Getting to know....Kevin Howard (Chief Music Arranger of HOW)

Tell us how you got started in music? 

As a baby, I crawled first to the piano.  An aunt told my mom when I was born that I had piano fingers. I never remember a day where music wasn’t my life.  

First song ever played? 

When I was 6, I was a ring bearer in a wedding.  I came home from that wedding and sat down at the piano and played the wedding march.  My mom wanted to know who taught me and I told her that I heard it at the wedding.  She immediately started pursuing piano lessons for me.

 Favorite music class in college? 

I loved the master classes we would have for each student….it was interactive and we all had to play and critique each other.  It was pressure but pulled out the best in us. 

Which pianist/artist did you want to emulate most? 

In my early years I think Thomas Whitfield and Richard Smallwood were my biggest influences. 

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? 

London

 What is your favorite pastime?

Exploring DC on my days off (or any of the wonderful East Coast cities)

Favorite restaurant? 

This is hard…..I’ll just pick one….Emeril’s.

 Favorite food city in the world?

New Orleans

 We’ve heard your favorite type of food is Mexican. So tell us…Favorite taco shop?

Torchy’s!   At my funeral, I want y'all to cry around my casket, shout when the choir sings, and then party with Mexican Food for hours afterwards!!  I can eat it 24/7.....There is this big deal about "authentic" versus "texmex" versus "calimex" and which one is superior....i think they all rock!!  I'll take it in any form I can get it!

What's playing in your iTunes now? 

A little bit of everything….Kim Burrell/Thank You Jesus to Steve Cole/Maximum Cool to Kathryn Scott/Sing on the Battlefield….

What is a book you are currently reading and love?

Essentialism by Greg McKeown.  I am working on simplifying my life in many ways in this current season.  Learning to say no to good things is a hard lesson to learn so there is an available yes to the great and best things.   I love living life to its fullest and sometimes I feel like I must experience every single thing there is to experience.  I'm learning how to focus my energy.  This book is extremely challenging for me but I want to be 100% effective at what God has called me to be.  I want to spend my life on the right things.

Favorite bible verse?

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Favorite choir ever?

....just one...lol Ricky Dillard and New G

When did you first get involved in Heart Of Worship?

In the early 2000s either the first or second year when Laura started it at CLC in California.

What keeps you coming back (besides the fact you're in the leadership team)? 

Because I believe in the mission of our movement to create a safe place for those who lead worship and for those who are hungry for more of the presence of the Lord.  And for the fact that we create a place where excellence and anointing can coincide and are not counter to each other.

If you could live forever in any "worship generation" which would it be, and why? 

The one we are in.  It is super challenging but incredibly exciting all at the same time.  I think we are so close to a spiritual revolution and I want to be a part of it! 

We all learn from each stop on our journey, can you tell us one thing you learned from each ministry stop on your journey thus far? 

That the joy is in just that, the journey.  We learn so much no matter if the situation is good or bad.  Something good can come from all of it.  God can and will get the glory if we are willing to let Him.  That means I have to deal with my preconceived notions about things and let Him be God. 

Explain your thoughts on what creates a genuine, dynamic move of God and, what is something that you find hinders it the most in our churches?

I think a church must know who they are and flow in that.  Unapologetically.  Being sensitive to reaching new people but allowing them to experience a safe, real environment.  People that know their calling and have confidence in that calling, not in themselves.  Many churches are caught in the trap of trying to do it like churches they perceive are successful and doing it right.  I think it is great to be influenced by great ministries but there is a lot of hard work that goes into a great ministry.  I think churches must realize that we all are responsible to do that hard work to learn the ways of God for our local assembly.  What does the God song sound like in our house?  What does the move of God feel and look like for us?  What is the DNA of our members?  Our community?  It does not just happen because we want it to, it happens because of serious intentionality to discover all that God has for us.  Being fearless to try and not fear mistakes.  Giving people a chance.  To lead, to grow, to learn.  Every corporate meeting must be our MOST IMPORTANT.  No mindless services.  We don't have time for that.  Every minute counts.  Every song counts.  Every lyric.  The band needs to play in tune, in the pocket, growing together.  The singers need to rehearse, put their best effort toward making the praise of God GLORIOUS!  I am extremely passionate about this topic. I bet you couldn't tell!  

If you could impart one thing to every worshiper on the planet, what would it be? 

Make God big….in your life, in your community, in your church.  Get to a place where there are no limits and every challenge, every day, every situation is a new opportunity to see God greater, more glorious.  Hunger for it…..remove things that are feeding your appetite that take you away from passion.  Resist the emotional fatigue that comes from dealing with the dysfunction of our world and lift your sight, lift your eyes, hands, heart to a God who is mighty and waiting to be found!

Should The Lord tarry, where do you see Heart of a worship in 5) years?

I see it being a world-wide movement and network of worshipers and worship leaders and musicians changing their local areas for God’s glory!

Getting to know....Laura Payne (Founder of the Heart Of Worship)

Could you tell our readers where you're from?

The question of where I am from always stresses me out a little bit. Because I don't quite know how to answer :-) when I was four, my family went to the country of Greece as missionaries. I spent the next 14 years of my life there, with only two visits back to the US. So I guess I'm from Greece. But I don't speak English with an accent or anything! 😂

Since coming to America for college, I've spent 14 years of my life in California, and then almost 9 years in Nashville. But I'm getting ready to move to St. Louis. So you can understand why I am terribly confused when you ask the dreaded question, “Where are you from?"

What do you miss/love most about Athens, Greece? 

I really love everything about Greece. It's the one place in the world that feels completely like home. I love the bustle of Athens, the genuine warmth of Greek people. I am amused by the fact that they are strongly opinionated and caught up in their own bravado. I adore Greek food. I love the Islands and the sea. The country today is quite a tragic, desperate place. That makes my heart ache.

What got you started in music ministry? 

I feel like I landed in music ministry completely by accident, and yet by God's providence. I went to Bible school with the intention of staying one year. I chose to be a music major because it seemed like a good chance to strengthen my musical skills. Now here I am, with two Bachelors in Music and a Masters in Music. That one year of study turned into 10! I really feel myself first as a minister, and secondly, that music is my unique vehicle for that ministry.

What are your biggest pet peeves on the platform?

My biggest pet peeve on the platform is people who do not seem emotionally engaged to the presence of God while they are playing their instruments or singing. Dull affects drive me crazy! I think some people get so worried about their notes and the rhythm that they can't seem to engage their heart. I can handle a million mistakes. But my spirit gets riled up every time I see someone who is disconnected from God and trying to lead others in worship.

How did Heart Of Worship (HOW) start?

Heart of Worship started in Stockton California at Christian Life College. I had always said that I would never do a music conference unless God gave me a unique perspective and a model that was not just a re-creation of other great conferences that were already happening. I can honestly say that the Lord started to download his plan and intention. That's when I first got excited about doing a worship conference. From it's very inception, great voices such as Kevin Howard helped me form and shape what was really needed in our movement. Our first Heart of Worship Conference took place in 2001. We began taking it on the road in 2006.

Where will HOW be in 5 years?  What are your vision and goals for this conference?

It is my prayer that Heart of Worship grows to be much more than just an event, but rather a movement or a fellowship of worship leaders and participators. We see this happening already. People becoming part of the Heart of Worship feel very linked to one another. There is such strength in doing life and ministry alongside people with a shared perspective. I believe that Heart of Worship will begin doing tours, taking the spirit and vibe of what we do in our conference to local churches. I believe in the next couple of years Heart of Worship will release a recording. We have a very unique, God directed sound, and I want to see that released.

What is your favorite pastime? 

I'm not much of a lone hobbyist. My favorite pastime is probably doing anything with the people that I love. That includes my family and my dear friends. I love being outdoors. That nourishes my spirit in a very profound way. Or just sitting around a table playing games. And of course, I'm a foodie, so a great restaurant with friends or family is always a joy!

Who is your favorite author?

My favorite author is Paul. Isn't that spiritual of me? But seriously, I love the incredible balance of intellect and heart that Paul's writings show. And then after Paul, I enjoy crime fiction. That doesn't sound so spiritual does it? But since I'm raising three boys still, I don't have much time for reading. Except the Bible, of course!

Who is your favorite musician/worship leader alive or in their heavenly reward?

This is an incredibly difficult question to answer. I feel like I don't get many opportunities to sit under worship leaders because for the past 10 years I've been the worship leader. This might be a very sad commentary, but I'm just being honest. The worship leader who has impacted me the most in recent years is probably Shawn Bigby. (Shawn, you can buy me lunch at Monell's later for the shout out). His ability to lead both intimate and high-energy moments is beautiful. His voice is as smooth as butter, and he doesn't lead out of nervous energy or awkward attempts to pump up the crowd. So many worship leaders create, unknowingly, nervous energy in the room, and that becomes emotionally draining. I love the fact that Shawn can lead us through a variety of emotional, spiritual moments without ever projecting his own personality into the moment.

What is your favorite part of being a mother?

I really love being a mom. It’s an incredibly heavy responsibility, and the weight of it is crushing in a way that nothing else in life is. But I love every phase that my children have gone through. I enjoy those precious moments that we can just hang out as a family and have fun. I also love seeing my children's growing relationships with God. That is incredibly precious!

Who created the best "Slain Payne" meme?

I think I deserve the credit for the best “Slain Payne” meme because I was the one who was willing to share that precious picture of Jaeden laid out in the presence of God. LOL. And for all of you who have no clue what we're talking about, don't worry about it. It's just one of those goofy HOW moments. Some things in life are just better left unexplained.

If you could plant any nugget of wisdom into every worship leader, what would it be?

One nugget. Hmm. Only one? LOL. Worship leaders need to become incredible communicators. This means communicating with your pastor and catching his vision and his preferences, and learning how to articulate your own feelings in a healthy way. This also means communicating from the platform to the pew. Learning how to lead out of a relaxed, authentic place. Learning how to communicate with your team through struggles and personality conflicts. Without communication, we don't thrive. Most train wrecks, disengaged leaders, people moving on, unresolved conflict and ministers leaving the ministry can be traced back to something that needed to be said that never was communicated in a healthy, productive way.