Update on My Lofty Ministry Plans

It has been too long since I have given an update of any kind to my ministry. I have been scurrying about, learning new skills, slowly but surely setting into place a new paradigm for how I will best serve you, helping craft the right products for those here who are interested.

My Video Studio

The biggest change I’ve had is that my basement video studio is 90% complete.

Ever since I completed that video for “This Time of Forty Days” (yeah, that was too long ago–don’t remind me), I have aspired to craft my own system for video-making. But this is an expensive and time-consuming endeavor. I needed to methodically craft a routine that gradually set these elements into place.

For what I have, I can work with. I still would like to add two more backdrop screens, including a green screen. I sense that this would give me more flexibility.

Upcoming Videos

My talk is cheap; where’s the new videos?

Well, now that I have the studio nearly set up to my satisfaction, I need to begin a process of routinely crafting video content for you. These will include:

• Parody Songs (both old and new)
• Talks & Helps
• Live Musical Performances
• Online Course

Of these, the parody songs I am most aware of being that with the most potential for going viral. But I need to set up the online course first.

Crafting An Online Course

What I discovered, poring over listening to all of you, is that one of the greatest concerns that we have is learning how to participate in the “New Evangelization.”

• How to share our faith with others, but not in a way that is manipulative nor sleazy.
• How to pass on the faith to our children, and not lose them to the trappings of our modern world.
• How to overcome our shyness and learn to speak in difficult conversations.
• How to share the faith with youth in youth groups.
• How to answer tough questions, from the New Atheists to those Current Hot Potato Issues.
• How a parish can reorganize so that it empowers its parishioners to be witnesses.

I have been working diligently on crafting on such a course, building on my years as an evangelist. If you want to help out, and if you haven’t yet, please fill out a survey detailing your needs. There will be a drawing; five lucky people will get my complete CD collection. (It’s been extended till the end of the month).

Podcasts

Some have expressed missing the podcasts. I have not abandoned them; they are both under sabbatical. This is because I am setting a framework to build this online course first, and then the videos, and then I can go back to “regularly-scheduled programming.”

Upcoming Talks/Parodies

I have been tapped to give a couple of talks in the next few months, so I expect to craft a few new parodies before then. In one congregation I will be speaking to their youth group, and another I will be speaking to a family-based event. I greatly enjoy these, as I pore over my contents and work my material so that they will be effective in reaching my audience.

Indeed, I expect the video-making will help with this. We will see.

Worship Song Updates

In addition to all of this, I also have updates in regards to my Worship Music aspirations.

First, I have found a consultant who will work with me to upgrade some of my worship songs to piano format. I hope to have a few of these crafted soon, so that those of you who are keyboardists on worship teams could benefit.

Secondly, I have been practicing a little each day my guitar playing. Does this count as an update? Let’s just say that I made a breakthrough in how I play the instrument, which I hope will carry through to my videos and live performances. Hard to share about this early in the game. We’ll see.

Family Vacation

Tomorrow my family will be going on a vacation. We will be doing a road trip throughout New York State (one of the best places to go, in my opinion). We will be visiting the many waterfalls, lakes, children’s museums, county fairs, amusement parks, wineries, hiking trails, and, if I have my way, a monastery for Vespers. Yay. So I won’t be doing any updates next week.

Special Prayer Request

I’ve a dear friend whose son is in the hospital for Crohn’s disease. So far, none of the medication seems to have any impact. Could you take a few minutes of times and pray for a miracle? Thanks.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Right now I am in the process of crafting an online course for helping pursue the New Evangelization. If you have a few minutes, could you complete a survey? In a few weeks, your name could be among five winners who would get my complete music collection for free. Thank you sooo much!