundations are vital for musicians to be prepared to prophesy on their instrument. God may want to communicate something requiring fast playing or an unusual style. Get ready musically so you can prophesy!

Also, sometimes the vocalists begin to prophesy “instrumentally” by singing non-lexical sounds – such as “la la la” or “oh oh oh” using a particular melody that prophesies just like an instrument.

Antiphonal Singing

Antiphonal singing involves multiple singers singing in an alternating way, and this can be spontaneous worship, singing prayers or prophetic singing.

“And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD“ Ezra 3:11

And the heads of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers across from them, to praise and give thanks, group alternating with group, according to the command of David the man of God. Nehemiah 12:2

Antiphonal singing can be planned, but it is really powerful when two (or more) spirit-led vocalists flow together.

Sometimes this happens as one singer sings prophetically and one responds worshipfully.

Example:
Singer 1: “My beloved I desire you to draw near to me”
Singer 2: “I will draw near, oh God”

5. Practicals of Flowing as a Band

In order for all of this to work well in a band setting, there are some practical things that can be put in place to make the worship set flow better.

First of all, the leadership must be very clear. Who is directing the band during spontaneous moments? Many worship leaders develop hand signals to indicate to the band members where they are going next. Hand signals could signify “repeat”, “chorus”, “bridge”, “get louder”, etc.

I would also suggest arranging the players on the stage so that everyone can see one another. The typical rock band setup with a “front man” is limiting. I think it is especially helpful to make sure the drummer can see well. Consider how an orchestra is arranged in a semi circle stage, so everyone can see. Some worship teams known for their spontaneity are beginning to set up in a circle or semi-circle. Check out the photo of United Pursuit below for an example.

I would also contend that the traditional church format of rotating musicians in and out makes it harder for musicians to learn to flow together. Having a consistent band lineup allows the members to learn each other – how they play and how they communicate. This familiarity can really alleviate hesitancy, create a sense of freedom and allow some amazing spontaneous moments to come out.

Want to Go Deeper?

If you enjoyed this blog, then you’ll want to check out my FREE PDF Guidebook called Sing A New Song: Four Ways To Unlock Spontaneous & Prophetic Worship!

9 Steps to Launch Your DIY Podcast

This article is aimed at helping normal people like you and me to launch a podcast. I want to take you from no podcast to a successful podcast launch. Using this guide & some DIY grit, you can get your awesome podcast started with minimal costs so that your God-given message can be heard loud and clear!

The 9 Steps to LaunchUnderstand WHYEstablish a Name and LogoDecide the Length, Format & FrequencyDetermine A Hosting PlatformChoose A MicrophoneSet the Environment & LightingStart RecordingEdit the Audio & VideoSubmit to Apple & Spotify1. Understand WhyWhy I Did It

Before I explain how I launched, let me explain why I did it. And why you should do it. I launched the Presence Pioneers podcast last year. Not because I wanted to gain a following or become a popular influencer (which I haven’t). I was directing a local house of prayer community as well as leading Burn 24-7 local leaders based all across the nation. I considered having a Bible study time with our local prayer community, but I didn’t want to take people away from prayer meetings to teach about prayer! 

When I considered the platform of podcasting, I realized I could kill two birds with one stone. I could produce content online that would equip our local Burn 24-7 community, but it could also equip the Burn 24-7 leaders and communities all around America! Of course, the content would be available publicly so those outside of Burn 24-7 could enjoy it too. Plus, having the episodes archived meant there would be a growing library of evergreen teaching & interviews to help encourage and equip people in hosting worship & prayer.

Why You Should Do It

Did you know that over 50% of the homes in the United States listen to podcasts? That’s over 60 million homes. Specifically, religious podcasts listening is growing at an astronomical rate of 85% per year. If you have a desire to share a God-given message, educate, preach, equip or discuss, you should seriously consider utilizing podcasting. It is the radio of the 21st century.

So when I launched the podcast, I had our local and national Burn 24-7 communities in mind as I created podcast episodes. Expanding the podcast audience beyond people I was already leading was a secondary goal for me. As long as the people I knew and loved were being helped, it was a win for me. Obviously your podcasting goals will be different than mine. You will need to cater your podcast plan to match the goals you’re trying to achieve.

Understanding the Podcast Community

If you’re not an active listener to podcasts, it will really help you to start listening to podcasts so that you can better understand the platform and culture of podcasting. The medium is not quite like anything else, and there’s an entire community of podcast listeners and producers.

First of all, be sure to listen to podcasts within your industry or niche. It will be helpful to know what’s already available (or not available) so that you can find a unique lane for your podcast. You’ll also want to develop relationships with other podcasters in your industry, so that you can support each other. Secondly, be sure to listen to podcasts that are successful in general. You’ll pick up lots of great ideas to make your podcast better by following those that are already doing it successfully.

2. Establish a Name and Logo

Your podcast will need a name and logo before you launch. This gets into branding and marketing, which is beyond the scope of this article. There are tons of free blogs and Youtube videos that can help you with branding your podcast, project or business.

What about the logo? If you do not know a graphic designer to help with your podcast logo, you can use a free tool like Canva to design something that looks pretty great. Keep it simple, clear and professional. 

Again… if you’re following successful podcasts already, then you’ll have a sense of what makes a good podcast name and logo.

3. Decide the Length, Format & FrequencyLength of Each Episode

There is much debate about how long a podcast episode should be. The reality is, that the length depends on your target audience, the type of content and your goals for the podcast.

Are you going to feature interviews and discussions with multiple people? Or will it primarily be you teaching (or preaching) to the audience? A monologue should generally be short and sweet, whereas a discussion with multiple people on a complex topic could probably linger on longer. Some of the most successful podcasters, such as Joe Rogan, have episodes with conversations that are well over two hours. 

I heard somewhere (on a podcast) that it is best to either do a podcast length aimed at a person’s commute (15-20 minute range) or go ahead and do a long-form discussion (over an hour). The average podcast length of 45 minute can sometimes feel out of place – too short to have a long-form, in-depth conversation but too long to get a quick episode in during a commute. The key is to focus on quality over quantity. 

Note to church folks: just because someone will listen to a 45+ minute sermon on Sunday morning, does not mean you should do 45 minute Bible podcasts. Most people listen to podcasts while doing something else, so you have less of their attention than you would at a church service. Work to make your podcast episode more concise than a traditional sermon.

Posting Frequency

Another factor is how often you plan to release episodes. If you’re releasing episodes at least once or twice per week, then you can probably do shorter episodes. If you are planning to release 1-2 episodes each month, then a longer format might make more sense.

The key to the episode frequency is to be as consistent as possible. Do not overcommit to a daily or weekly podcast, if you won’t really have time to deliver consistent high quality content that you have promised. If you say a new episode comes out every Thursday, then you need to do it! It is better to surprise people with extra episodes than to fail to keep your word. Personally, I feel like weekly podcast episodes hit a sweet spot for most people. Once a month could feel a bit too spread out, and people will start to forget about you.

Audio vs. Video Formats

Podcasting is an audio format by default. However, many people also include video versions of their podcast on platforms like Youtube as well. You will need to determine if you want to include video versions of your episodes or not. 

Adding video, even if it is not highly produced, can add a personal element to your episodes for those who watch, and Youtube is an especially powerful platform where people can find your content organically through searches. Including video versions will increase the equipment & software needed to record and edit the episodes, though many people could simply use the camera on their mobile devices. We’ll talk more about equipment in a moment. Again, the focus of podcasts is the audio, with video being a secondary concern.

I chose to include video on my first podcast in order to expand the content onto multiple platforms. It’s also helpful to be able to splice one minute video highlights from your podcast to share on social media.

4. Determine A Hosting Platform

An important decision is choosing your podcast hosting platform. What is a hosting platform?

Let me briefly explain how podcasts work. When you create your podcast episodes (usually in MP3 audio format), you will need to find a way to host those files online so that podcast players can access them. Podcast apps like Apple or Spotify do not actually have copies of the podcast episodes on their servers. These podcast apps read a file called an “RSS feed”, which points Apple and Spotify to the episode MP3 files which are hosted on a server somewhere. That “server somewhere” is owned by your podcast hosting platform.

I chose to use the podcast host called Blubrry, which has worked great for me. It’s one of the oldest and most reliable podcasting hosts, and it only costs me $12/month. 

One of the reasons I chose Blubrry is because it naturally syncs with websites built with WordPress, which is the best way to build your website or blog. I already had the Presence Pioneers website setup with WordPress using Bluehost (which starts at $3.95/month for a website). Setting up Blubrry with the existing Presence Pioneers website was cheap and fairly easy, and I’d recommend you consider the same set up.

I don’t have the time or space to go into details of exactly how to set up your podcast hosting, as each platform varies. However, both Bluehost (for a website/blog) and Blubrry (for your podcast) have great information on their websites for details on setup and customization.

Note: we use Blubrry only for the audio version of our podcast. While Blubrry can also utilize video files, the file sizes of videos are so huge that the costs would increase dramatically. Instead, we also utilize free platforms like Youtube and IGTV for the video versions of the podcasts.

5. Choose A Microphone

Because podcasts focus so heavily on audio, getting the best possible audio quality is very important. I would strongly recommend that you purchase a microphone dedicated to podcasting. In theory, you could simply record with the microphone built into your phone, but the potential audience for your podcast might be turned off by muffled or shrill audio quality. A small investment in a good microphone at the beginning of the podcasting journey will go a long way.

My First Podcast Microphone: Movo LV1 Movo LV1

When I first started recording my podcast, I had a very quiet, private office space where I could record my podcasts on Saturdays. This $20 Movo LV1 lapel mic plugged right into my phone and worked great. You can hear how it sounds on my first podcast episode.

However, when I used it in a few live situations with audiences, I quickly learned that it did not work great when the environment was noisey. This microphone is an “omnidirectional” microphone that picks up sounds from all around the room. It is loud and clear, but it only worked well for me in a very controlled environment. When I moved into a new office with more background noise, I had to upgrade. 

My very first podcast episode where I used the Movo LV1 lapel micMy Second (Current) Podcast Microphone: Samson Q2U Samson Q2U

Recording in more noisy environments, I needed to get a “unidirectional” microphone that would only pick up the sound right in front of it. I opted for the $60 Samson Q2U, and it is FANTASTIC! This microphone makes my voice sound strong and present – imagine the typical “radio” voice, and you get the idea. The first time I used this on our podcast was my interview with Billy Humphrey here. 

The Movo LV1 clipped to my shirt. This Q2U sits on a stand in front of me. It can connect with a XLR cable like a traditional microphone, or it can connect with USB right into a phone or computer. If you are just getting started, I would strongly suggest going ahead and getting the Q2U immediately.

The first podcast episode where I used the Samson Q2U microphoneHigh-Level Microphone: Blue Yeti or Rode Procaster

For those who want professional quality audio, there are multiple high-end microphone options. A few popular choices include the Blue Yeti for about $130 or the Rode Procaster for about $225. At that price level, you will be reaching the best audio quality that most anyone will ever notice.

6. Set the Environment & Lighting

As I mentioned while discussing microphones, it is very helpful to find a quiet recording environment with minimal background noise. A podcast is all about audio, so getting noise-free recordings is a top priority.

If you’re going to include video, then you’ll also want to consider lighting and the visual setting as well. Thankfully, people are very forgiving of raw videos. It is common for celebrities to record videos on their phones and have a lot of success. However, if you’re going to be regularly producing podcasts with video, it would probably help to invest in some kind of lighting.

A basic selfie ring light

I have a basic selfie ring light, which is what a lot of Youtubers, vloggers and podcasters use. You can see how it looks for one of my recent podcast teaching episodes here. The ring lights simply bring uniform light to your face and give a sense of polish to your videos. If you have multiple people or want a more professional look, you can get a basic photographer’s lighting kit to create more of a “TV studio” look. 

Example of a video with a basic selfie ring light7. Start Recording

Once you have a microphone and your phone or computer, you can start recording! Recording a monologue, lesson or teaching is extremely simple. Just plug your microphone into your mobile device and record using a free camera app (if you want video) or a basic audio recording app to capture your episode. The ease and simplicity of this kind of podcast recording is what makes podcasting so appealing. Just plug up, hit record and start talking!

Recording Interviews & Conversations

Depending on your podcast format, you might want to record interviews or discussions with more than one person. This complicates the technical process a bit.

A simple way to conduct a one-on-one interview is with a dual set of lavalier clip microphones. This microphone pair uses an adapter so that both mics run into your phone and record one audio track. Simple! You can hear exactly how this setup sounds, as my wife and I used that exact lapel mic set to record a video update together here (see below). Similar to recording with my Movo LV1 microphone, you will want to make sure you have a quiet environment if you’re using these lapel mics.

Example of a video using the dual set of lavalier clip microphonesRecording Remote Interviews

For recording remote interviews, I have used the video conference app Zoom. Presence Pioneers already had a paid Zoom account for video conferencing, so using Zoom added no cost to our budget. For those without a paid Zoom account, you can also use Skype. There is some debate over whether Zoom or Skype produces better audio quality.

You can learn all about recording a Zoom meeting on their website. I turn on the “Recording Multiple Audio Files” option, which records each person’s audio to a separate file. This feature is very helpful as it enables you to tweak the volume and EQ of each individual person when the audio is edited and mixed back together.

It is very important that you prep remote guests on your podcast in order to get the best quality. You’ll want them to have a good internet connection and the highest quality equipment available. If you are including video, then lighting and background would also be a factor. If the other people in your interview or conversation are somewhat tech savvy, you can have them record their own audio locally, and then send it to you afterwards. This would provide a major increase to the audio quality from a Zoom meeting.

For my podcasts, I have recorded all of my interviews and conversations remotely with Zoom. However, if you’re recording conversations with more than two people in-person, then you’ll need to have multiple microphones and an audio interface to handle multi-track recording. At that point, you’ll probably want to involve an audio engineer into the process.

8. Edit the Audio & Video

Books and courses have been created for audio/video editing, so I will not go into much detail here. When I first launched the podcast, I was doing everything myself. For audio editing, I was using free software such as Audacity or Reaper. Now we have Johan Heinrichs on our podcast team doing the audio editing for us. 

For video editing, I have previously used another free program called Openshot Video Editor. It is honestly not the best video editing software, but it is free and allows me to do some basic editing (fading in/out, etc.) for the Youtube versions of our episodes. Most recently, I have just been uploading the original Zoom video recording straight to Youtube to save time, rather than doing any video editing at all. Like I said above, people are fairly forgiving of raw video nowadays.

9. Submit to Apple and Spotify

Once you have recorded your first episode, you can upload your new episode to your podcast host and test it out! Assuming everything works with your website, you can then submit your podcast to various apps and platforms for the world to experience your podcast amazingness!

You will need to manually submit your podcast RSS feed (provided by your podcast host, such as Blubrry) to various podcast platforms for people to easily find your podcast.

Apple – Apple has the most popular podcast app by far

Spotify – One of the fasting growing podcast platforms

Google – Submitting here will also help your podcast show up in Google searches

There are other less popular platforms such as Stitcher, Podbean and Tunein.

After your podcast is live on the various apps, you’ll need to then let people know about your podcast through word of mouth, email, social media and advertising. Marketing a podcast is an entirely different article!

There you go! I hope this helps you go from zero to a successful podcast launch! Have any questions? Leave a comment below and I’ll try to help.

COVID-19, Stadium Christianity and Small Prayer Meetings

As the USA national director of Burn 24-7, a co-director of the Awaken the Dawn leadership network and the host of the Presence Pioneers podcast, I thought it might be good to share my heart and perspective on all that is happening right now with the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are many people saying many good things, but I want to share a few different things that God has brought to my heart at this time. This will be a limited (and somewhat random) perspective, but I hope it will be helpful to you all. In general, I am very encouraged by the way the body of Christ is rallying to pray through digital video calls, 24-7 prayer chains and small prayer meetings. I also believe that this demonically-fueled pandemic (and subsequent pandamonium) needs to be confronted boldly with faith, fasting and intercession so that God’s purposes for 2020 in America will prevail.

Three Quick Points of Wisdom

Be Prayerful. I Thessalonians 5:17 says to “pray without ceasing.” We need to let this crisis put a fire in our hearts to cry out to God. Face the gravity of the situation and be stirred to pray like never before. Pray in the secret place, pray with your family, pray with friends on the phone or in small groups. PRAY!

Be Fearless. Some translations of the Bible use the phrase “fear not” over 80 times! God’s word says that perfect love casts out fear and that God has not given us a spirit of fear. The enemy is working hard to release fear into the world through anxiety, panic, uncertainty and chaos. Believers who live in the love of Christ can walk in supernatural peace and joy in the midst of it all. FEAR NOT!

Be Wise. Proverbs 22:3 says “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself”. The Bible is full of practical wisdom, and we should heed the practical warnings of the leaders of our nation. Foolishness is not faith! Faith is believing God’s word, which includes admonitions to heed wise counsel and hide yourself from evil. Don’t be scared, but don’t be stupid either. BE PRUDENT!

The Jesus Fast & Stadium Christianity

It is very interesting that this pandemic is happening in the midst of the global Jesus Fast. Look at the wisdom of God to invite the Church into a season of more intense fasting and prayer. Tens of thousands have signed up to join the fast, and I bet even more are joining in now.

It is also interesting that more than a dozen Christian stadium gatherings have been planned across the United States for 2020. This is unprecedented! Lou Engle shared:

“We believe that 2020 has been marked by the Holy Spirit as a year of Stadium Christianity and explosive advance of the Kingdom. In America alone, approximately 20 stadiums are being prepared for prayer and evangelistic breakthroughs.”

Lou Engle

2020: Year to Believe the Prophets

I wrote prophetic words for 2020, 2021 and 2022 in my journal on August 15, 2019. I shared it on social media a few months later. The words for each year corresponded with verses 20-22 of 2 Chronicles 20. This is what I wrote for this year.

2020 – year of believing his prophets [prophet]
….Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” 2 Chronicles 20:20

My sense is 2020 will be swirly and wild. A lot going on. Wild ideas. Wild events. Big dreams. Big faith. Believing again for revival. Anything is possible. A lot going on at the same time.Word of wisdom: Don’t be overwhelmed by all that’s going on. Most of it will actually be the Lord. Don’t be disillusioned. Wild faith will be key.

I believe this is a year to believe the word of the Lord with wild faith! Paul urged Timothy to wage spiritual warfare with the prophecies spoken over his life (I Timothy 1:18).

What is crazy about the 20 stadium gatherings is that each one has a prophetic storyline where God has clearly spoken and confirmed what He wants to do. There are dreams and supernatural “coincidences” that have lined up these various stadium gatherings of prayer, revival, evangelism and missions mobilization. 

Stadium Christianity

It was the prophet Paul Cain who began having visions of “stadium Christianity” in the 80s and 90s. He said that multiple stadiums would be filled with signs, wonders, healing and miracles. He saw that the gathering would not be led by famous leaders but by “nameless” and “faceless” believers. The media would report what God was doing in those days and say that “there’s no bad news tonight.” 

If God is unleashing supernatural storylines regarding multiple stadium events, could we be approaching the days of the manifestation of these prophetic visions from Paul Cain? I believe this is a year to “believe His prophets” (2 Chron. 20:20) and wage war for God’s purposes for America in 2020!

If you have not heard Mike Bickle share the prophetic story line that is connected to The Send’s Kansas City gathering planned for October at Arrowhead stadium, then I urge you to watch Mike Bickle share some of the story now. This Arrowhead gathering seems to be connected to the fulfillment of prophetic words given by the prophet Bob Jones back in the 1980s!

I say again… we need to believe the prophets. We need to wage war for these prophetic visions and promises. God wants to fill stadiums in 2020 and release a massive wave of salvation, missions and revival. Let’s pray! 

I urge you to engage in the special three day Esther Fast being called for March 18-20, in the midst of the 40-day Jesus Fast, to specifically confront this coronavirus pandemic. United fasting and prayer can shift the trajectory and release God’s kingdom purposes into the earth!

Let the Worth of Jesus Go Viral and Let Cities Shut Down

I find it fascinating that the Awaken the Dawn movement has used the catchphrase “let the worth of Jesus go viral” for the last three years. In the day of Youtube celebrities, “go viral” means to become popular. However, the rapidly spreading COVID-19 virus is showing us what happens when something truly goes viral. It’s nearly unstoppable! Let’s pray that the Gospel will spread faster than the coronavirus! “Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified.” 2 Thesselonians 3:21

Another prophetic picture I see is the way cities are shutting down in many ways across the nation. Schools are closed. Athletic and entertainment events are cancelled. Churches are only doing live streaming. Another prayer movement called 10 Days has been using the phrase “Stopping Cities to Pray” for years. I talked about this movement and interviewed its founder Jonathan Friz on a recent episode of the podcast. The vision is to see cities stop to seek the Lord during the “ten days of awe” that span between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement every fall.

Could God be speaking to us about the importance of these two movements and specifically emphasizing the fall feast days, shutting down cities, tent gatherings and the worth of Jesus? I think so, and interestingly I had already planned on discussing these two ministries on the podcast episode 26 called Fasting and Feasting. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast or look up the episode if you’re reading this blog later.

Small Prayer Meetings & Digital Prayer Watches

The CDC has asked that there be no gatherings of fifty people or more for the next eight weeks. Donald Trump has that there be no groups of ten or more for the next two weeks. What would happen if families started praying together in their homes? I am praying for thousands of small group prayer meetings to be launched in the next two months.

I am believing for hundreds of digital 24/7 prayer chains to be launched. Thank God for video technologies like Zoom that can connect people in prayer while they are isolated in their homes. Maybe God is raising up ministries like the Moravian Watch to pioneer new expressions of collaborative day & night prayer & worship in a digital age.

Dwell and Abide in the Secret Place

One final thought. People tend to pray more in the midst of crisis. That’s a good thing! Donald Trump called for a national day of prayer this past Sunday, March 15, 2020. As the pandemic has spread, I am seeing a lot of digital prayer activity such as prayer calls and even 24-7 prayer chains. Praise God for this increase in prayer activity!

One of the Scriptures I have seen people sharing online during this crisis is from Psalm 91. Here’s the first two verses.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

Psalm 91:1-2

This passage uses words like “dwell” and “abide”, which describe an ongoing relationship with God. This is not describing a reaction to a crisis. The promises of Psalm 91 are conditional. The protection and provision is for those who dwell in the secret place. Jesus described the “secret place” in Matthew 6 as the place of private prayer. Those who have developed a lifestyle of communion with God abide under His shadow. Jesus also used the word “abide” in John 15:5 when he says “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit.” Jesus is describing a day-to-day connectedness to the presence of God through prayer. 

Like I said, a crisis stirs people to pray, but it also exposes those who have been prayerful and prayerless. The seeds of previous seasons come to fruition in the midst of pressure, tribulation and crisis. Those who have been abiding in ongoing intimacy with the Lord have a unique steadfastness and peace when the trials, challenges, spiritual warfare and uncertainty come on strong.

I am thankful that this #COVID19 crisis is drawing many people to prayer, and my hope is that it launches a movement of abiding and dwelling in the presence of God. That the Church would become the house of prayer we are meant to be. That individuals and church communities would be awakened to reorient around the person and presence of Jesus Christ. That knowing and loving Him would become first priority. That time alone in prayer, worship and Bible meditation would become habitual for every Christian. That we wouldn’t just react to this crisis, but that we would position ourselves in His presence in an ongoing way!

Partnership Development vs. Fundraising

I am writing about the challenges of raising support and funding ministry. Without a doubt, the biggest challenge is learning to confront wrong paradigms and misunderstandings related to partnership development. Many people do not realize that raising support actually creates financial stability or that living on support is normative for those in full-time ministry in the New Testament, including Jesus himself.

Mindset of Partnership Development

One of the biggest paradigm shifts that must occur is the shift from a “fundraising” mindset to a “partnership development” mindset. This is not just semantics. I am suggesting an entirely different way of thinking about and approaching the mission God has given you. 

A fundraising mindset focuses on money. A partnership development mindset focuses on cultivating authentic relationships with people for the sake of the advancement of the kingdom of God.

Seek partners not donors. 

Raise support not money.

Build relationships not transactions.

A relational approach to partnership development takes more time, but it is worth the investment. And the truth is, unless you have a massive platform such as a TV show, radio program or viral Youtube channel from which to seek donations, a relational approach is actually going to be vital in establishing and sustaining the support you need for your ministry calling. 

Avoiding The Ministry Sales Pitch

In the early years of my journey as a missionary living from support, I felt like a salesperson for my ministry. And the last thing I wanted to do was to manipulate people into giving money, even if it was for a good cause. Perhaps I could just send a letter and let people decide for themselves? This was actually my original approach when I quit my job in 2007. Not surprisingly, I was very poor for a few years. 

The truth is, my personality type (INTJ on Meyers-Briggs if you are curious) despises everything related to sales. I can see through slick marketing tactics, and anything that hints at emotional manipulation is an immediate turnoff. Therefore, I want to be as authentic as possible to avoid emotionally manipulating people.

My worst performance at any job was when I worked at a bookstore. The boss constantly urged me to be more aggressive and interactive with customers. But to me, an aggressive store clerk is bothersome and smothering. If I need help, I will ask! Otherwise, I will simply find what I need on my own. Why would I annoy people with my sales pitch when I don’t like being on the receiving end of a pitch? I digress.

Eventually I discovered that the people who were willing to partner with our ministry were those that knew me well and had clearly heard the vision God had given me from my own mouth, usually in person. Relationships actually made all the difference. I realized that maybe I should do more than just mail some letters.

Now, when I am going to visit a potential ministry partner, I am not going in to make a sales pitch. I am building a relationship. I am going to hear their heart and story. And I am going to share my heart and connect their passions to the vision God has given me.  

Remembering that I’m developing partners instead of raising funds helps relieve my anxiety when I am meeting with a potential partner. I am not going to ask for money. I am inviting partnership – a sincere relationship for the sake of God’s kingdom.

Ministry is Relationships

A relational approach to raising and maintaining your support team is actually a ministry in itself. That is why many organizations call their support-raising process MPD, or the Ministry of Partnership Development. 

It has been said that “the Kingdom of God moves at the speed of relationships.” Worship, prayer and Bible study is based in relationship with God. Teaching, making disciples and caring for other believers flows from relationship with the Church. Befriending, serving and preaching the Gospel to the world means relationships with unbelievers. All ministry is relationship. 

Likewise, raising support is all about relationships with your partnership team. You minister to them by praying for them, sharing testimonies of what God is doing and providing a chance to participate practically in an important kingdom mission. They minister to you through prayer and finances.

In a world where anyone can start their own “ministry” by creating a Facebook page and doing live videos, it might be helpful to assess your own ministry approach. Are there really people being loved, discipled and equipped by you? Do you know their names? Do you have mentors that are giving you wisdom? Do you have peers that are walking with you? Do you have those who are a few steps behind your journey that you can guide and counsel?

I have said before that if you have not spent years developing quality relationships with people, then you are going to really struggle raising support. If you have already spent some time building relationships and ministering to people, then you will probably have a large pool or people who will be eager to partner with you. However, if you have not, then perhaps the first step for you is to focus on building quality servant-hearted ministry relationships before raising support. Begin some form of ministry before you try to develop a partnership team.

Servant-Hearted Relationships

This shift from fundraising to partnership development must first happen in our own hearts and minds. When your ministry is desperate for financial support, it can be tempting to view people with dollar signs over their heads.

When you have needs, it is easy to view people in light of how they can help you, instead of approaching them with a desire to love them, serve them and minister to them. Yet this servant-hearted approach to life and leadership is what Jesus invites us into. It can be hard. 

To love someone else while we are personally in need requires that we first trust God deeply and receive (love, life, revelation, power) from Him in our time alone with Him. From the overflow of our relationship with God we can minister to others, even if we are in need. This frees us to approach others with a true heart for loving partnership. It all starts in intimacy with God.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

The Practical Side of Relationships

Practically, it is impossible to be close friends with all of your ministry partnership team, though some of your team may be close friends or family. But a relational approach means that you are taking practical steps build sincere and sustainable connection with people. 

It means that the ideal way to obtain financial support from a potential partner is to clearly ask them face to face after sharing your ministry vision with them. It means praying for your partnership team. It means communicating regularly with your partnership team. It means that you lean into more personal forms of communication whenever possible. 

Sometimes I do this well, and sometimes I do not. But when I do this well, I can tell the difference. Having the right mindset and taking the practical steps to cultivate relationships with a partnership team brings joy, sustainability and lasting fruit to the ministry of partnership development. 

Yes, you will need your partnership team to give you money, but that is only one aspect of one side of the two-way relationship. Relationships are two-way, and support comes in many different forms. During some seasons you feel like you give more than receive, and in other seasons it feels like you are reaping what you have not sown. But it all flows from relationships.