Are You Called to Concert Ministry?

Hey music friends! I just finished a call-in interview on the House of Praise WTIS 1110AM where I shared what I regarded as highly valuable nuggets gained from The Next Level songwriter workshop  hosted by veteran and may I say icon, Babbie Mason.

I’ve been to a lot of secular songwriting workshops with veteran and new hit songwriters in the past, and I’d like to say to the youth and others who are new to songwriting or looking to advance, veteran songwriters are still writing and co-writing “current hits” sung by your favorite current artists regardless of genre. ALWAYS take the opportunity to learn from them! Babbie’s Next Level workshop was catered to a small group in an intimate setting, where she and co-host Kenn Mann (also a hit songwriter) would be up close and personal in getting to know us. Babbie took us through an academic course in songwriting and concert ministry. We sat in a roundtable setting where Babbie took the time to hear everyone’s story and goals, and she made sure that every student got up to sing at least a verse and chorus, and she appreciated and made suggestions to each one based on her invaluable knowledge and lifetime experience.

Babbie and Kenn gave a song writing assignment to us students in groups, and then reviewed our results, humbly and encouraging they critiqued and suggested changes, Babbie even getting on her keyboard to work it out with each group. She got involved personally with every person in the room, giving her attention to and focus upon each individual, also sharing her stories and experiences.   I’m still amazed that she accomplished all of this in 8 hours with 15 people in the room, included a call in from Donna Douglas (another Christian and Secular hit songwriter), and a video from current CCM artist Jonny Diaz. What Babbie did was form a relationship with each person. The word humble does not describe how humble Babbie is.

Here’s more… it didn’t cost the hundreds or sometimes thousands of dollars that it costs to have this kind of appointment with a veteran songwriter. What she cared about most is to make sure that we left there knowing this: We are not in our current place as music ministers by accident… we are not seeking to grow in our passion and hone our gifts merely for the sake of learning… somewhere, someone is in need of our gift, so it is important to say yes every time we receive the opportunity to sing in ministry, regardless of the venue, equipment, time or place… because that somebody who needs you, could be right there in that opportunity. When God calls you to it “GO”! To hear a veteran share that she does whatever it takes, even if it means taking an old boom-box or kareoke machine into a jail cell so that she has background music while she ministers to incarcerated women “as she has done”, was massive validation for me!

If you are a worship leader, christian artist, or even if you only lead or participate on a worship team, someday you may be out in a public place where someone recognizes you and asks you to sing… if so, do it! Even if it’s just one chorus, as your doing so it could be the Spirit reaching out to that person, answering a question or need… perhaps it’s someone standing next to you. Whatever it is, just be available at all times to use your gift for God! This also means you need to be prepared at all times, in vocal shape, knowing your songs, their parts, warmed up and ready to go, for God!

Thank you Babbie Mason and Kenn Mann

Brandee Nielsen-Smith

Founder, The BICF

Don’t Miss “Women of Purpose!” January 4th and 5th 2013

The BICF is excited to announce that Brandee Nielsen-Smith will join the Strive for Greatness, Women of Purpose conference  leading Praise and Worship on January 4th at the beautiful Grand Hyatt Hotel on Rocky Point, Florida!

Men, still need to find that perfect gift for your wife, mother or sister? Look no further! Send your special lady to kick off the new year by attending this inspiring weekend retreat! Ladies will be among peers to get refreshed and encouraged to live free being all they were created to be in 2013 and forward!

Don’t miss this 2 day opportunity in beautiful Tampa Florida to experience an enthusiastic line up of women speakers including celebrity actress and author LISA WHELCHEL (best known for her role as wealthy Blair Warner on the 80’s sitcom “Facts of Life”, currently on the hit T.V. series “Survivor”).

Act now and receive an early bird savings through December 15th! Only $79.00 for 2 full days of inspiration and praise to ignite change and purpose!

Date: Jan 4th and 5th 2012

Time: Doors open at 9:00am, 1st session starts at 10:00am sharp!

To register click here=> Strive For Greatness

Hope to see you there! More details below:

You were born with a gift. Do you know what it is and why you were born with it? I found out the hard way…

Imagine a man who works all day as a telemarketer selling publications while dreaming about traveling to communicate with people around the world in different cultures. He wishes to learn about other nations and their customs, as he believes the knowledge will provide awareness and bridge gaps that may otherwise divide people and cause undue hate. He’s had this dream his whole life, but hasn’t put forth an effort to make it a reality.

This dream reveals that the man’s talents include a passion to communicate with a willingness to learn and make a positive difference. His occupation as a telemarketer requires him to use his ability to communicate with a willingness to learn, but does it fulfill the purpose of his talents and dream?

If we do not use our gift according to its intended purpose, our dream and its purpose remains unfulfilled. But if we put forth effort to use our gift according to its purpose, the purpose and our dreams are fulfilled.

Do you know what your *talents are, and are you using them on purpose?
(*ROM 11:29 &12:6-8)

Discovering the purpose for my talents included repercussions when I decided to use them for my own purpose. I was six years old when I learned that I had an ability to sing and write songs—a time when I marveled at the stories my mother told me about Jesus Christ. Back then I spent a lot of time daydreaming about helping children who were less fortunate in circumstances that I learned from watching TV commercials about feeding starving children around the world. It touched me deeply. I remember telling myself how I wanted to sing for God like an angel on earth to help save His children. My dream would not die from that moment on, as dreams never do, however – a tragic turn of events took away what I knew as a structured childhood foundation, when my mother lost her life in alcohol.

I attempted my first escape to live on my own as early as age twelve, which was only the first time, and kept on running until I achieved stable ground as a young adult. Through these challenges I endured unspeakable things that humans sometimes face, but I was fortunate to be saved through my distant faith in God (remember the mustard seed parable?).

A day came when I felt it was time to make good on my childhood promise to God, but in doing so, I made a pivotal decision resulting in a grave mistake. During my planning to record a Spiritual CD to help others in need, I decided to leave the name of Jesus out of my songs. I did this because I believed the songs would reach more people who might otherwise hear His name in the song and turn it off. When I put this thought into action, my life changed drastically. Not only did I omit the name of Jesus from my songs, I began to omit Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit from all aspects of my life. I found myself  exposed, without guard and thrust into a plethora of addictions including control, alcohol, co-dependency, body image disorder, anorexia, exercise bulimia and whole host of other emotional issues including several failed, destructive and violent relationships that held me captive for more than a decade.

While this went on, I was somehow able to hide my pain and self-destruction behind a mask of achievement as I excelled in the corporate and secular music world, using my talents void of God’s purpose. At this point I was living as a self-declared agnostic standing at the edge of atheism and the possibility of losing my life to addictions until I met a new friend in December of 2010. He was very kind, respectful and peaceful, which peaked my curiosity. He invited me to attend his church, a place I hadn’t been for many years, but agreed to go. When I entered the Church, I saw a worship leader for the first time in my life. He was singing out praises to God while the congregation shined with God’s glory – as they sang along with him. In a flash I was struck by guilt. Guilt because I realized this is what I said I wanted to do when I was six years old.  I told my new friend what had just happened and he replied asking, “so what are you going to do about that”?  At that moment I felt as if the Spirit of the Lord was upon me, asking me to come back, telling me that Jesus would take away my addictions, granting me the opportunity to live out my childhood dream, and I agreed. I immediately went back and wrote His name into my songs, and I released a CD titled “Believe” eleven months later. It’s now available digitally all over the world.  He also inspired me to write a book about my life and everything that happened up until then and title it, “Unforgotten”, now published worldwide through WestBow Press.

With this came another inspiration, one that I could never imagine on my own. God’s plan for my life to establish The Believe In Christ Foundation, and through it, to use my talents to help His children. The BICF and my lifelong dream is now a reality, because I am using my talents for God’s purpose.  Thanks be to God!

~Brandee Nielsen-Smith