Tag:

elevation church

2020 Worship Song ‘The Blessing’ Becomes Worldwide Hit, With More Than 100 Virtual Choirs Singing It

by Rhoda Gayle August 3, 2020

The 2020 worship song “The Blessing” has become a worldwide hit with more than 100 virtual choirs across the globe having covered the song.

“The Blessing”

In March 2020, Elevation Worship released the song “The Blessing” as part of their latest album Graves Into Gardens. The song was first introduced during a live performance at a church campus in North Carolina. A few months after its release, the song has now become a worldwide hit!

Worship leaders Cody Carnes and Kari Jobe were the artists behind the powerful song. The lyrics of the song were based on the benediction in Numbers 6:24-26. This is where Moses was commanded by God to tell Aaron to pray for over God’s people.

“The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” – Numbers 6: 24-26

Kari Jobe

Prior to the performance, Jobe shared that the song lyrics illustrate the heart of the Father His children.

“The Blessing” has been sung by more than 100 virtual choirs. Showing that this is what the world needs right now during these trying times, the blessing of the Lord. Covers of the song have been created in over 45 countries worldwide. It has also been translated to multiple languages such as Arabic, French, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

“I have cried so many times as I’ve watched different people all over the world declaring the blessing over their families, their churches, and their nations,” Kari said, regarding the song’s global impact. “That brings so much peace, especially in a season of disappointment, uncertainty, and fear like we have all been walking through this year.”

The Blessing with Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes | Live From Elevation Ballantyne | Elevation Worship

Watch this video on YouTube

Reference: Christian Headlines

August 3, 2020 0 comment

Articles

Online Churches Reaching Millions Of Viewers Amid Global Crisis On COVID-19

by Rhoda Gayle March 18, 2020

written by Rhoda Gayle

Churches across America are reaching millions of viewers as they conduct worship services online amidst the global crisis of COVID-19.

Online churches

From Bethel Church in Redding, California to Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, churches across America are observing social distancing. These churches conducted their Sunday service online to stop the spread of COVID-19 by limiting public gatherings.

Senior Pastor of Free Chapel, Jentezen Franklin preached a message titled “Choose Faith Over Fear” on an empty auditorium in Gainesville, Georgia. Pastor Jentezen’s preaching was viewed by nearly 200,000 online!

“The building and the seats are not the church, the people are the church,” Pastor Jentezen said.

Online revival

Harvest Fellowship’s Pastor Greg Laurie’s preaching titled “What to do when you don’t know what to do” was also shown online. He noticed that the number of viewers online was four times the number of his members.

Pastor Greg’s preaching was viewed by over 230,000 people with over 1,400 people watching committed their lives to Jesus.

Online worship services

LifeBridge Community Church in Fresno, California also conducted online worship services.

“There’s a lot of fear occurring right now and so we kind of wanted to counterbalance that a bit so to speak,” Kevin Foster, the lead pastor of LifeBridge Community Church, said. “We wanted to instead of spread a pandemic about fear and hysteria, we wanted to spread a pandemic of hope.”

This global crisis has become an opportunity to spread the word of God to more people through the internet. As the song “See A Victory” by Elevation worship goes, God can truly transform the schemes of the enemy to something good.

“You take what the enemy meant for evil and You turn it for good, You turn it for good,” wrote in the song lyrics.

More people who have been watching the Sunday services online gave their lives to Jesus Christ.

“Over 300 salvations through Woodlands Church’s online services this weekend,” Christian author Lee Strobel tweeted. “Thank God! Praying that this medical crisis sparks a revival!”

Reference: Fox News

March 18, 2020 0 comment

Dustin Stradley – From Inmate To Pastor

by Emily Wheelock September 26, 2019

written by Emily Wheelock

Dustin Stradley, the pastor of Elevation Church, Roanoke Campus, let it all out earlier this month after opening up about his personal struggles. Stradley, who suffered from an alcohol addiction, says that every day he would wake up and start drinking. He stated that often times he would black out and even pass out. He opened up about his personal struggles includes not only a decade long alcohol addiction, but two arrests.

God changes people.

“I shouldn’t even in some regards be here today,” Stradley said, “I thank God He allowed me to get into that accident before I pulled out into a busy street and I could kill someone.”

View this post on Instagram

SURRENDER. This is hard for me. I like to be in control, know what I’m doing, and know the outcome. So, I felt like God said, “that’s what you’re going to preach this weekend.” “Huh? But I don’t know how to do that well, God.” “Exactly, surrender your struggle and sermon to me and watch what I CAN DO.” This was my posture all weekend. Back stage. On stage. At home. And the posture of hundreds of people @elevationroanoke as well. Hundreds came forward during an altar call to surrender their hurt, infertility, confusion, marriages, families, addictions, finances, all of it, to God. 37 people got baptized. Many of those not knowing they were getting baptized until they came to church. 24 people surrendered their lives to Jesus. Surrender isn’t a posture of defeat but a posture of victory. Surrender is the end of yourself and the beginning of God’s strength. “I don’t know what to do” was the title of my message and something I hate … not knowing what to do. But God is teaching me that if I always knew what to do, I wouldn’t need Him. Surrender isn’t a one time decision, it’s a daily posture. I’m striving to surrender every meeting, moment, conversation, worry, struggle, relationship, all of it, to Him. It’s hard but so liberating. And man, did God show me what He could do this weekend when we SURRENDER everything to Him. #OnlyGod #IDontKnowWhatToDo

A post shared by Dustin Stradley (@dustinstradley) on Sep 3, 2019 at 7:19pm PDT

The accident he is referring to was in 2009 when he hit rock bottom after crashing his car and being arrested for a second time for driving under the influence in Charlotte, NC. A few days after being released from jail, a friend of Stradley took him to Elevation Church in Charlotte. The message from Pastor Steven Furtick, that day, was one that has stuck with him. Though it took months for Stradley to have his last drink. He, eventually, kicked his addiction to alcohol and began volunteering at Elevation Church. After spending time at Elevation as a volunteer, Stradley joined the staff. He quickly rose up the ranks and became the campus pastor at Roanoke.

From inmate to pastor

Today, Dustin Stradley shares his story to inspire and encourage others. He wants to remind people that God’s not done with them either. God changes people.

“A lot of the bad decisions I’ve made, God has now taken that and allowed that to be part of my story, where God can now use my story to reach someone else who made some decisions they’re ashamed of,” Stradley says, “So yea there was purpose in my pain.”

You are not alone. If you’re not dead, God’s not done.

September 26, 2019 0 comment