Happy New Year
Survey of 2018 Trips: Eastern Europe
Earlier this year, I had the privilege of leading my first HSI team to Eastern Europe! We gave two songwriting workshops, one in each country. Some very beautiful songs emerged in Albanian from these two workshops. The depth of lyrics and quality of the songs are obvious, even to a non-native, non-Albanian speaker. One of…Read more …
Survey of 2018 trips: Southeast Asia
Heart Sounds International’s mission statement includes helping ignite worship in places where Christ-followers are “restricted, persecuted or unknown.” Because of our focus in these places, many stories are hard to share online. But I’d like to share what I can from this past year over a series of blog posts. Here’s a story from Southeast…Read more …
Lent 2018
Each year for Lent, I am always thankful for my pastor, Mike Castelli, who comes up with a new way to think about the season. This year, we have just begun a study of Revelation, and are in the midst of the Seven Churches. With six and a half weeks until Easter, he suggested that…Read more …
Advent Thoughts
I’ve been encouraged during this season of waiting by a short Advent devotional called Unwrapping the Names of Jesus, by Asheritah Ciuciu. (It’s available on Amazon.) One name that has been meaningful to me is “The Vine.” In John 15, Jesus likens Himself to a vine and His followers to branches. Without Him, we can do nothing, but if we…Read more …
Don’t You Know?
For the past few months at church, we’ve been studying my favorite Old Testament book (and perhaps my favorite in the whole Bible), Isaiah. It’s my favorite for countless reasons, but these are my top: The passage the Lord used to give me assurance, comfort and strengthen my faith during the years which I was…Read more …
Mining for Local Art Gems in the Philippines
Written by Emily Dickey and Erica Logan We were a team of almost 20 people (Filipino and American), representing multiple organisations and a variety of art disciplines: music, dance, visual art, photography, audio recording, drama, storytelling, jewelry-making, 3D paper crafts and even quilling. Heart Sounds International’s trips are typically limited to music and recording. This…Read more …
Heading To the Philippines Soon
Heart Sounds has been partnering with YWAM Surigao since 2007. In 2014, HSI and YWAM provided a worship workshop for church worship teams in Surigao del Norte. The 2017 workshop is an expansion of that workshop. On this particular trip, HSI is collaborating with a visual artist from OM Arts as well as local artists to provide a comprehensive arts team for the workshop. I am thrilled to be going on…Read more …
Pondering the Feast of Stephen
December 26, the day after Christmas, is the Feast of Stephen. Many evangelicals aren’t very aware of days like this. This is a good one to remember. This day we remember the countless followers of Christ who loved Him with their very breath, even unto death, as did Stephen, the first Christian martyr. On my…Read more …
Back to Belgium
Tomorrow I hop on a plane and head to Belgium for an HSI songwriting workshop! We are partnering with WEC International’s art division, Resonance. The team leader and three teammates are from WEC. I’m the HSI representative. Please pray as we hold two workshops. The purposes of the workshops are: Workshop 1: Seminar for Trainers • Inspire and excite regarding ethnodoxology (heart music, releasing…Read more …