Some languages are shown more than once in a different way. Some say “Merry Christmas” Some add “Happy New Year”. All wish you a “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”. Enjoy -

*Bolded and Italicized words are languages we have sung in around the world

Afrikaans – Geseënde Kersfees en ‘n gelukkige nuwe jaar
Argentine – Feliz Navidad Y Feliz Año Nuevo
Bohemian – Vesele Vanoce
Brazilian – Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo
Bulgarian – Vesela Koleda i chestita nova godina!
Catalan – Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou!
Chinese – Sing Dan Fae Lok. Gung Hai Fat Choi (Cantonese)
Chinese – Shen Dan Kuai Le Xin Nian Yu Kuai (Mandarin)
Chinese – Shen tan jie kuai le. Hsin Nien Kuaile
Croatian – Sretan Bozic
Czech – Stastne a vesele vanoce a stastny novy rok!
Danish – Glaedelig Jul og glaedelig nytar
Dutch – Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuw Jaar
Dutch – Prettige kerstdagen en een gelukkig nieuw jaar
English – Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Eskimo – (inupik) Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!
Esperanto – Felican Kristnaskon kaj Bonan Novjaron!
Estonian – Haeid joulupuehi ja head uut aastat!
Faeroese – Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar!
Farsi (Persian/Iranian) – Aida Meelauda Messi e shoma moborak va aida toon moborak!
Filipinos – Maligayang Pasko
Finnish – Hauskaa Joulua ja onnellista uutta vuotta!
Flemish – Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar
French – Joyeux Noel et Bonne Année!
Gaelic – Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr!
Galician – Bo Nadal
German – Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!
Greek – Hronia polla kai eytyhismenos o kainourios hronos
Greek – Hronia polla ke eftihismenos o kenourios hronos
Hausa – Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
Hawaian – Mele Kalikimaka ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou!
Hungarian – Kellemes karacsonyi uennepeket es boldog ujevet!
Icelandic – Gledhileg jól og farsælt komandi ar!
Indonesian – Selamat Hari Natal dan Selamat Tahun Baru!
Iraqi – Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish – Nollaig Shona duit
Irish – Nollig Shona
Irish – Nollaig faoi shean agus faoi shonas duit agus bliain nua faoi mhaise dhuit!
Italian – Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo!
Japanese – Meri Kurisumasu soshite Akemashite Omedeto!
Latin – Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!
Latvian – Priecigus Ziemsvetkus un Laimigu Jaungadu!
Lithuanian – Linksmu Kaledu
Maltese – Nixtieklek Milied tajjeb u is-sena t-tabja!
Modern Greek – Kala Christougenna kai evtichismenos o kainourios chronos!
Norwegian – God Jul Og Godt Nytt Aar
Persian/Iranian – (Farsi) Aida Meelauda Messi e shoma moborak va aida toon moborak!
Polish – Vesowe Boze Narodzenie
Polish – Wesolych Swia, t i Szcze, sliwego Nowego Roku!
Portuguese – Boas Festas
Portuguese – Feliz Natal e um Prospero Ano Novo
Romanian – Craciun fericit si un an nou fericit
Russian – S nastupaiushchim Novym godom i s Rozhdestvom Khristovym!
Romanche – (sursilvan dialect): Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn!
Serbian – Hristos se rodi
Slovakian – Stastne a vesele Vianoce a vela stastia v novom roku
Slovak – Vesele Vianoce i na zdravie v novom roku!
Spanish – Feliz Navidad y Prospero ano nuevo!
Swedish – God Jul Och Ett Gott Nytt Ar
Trukeese – (Micronesian) Neekiriisimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech!
Turkish – Noeliniz kutlu olsun ve yeni yilinis kutlu olsun!
Turkish – Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian – Srozhdestvom Kristovym
Ukrainan – Z novym rokom i s rizdvom Hrystovym!
Vietnamese – Chuc mung nam moi va Giang Sing vui ve
Welsh – Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Da!”
Yoruba – E ku odun, e ku iye’dun!

God bless us everyone – Dr. Tim and Maryl Smith

One of the biggest challenges we face as worship leaders is trying to keep the worship of Jesus fresh week after week. And this challenge produces everything from the sublime to the ridiculous as we try ‘new things’ every week. The Hebrew word for ‘new’ is the wonderful word: chadash, which means ‘new or a fresh, new thing’. But it comes from a root word which means ‘to be new or to rebuild, renew, or repair’.

Sometimes it is tempting to throw out the old for the new, but I believe God is calling us to not only keep it fresh in our corporate times of worship but also to rebuild, renew and even repair our songs and our  expressions of worship.

I love trying new things while still honoring the old, tried and proven. Over the years, I have compiled a list of new and fresh ideas that I have either tried or I have seen others do successfully to ‘keep it fresh’ in our worship.

I should mention that I don’t believe in doing new stuff just because I’m bored or the people are bored. I do believe in provoking all of us to hear great songs with new ears. Sometimes due to repetition, our ears become dull to the words of the powerful songs we are singing. So I like to put a fresh coat of paint on each song so we can ‘see’ it with new eyes.  To awaken the worshiper in each one of us, is one of the highest goals of a worship leader.

So consider these ideas (because of space I will just give you a few):

• Change the words or word of a song
• Fast songs slow/slow songs fast
• Hum while someone speaks the words- whispering
• Men only/women only/children only/over 40 only/blondes only etc.
• Children’s choirs/senior choir/bell choir/brass choir/string choir/bluegrass/Dixieland band
• Have a child start the song
• Antiphonal choirs (put one in the balcony)
• A capella (no instruments or just one solo instument)
• Different language
• Soloist in congregation
• Singers surround congregation
• Solo instruments (look for unique instruments in the congregation ie bagpipes)
• Drum cadence
• Have a couple lead worship

Okay, that’s just a few. Later I will give you some more radical ideas. But in the meantime, keep it fresh and sing a ‘new’ ‘chadash‘ song to the Lord. He loves it.

Be creative, and have a Great New Year!

Dr. Tim Smith

Remember: Contributions are tax-exempt at Worship Without Borders!

©2011 SongSmith Ministries

I was honored to join Mike and Marsha Herron in Beirut, Lebanon for a benefit concert at the UNESCO hall for the Bible Society of Lebanon on December 5. After ministering in a Baptist Church on Sunday, Mike and I rehearsed for a couple of days and then performed his ‘Prince of Peace’ concert on Monday night. It was very well attended and greatly received by all. We had some national talent singing and performing with us throughout the evening so it was very special. Mike weaved his songs in with some Christmas standards for a great mix of new and old. I joined him for seven songs on the cello and got to play the piano accompaniment to a wonderful soprano on ‘O Holy Night’.

Beirut is a very picturesque city that sits on the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea. What a beautiful view we had from our ‘hotel’ way up on the hill above the city. We hope to go back in the future for other endeavors to encourage the wonderful people of Lebanon.

Antalya, Turkey

Following the concert, Mike, Marsha and I flew onto Turkey for a week-long worship conference with about 200 pastors and leaders from all over Turkey, as well as Brazil, UK, Norway, Belgium, Jordan and others. The setting of the beautiful hotel was idyllic to say the least and gave us a pleasant background to worship God together for four days. Joining us for the ministry were many brothers from Brazil (Asaph Borba from Porto Alegre, Brazil was the leader) and a brother from Jordan.

From the very beginning you could tell this would be a very special week as they joined wholeheartedly into the time of worship with a Brazilian flavor! Then Mike shared on the ‘Earthquake of Praise’ (being very prophetically significant since a devastating earthquake had just hit Turkey a few days before) with a great response of worship at the end.

Each morning was given to worship, powerful sharing by local pastors as well as preaching and teaching from the team. We heard some amazing words from these great pastors as well as our Brazilian brothers. Profound would be an understatement for what God was doing. I got to share the first morning on flowing in worship as a team and then in the afternoon with Piano in Worship. You could see the lights coming on for the musicians in the workshop and many were able to get my book/DVD Piano in Worship to further their study and release for worship on the keys.

There were two workshops related to Turkish music, instruments and arts used in worship in Turkey and this a fascinating discussion similar to many nations around the world – integrating the indigenous instruments, styles, songs and expressions into contemporary usage in the church. This is an especially daunting task in Turkey since the instruments, scales, rhythms and pitches are much different than western-style musical expressions. And the instruments are much softer (though some have pickups now for amplification). We experienced the beauty of the ‘oud’ (turkish lute) and the saz in traditional music and heard 10/8 meter and even 19/8 in some of their songs! Natural to them, exotic to us.

The response overall was wonderful and gratifying, knowing we have connected significantly in this great land. We are working on follow-up and more resources to come their way to allow the seeds sown from this short time together, to grow and mature into the song that God wants to release in Turkey. His church, though small in size, will flourish even in this land and His song will be released in city after city by the wonderful grace of Jesus. We will return to continue to breathe on these churches and leaders.

After this significant week in Antalya, we returned to Istanbul for a short day of sightseeing and enjoying the cuisine and music of Turkey before we returned.

All in all, a great 12 days of ministry, song and blessing. I want to thank Pastor Mike Herron and Asaph Borba for inviting me to join in this wonderful time with their team. And thank you to all the pray-ers out there and supporters who make these adventures possible. Your sacrifice is touching lives around the world! To God be the glory!

in Him,

Dr. Tim Smith

Can you imagine Christmas without music? A true ‘Silent Night’? Personally, I love Christmas and all the music that goes with it. Many say I have an ‘anointing’ for it, but I know that might not be the case for your average worship or music pastor and there are some musicians who absolutely dread it. And I know that by now, probably you have every service through Christmas scheduled and you’re possibly looking at Easter songs!

I also know that your average congregation gets glutted with Christmas songs and ‘cheer’ even before Thanksgiving so it makes it difficult to get them to sing it ‘one more time’ at church. And then add in traditions, myths, legends, nostalgia, over-kill, consumerism, bad experiences (and the list goes on and on). These can all get in the way of a truly wonderful and spiritual experience (even though we’re Christians and this should be one of our most exciting moments – God incarnate now comes to earth!). So what does a weary worship pastor do?

Well, whether you ‘believe’ in Christmas or not, whether you prefer to celebrate it or not, whether you enjoy it or not, why not use this time to point to the only thing that really makes sense of it all? Jesus. He did come to earth. He was born sometime. He was a humble King in swaddling clothes, somewhere (probably not in the dead of winter). He was foretold by prophets and announced by angels. Our job is to make sure every song reveals Him and every word comes alive in their hearts. Help them see and hear (and sing) the great Christmas music with new eyes and ears (and mouths). Here are some ideas:

1. Study the carols and their composers – Find out one significant thing about each carol you sing. Share it you’re your team. Then share it with the congregation before you sing it. For instance, Isaac Watts didn’t write ‘Joy to the World’ as a Christmas carol and probably didn’t sing it at Christmas. He wrote it as a new setting for Psalm 98. Look up and read Psalm 98 out loud before you sing ‘Joy to the World’ next time. In fact, play the music behind it while you read it to the congregation.
2. Rehearse the words with the congregation – because we are so inundated at the malls and everywhere we go with Christmas songs, we have a tendency to become dull to the words and the meanings of the songs.  The Psalms say we are to ‘Sing with understanding’. We need to make the words come alive and provoke the contemplation and curiosity of the congregation.
   1. Have the congregation speak the words first. I encourage the people to speak the words with emotion and physically (use your hands).
   2. Highlight a key word or phrase that is significant and often overlooked. “’till He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth’! Wow!
   3. Mix and match – try lyrics to a carol with another well-known tune in the same meter (i.e. Joy to the World to the tune of Amazing Grace)
   4. Feature a prominent word in the PowerPoint display – i.e. ‘Joy’ in red, different and bigger font.
   5. Sing the forgotten verses – so many carols have multiple verses that are rarely sung and surprise people when they start singing them. Shock them!
3. Treat each carol uniquely – Avoid doing it the same old way each year. Try some variety [caution: don’t get too far away from the original or you might lose people that way too] Help the people hear these songs in a new way. Consider some of these possibilities:
   1. Use a same-note drone throughout the song – ie bagpipes
   2. Change tempo: speed up or slow down the song (I love Joy to the World in half-time)
   3. A capella is always a great thing to throw in if you can pull the four parts (practice with your singers first)
   4. With a capella add a single instrument – recorder; snare drum; trumpet; cello (my favorite) – have them play a counter melody against you.
   5. Engage the kids! Bring them up and sing a fun song with them. Or have a kids’ choir sing one. One little six year old voice can change everything.
   6. Engage the seniors! Definitely the forgotten force in your congregation. They can still sing and they will probably put more emotion in these songs than your college-age singers. Give them a shot. You know you make them sound and look great.
   7. Place your choir around the sanctuary and leave them there till the last song. Then have them walk up slowly singing the final incredible song (your choice).

Whatever you do, make sure you worship Jesus this Christmas season. Not the songs, not the mood, not the myth, not the nostalgia, just Jesus – King of kings!

Be creative, and have a Merry Christmas!

Dr. Tim Smith

©2010 SongSmith Ministries

October 18

There were over 10,000 in attendance on this first night! Todd and I ministered in the middle of the program with three songs hand-chosen for this special occasion: Our God (Tomlin), Here in Your Presence (Egan), and Holy, Holy Holy Lord. We had procured a nice cello from Delhi (from a Jewish synagogue) and so I was able to play to my heart’s content. I started off with the Bach Unaccompanied Cello Suite #1 Prelude that lead into some improv and free worship that ultimately lead into ‘Our God’. Then we flowed into ‘Here in Your Presence’ with Rahul Patrick joining us with some great guitar riffs, followed by the classic Holy, Holy, Holy Lord (God of Power and Might) where we released Todd’s trumpet. It really kicked! Such an honor to be a part of this great event! (side point: the cello A string broke the night before and we found out a guitar B string works on a cello! Take note all you aspiring cellists!)

Famous Indian comedian, Johnny Lever, shared a funny and powerful testimony of God’s redemption in his life followed with an altar call with hundreds responding to the love and hope of Jesus Christ.

October 19

The next morning the United Fellowship Conference started (over 3000 Indian pastors and leaders). I had the privilege of leading worship in the opening service. Though we sang mostly in English, the response was encouraging and we even sang some in Hindi! Pastor Erik Rangel from Yuma, Arizona preached an amazing word to open the conference – to love one another as Christ loved us! Simple yet profound – great response. Then it was a great set of Hindi songs followed by more speakers and great responses.

In the evening the conference continued with more worship, special music and special speakers in this beautiful conference grounds (it sleeps, feeds and seats more than 8000)

October 20

The second day of the conference we were once again honored to lead in worship this amazing group of pastors and leaders from all over India. Their response was amazing and we introduced a little more Hindi songs. What a flow! In the afternoon I taught over 400 leaders and worship leaders on prophetic music and worship. It was delightful to see them let loose with their own songs again and again, ending with singing a prayer of blessing over those around them. The Holy Spirit truly moved among us and stirred the deep longings for His presence and His voice in the congregation! That night Todd and I lead worship for the whole conference in the main arena (complete with lights and bugs of every imaginable size and shape) and had a powerful time blending our voices with theirs, releasing a great sound of worship. Todd then preached on the Jesus, the Light of India!

October 21

The final morning, during the worship (in Hindi) we heard the sweet sound of pure and spontaneous worship. It floated through the air so effortlessly and beautifully that we easily could have stayed there all day and no one would complain. It’s humbling to see the fruit of  the seeds we have sown in the worship here. The worship team sat beautifully on a simple chord progression and no one was in a hurry. No clapping, no shouting, just pure adoration. Then we (all the speakers) were brought up to the front of the conference to honor us and pray for us. A tremendous honor and humbling, knowing the great sacrifice of these wonderful people who sat in front of us! God is doing a powerful work in India through these and countless others all over this land. Big thank you to Brother Tony, Mark Smucker, Pastors Michael, Rocky, Patrick, Shanu, Nixon (amazing meals), Marvin (on the sound), new friends Sally Guest and her father Ross Davies from New Zealand and countless others who blessed us in so many ways! It was also wonderful to see so many of the students from the International School of Worship there!

Click here for Video: India 2011 Part 1  – Lucknow

October 22

The next morning we took an ‘interesting’ 4 hour taxi ride to Allahabad (2nd oldest city in India) to minister with Pastor Arun Michael and his wonderful team of pastors and leaders. On the ride, we worked hard with Pastor Michael to translate a few common songs into Hindi that would flow musically as well as lyrically. They came out beautifully and we will probably use these again and again. Pastor Michael has a real gift in making these songs ‘sing’ in Hindi. Thank you Pastor!  In the evening the church was packed with eager worshipers. The local team lead worship and then we followed. We immediately tried out the new Hindi songs much to the delight of the people and got into a great flow. Todd’s beautiful song,’ The Sweetest Name I Know’, translated into Hindi, was a great hit and ended up being the theme song for the weekend!

October 23

Sunday morning we had a great time in both services singing, releasing, and preach/teaching about the wonderful presence of Jesus and our response to Him – shachah! I felt such a great personal release to preach there like never before and they were so responsive that it made it even easier to minister with confidence and great joy. After the service we prayed with many for healing, encouragement and recommitment. What a great and humble group of people. A big thank you to Pastor Arun Michael, Pastor Glorious, Vivak (great worship leader) Ajeet and Prince and a powerful group of people who treated us so wonderfully. We had to get back to Lucknow so after a quick lunch we returned with a harrowing 5 hour taxi ride (in the dark of night!) but we made it (thanks for braving it with us Pastor Glorious and Vivak!). Thank you Jesus! We’re alive!

Click here for Video: India 2011 Part 2 - Allahabad

October 24

Today, we flew from Lucknow in the north, to New Delhi and then on to Coimbatore in the extreme southern tip of India. What a contrast of weather. They are experiencing the tail end of the second monsoon season so every day had it’s time of deluge! Wet, wet, wet. We stayed the whole week at the Bethel Bible College in a nice room.

October 25

Our first day in Coimbatore was dedicated to visiting many of the wonderful ministries Bethel City Cathedral (Dr David Prakasam) has established over the years. We returned to the precious leper facility, inhabited with joyous and vibrant people who are filled with the Holy Spirit and passionate in their love of Jesus. To lift up holy hands with them is humbling and stirring to say the least. To blend your voice with such faith all around you is powerful. We found out that these sweet people had raised more than 50% of the funds needed to build their new chapel. Industrious, faith-filled, joyful and loving community where God abides!  God bless Pastor James and Persia for shepherding this wonderful group of saints. Next we went to a boys’ home and got blown away by such a boisterous display of song and dance that we just had to join in have fun with them for a bit. They even got to play Todd’s trumpet! Then we returned to the Widows’ Home that we visited two years ago to the same sweet ladies of faith that live there. After some greetings and exhortations we prayed for them and that was powerful. What faith abides in that house! We call them the ‘Happy Widows of Coimbatore’! These were the gallant saints who had been praying for my brother, Pastor Wendell Smith for six years and now are praying for Gini and the family faithfully. They just don’t give up – because God doesn’t give up either! We ended our day at another boys’ home and after lunch with Pastor Peter Prakasam we had a rousing time of singing with the boys. Who could not love these people? God bless Pastor Peter Prakasam for overseeing all these wonderful ministries. In the evening, Todd met with the sound team at Bethel while I had a great session with the main worship leaders there.

Click here for Video: India 2011 Part 3 Widows, Lepers and Orphans – Coimbatore

October 26

Today we taught two sessions at the Bible College – an enthusiastic group of young adults training for pastoring and leadership in the church of India. After some stirring songs (plus trumpet and cello – they rented a cello for me here too) I shared on the shachach and proskuneo and guided them into bowing and worshiping through challenges they face. Todd shared on the Royal Priesthood and shared his Zimbabwe story of God’s protection in adverse circumstances. Our good friend, Manoraj was our amazing translator once again. In the evening, we visited another widows home near the church and ministered to these beautiful ladies. Then we worked with the sound and the musicians of Bethel. Great rehearsal.

October 27

In the morning, our session with the Bible College was punctuated with some prophetic worship. After a sweet visit with another Widows Home near the church (Pastor Williams), we proceeded to the Worship Conference at Bethel City Cathedral in their beautiful new facility – hosted by Pastors John and Terry Prakasam. Over 200 worship leaders and pastors from all around attended. Pastor Sam lead the first worship time, setting the tone for a powerful conference. We sang a few songs then jumped into prophetic songs and released a sense of purpose from the beginning. Afterwards, I taught on the Vision for Worship in God’s church. Great response.

October 28

The conference continued all day Friday. It started with a great time of worship led by Lelin (powerful) followed by us leading them into a season of spontaneous worship. I finished my teaching on vision and then Todd shared on the seven words of praise – powerful teaching and really got them participating from silence to shouting – especially the teaching on barak (kneeling, bowing, prostrate) which had all of us on our faces before God. We finished the day with breakout sessions for singers and musicians. I took the singers through a vigorous workout on vocal quality and gave them tools and ideas to enhance and improve their voices daily. We came back together for a final teaching on what it truly means to ‘lead worship’.

October 29

The final day was incredible with Todd finishing his teaching on the shabach, leading into a great teaching on Breakthrough worship! Then of course, we ‘brokethrough’! Powerful. We finished the conference by exploring the new spiritual song in our worship. Song after amazing song was released in the people after some simple instruction of how God would sing through us – through His word, thanksgiving, prayers, etc. The times of sustained worship and song being birthed were stirring to watch and to hear. Most had not experienced this level of release in song and were enjoying it so immensely. We then anointed every person present to sanctify them and set them apart for the ministry of worship in the house of God. Many tears and much joy everywhere!

October 30

Our time in Coimbatore finished with a bang at the main services of Bethel (they have 3 Tamil services in the morning and 2 English services simultaneously – with over 4000 believers worshiping together) We shared briefly in the early (6:30AM!) Tamil service and invited them to join us in the evening. Then we led worship in both English services; I preached in the first one and Todd in the second. It was nice to be able to minister without an ‘interrupter’ (interpreter) since you can say so much more and get your own flow going. I shared on Persevering Worshipers (Abraham, Lot, and David) and gave them a glimpse of worshipers around the world who persevere in their worship (Guatemala, Uganda and Kamchatka). We never give up – but press in to all that God has for us. Todd preached on being the light of India in everything we do and say in the world around us.

The evening service was given to worship and prophetic sharing and singing. There was a literal deluge outside so we thought many wouldn’t be able to come because of transportation. But they showed up, drenched to the bone and ready to worship! It was absolutely off the charts! By now, we have a little more grasp of some of the Tamil songs so we were able to jump right in with their language and sing with them instead of ‘to’ them. We led them in dancing, celebrating and responding to the call of God on their lives. At one point I had those who had illnesses and sickness in their bodies to come forward and (I’ve never done this before!) had them dance during ‘Trading My Sorrows’ while the young maidens danced around them like Miriam at the Red Sea. It was a sight and beautiful thing to behold as joy replaced sorrow and laughter replaced tears. Song after song encouraged the spirit of worship. Todd actually started the night with his prophetic trumpet blasting. I accented moments with the cello (my voice of choice) and together we had an amazing night with an array of styles, dynamics, tempos, and textures that was an arranger’s dream! I love to worship God in this environment, it is so freeing. The thousand or so worshipers with us were rejoicing and responding all night long. None of us wanted to stop but time had it’s way of moving along and the buses wait for no man. So our time in India ended on a tremendous up-note. A big thank you to Pastor John Prakasam and Pastor Terry Prakasam for their amazing hospitality, as well as Lelin, Sam, Manoraj, Abby, Pastor Peter Prakasam, Mohenraj, Jacob (took wonderful care of us at the Bible College), Carolin, Andy, Daniel, David, Rohen and all the great people of Bethel!

October 31-November 1

After a ton of goodbyes and packing up all our clothes and our memories, we headed to the airport in Coimbatore – then on to Chennai, to New Delhi, to Amsterdam and then to Seattle and FINALLY home sweet home (Portland, Oregon) to my sweet wife Maryl!

What a great two weeks full of variety, fruit, release, joy, healing, impartation, faith and new seasons for all! We love you India and we will return!

In Him,

Dr. Tim Smith and Pastor Todd Beal – Worship Missionaries

This Saturday, October 15, we return to India for our fifth time in this great nation. Due to some physical ailments, Maryl will not be going with me this time, but we are believing for her total healing and health while we are gone. Pastor Todd Beal is joining me again for an exciting time of ministry in Northern and Southern India. Here is a prayer guide for our trip (October 15-31) Thank you for your prayers and support now as we continue to release worship around the world!

1. Protection and Safety – Psa 4:8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.  Both on the trip over in the plane, during our travels in cars on the highways and streets, in the churches, hotels, airports, and even shopping. And please remember and pray for Maryl and our families who are here while we are gone. Maybe give them a call to see how they are doing.
2. Health – Psa 107:20  He sent His word and healed them. Remember that Maryl is facing strong physical ailments. Pray for total healing and tests are conclusive for clarity. In India, good, safe food and drink readily available helps. Last time in Coimbatore we all got sick from something we ate. This won’t happen this time. No diarrhea or intestinal problems.
3. Strength – Is.40:31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. We are looking at 14 straight days of ministry with no significant breaks. Pray for stamina, good sleep, breaks when needed. With constant singing, talking, speaking and shouting, the voice can get weary. Pray for our voices to remain strong.
4. Anointing – Isa 10:27 It shall come to pass in that day That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil. Pray for Todd and I to have the anointing of Christ upon every meeting. We don’t want to lean on our own talent, skill, passion and past successes. His anointing is always fresh and invigorating and keeps us going.
5. Clarity – 1Co 14:7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? 8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? Pray for clarity of the word and prophetic words that will come forth. That it will cut to the heart of the matter and be easily received.
6. Favor – Pro 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, 4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. May the heart of the people be open to every message. May they receive it gladly and embrace relevant responses and actions. Especially favor with pastors and leaders as we work with them.
7. Impact – I Cor 16:9 For a great (high, large, mighty, loud) and effective (active, operative, powerful) door (portal, entrance) has opened to me, and there are many adversaries (to lie opposite, be contrary, oppose).  16: 13 Watch (keep awake, be vigilant), stand fast (be stationary, persevere) in the faith (persuasion, conviction), be brave (quit you like men, act manly), be strong (empower, increase in vigor).We have the opportunity to impact and influence hundreds of churches throughout India in 14 days. May the heart of the Father, true worship be conveyed and demonstrated throughout our time there. May new songs be birthed that week. May leaders be emboldened and encouraged to step up into their calling. May the weak be strengthened, the widow and the orphan comforted; may healing virtue flow in every service. May His Spirit be released to destroy the works of the enemy in this nation! May we remain vigilant every step of the way to the devices of the enemy.
8. Finances for the trip – Php 4:19  And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. God is certainly blessing us in many ways financially, but we are stretched between personal obligations and the India trip expenses (around $2000). Good things are happening and we believe God will continue to provide as we remain faithful to what He has called us. Please pray for abundance during this season and fresh new sources of His provision!
9. October 17-21 Lucknow, India/October 22-23 Allahabad, India/October 24-31 Coimbatore, India

Your Worship Missionaries – Dr. Tim and Maryl Smith and Pastor Todd Beal

• Dr. Tim is teaching a Master’s level course on worship at LifeChange Leadership Institute in Portland OR (Sept-Oct).
• Dr. Tim and Maryl are leading a Night of Worship at Scappoose Foursquare (Scappoose, OR) October 2 (6pm if you want to join us!)
• Dr. Tim and Maryl will be attending and ministering at Ministers’ Fellowship International Conference in early October – we always love seeing all our friends from around the world and hearing what God is doing everywhere through His faithful servants in MFI.
• Dr. Tim and Pastor Todd Beal are ministering once again in India in October. They are ministering at a Leadership Conference  in Lucknow with thousands of leaders from all over India;then  a church in Allahabad; ending in Coimbatore (southern India) teaching at the Bible College, widows’ homes, childrens’ homes, a leper facility, a Worship Conference for @400 leaders and finally ministering Sunday morning and night at Bethel Cathedral with Pastor David Prakasam.
• Dr. Tim and Maryl will be giving a Worship Seminar in Las Vegas at Pastors David and Cathy Walker in November
• In December, Dr. Tim will be joining with Pastor Mike Herron and others in Ankara, Turkey for a National Worship Conference there. We might also join Mike in Beirut, Lebanon.
• December of course is one of our favorite times to minister locally for many Christmas services!
• In January 2012 we will be joining Pastor Tyrone Jones for a worship seminar in Yuma, AZ!
• More opportunities in 2012 we are looking at: February – International School of Worship, Lucknow, India; Worship Northwest, Salem, OR; March – Worship Conference in Eugene, OR; Southern China; May – Worship conference in New York; June – returning to Uganda!

Thank you for partnering with us and encouraging us as we continue to facilitate and release powerful and authentic worship throughout the whole earth! God is great!

in Him, Your worship missionaries – Dr. Tim and Maryl Smith

Worship Without Borders has had an amazing year so far with wonderful ministry in Guatemala, India, Florida and Alaska along with a lot of local ministry. We are so grateful to the pastors, worship pastors, worship leaders and worship teams around the world who welcome us wholeheartedly, open up their hearts and ministries to us and embrace God’s vision for their worship. We are also so thankful to our many faithful supporters and churches who continue to undergird us not only financially but with their prayers and constant encouragement. You all keep us going and doing what God has called us to do. Our desire is to walk worthy of that calling!

We also want to thank many of you for all the flowers, cards, notes, prayers and encouragement for Maryl in the passing of her father in June. It has been a difficult season but God’s grace has carried her and the family. We would appreciate your continued prayers for Maryl since this has been a challenging year for her physically also – we praise God that she is still cancer-free a year after her surgery!

Now we are eagerly looking forward to a full fall ministry schedule both here and abroad. I start off the season by teaching the opening classes at the Life Change Leadership Institute at Life Change Christian Center (Pastors Mark and Marla Strong). I taught this five-week class on worship last year and so enjoyed stretching myself as well as challenging 25 great students and leaders. (Maryl and I became official members of Life Change Christian Center in Portland, OR this year and we are excited to be a part of this great congregation)

We will doing a lot of local ministry throughout the fall and we are working on some stateside seminars TBA. In late October, we are so excited to be invited back to Coimbatore, Southern India (Bethel City Cathedral, Pastor David Prakasam) for a Worship Conference with hundreds of regional worship leaders and pastors. We will also be teaching at the Bible College as well as ministering again at the widow’s homes, orphanages and the leper facility! We had such an amazing time with them two years ago and can’t wait to return to see what God has done and continue to build on the great vision that they have embraced. We are delighted that Pastor Todd Beal of TrumpetShout Ministries will be accompanying us again to India – also we just found out that our good friend, Pastor Kevin Benson (Hillsboro Vineyard, Hillsboro, OR) will be joining us for this conference (his first time in India!).

Since we were already coming to India in October, Pastor Tony (Bishop Augustus Anthony) fromLucknow, India and head of Assembly of Believers’ Church, invited us to join him earlier in October for their Annual Convention of 10,000 pastors and leaders from all over India. We are so honored to be associated with two great moves of God in India. We look forward to seeing what God will do with such willing people in this time of ripe harvest!

Finally, we are working out the details to join our good friend and fellow minister, Pastor Mike Herron, as he joins with others from around the world to take a team into Ankara, Turkey in December for a National Worship Conference.

Thank you all again for your prayers and support – it keeps us going. Send us a note sometime to stay in touch. We would love to hear from you!

in Him, Your Worship Missionaries – Dr. Tim and Maryl Smith

Every September (corresponding to the start of school) we have the opportunity to restart, reshape and even re-design the worship ministries in our churches. Many things are to be considered and reconsidered during this season: auditions, rehearsals, new songs, schedule, new equipment, platform setup, vision casting, priority setting, etc. In the middle of your faithful deliberations to start off the season with a bang, please remember an often overlooked aspect of the worship ministry: the relationships of your team. Your worship is as healthy as your relationships with others – especially on the worship team. Healthy relationships are paramount to a healthy worship environment. And they take work!

Consider these:  1Jn 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” (worship) and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God (worship) whom he has not seen?

Mat 5:23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar (worship), and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

I was recently in a church in India where they literally put this into practice every Sunday. If there is something between the drummer and someone in the congregation, they are requested (required) to step down and take care of that before they minister on Sunday mornings. Pretty radical, and not always practical for many reasons, but the spirit of self-analysis for purity in our worship is not optional in Jesus-worship.

I remember one Sunday, while leading worship, God convicted my heart concerning my bad attitude towards a brother who owed me some money. God’s conviction was so strong I could not continue worshiping until I told the Lord “I’ll call him right after the service and forgive the debt if you’ll just let me worship you now!” It worked, I was released to worship Him and afterwards I did what I had promised. What a relief and what a lesson. God cares about our relationships as much as our worship (in fact our relationships are our worship)

Eph. 4:16 says: “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Notice the ‘joint’ or relationship – how we relate and ‘join’ with one another in pure worship – causes growth in the body.

This year, I encourage you to consider and discuss these areas with your teams to encourage growth and health:

• Honest friendships

Eph 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

Cultivate honest, loving, open and authentic dialogue in your team. Your honesty, openness, authenticity and humility will facilitate this conversation. I have heard it said that love is the only bridge that you can drive the ‘truck’ of truth over. If we truly love each other then we must be truthful in our relationships – in this case, you can’t ‘fake it till you make it’.  This conversation should be positive and uplifting in all counts. Our goal is to build up (edify) each other. I love encouraging the weaker members and soaring with the stronger members. We can all grow up in a rich, honest and fulfilling environment!

• Forgiving one another

Eph 4:32  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Practice forgiveness. Be quick to forgive. I use the term ‘extravagant forgiveness’. Be the first in a situation to forgive the other. This should be a lifestyle of a true worshiper – but sometimes we find a good excuse not to forgive:

• I just don’t think I can ever forgive him
• He hasn’t asked for forgiveness, why should I forgive him?
• I am offended
• They deserve what they get
• He’ll just do it again

Sound familiar? Now try turning it around on yourself – what if somebody thought this of you? What if Jesus said this about you? There is not one instance where Jesus would do that to you, and there is no situation where we can withhold forgiveness. I know it’s hard, but we must let it go. Put the poison down!

“Resentment is like a glass of poison that a man drinks; then he sits down and waits for his enemy to die.”—Unknown

• Valuing and needing one another

1Cor. 12:20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye (guitarist) cannot say to the hand (drummer), “I have no need of you”; nor again the head (leader) to the feet (singers), “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body (choir) which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body (sound) which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,

Php 2:2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

There is no competition in the ministry. Even the strong ones were once weak. Somebody believed in them and released them. Oftentimes the value and the need for a member of the worship team isn’t apparent but all are ‘necessary’. Our job as leaders is to discover and confess their value and our need for them. Many leaders are quick to find fault or to find the ‘weak link’ in the group, but it takes a true and patient leader to turn that weakness into a strength and release the potential of the member.

I love being able to help the weak vocalist become strong or the struggling musician become confident – but it all starts with valuing them and needing them – not because of their gifting but because they are necessary to the body. Find someone to release this year!

So this year, make an assessment of your team:

1. Who can you be totally honest with?
2. Is there anybody you can’t forgive?
3. Who is hard to ‘value’?

Then pass this on to your team. Free them to honesty, forgiveness and value. Your worship will never be the same.

Be creative, and have a great new year!

Dr. Tim Smith

©2011 SongSmith Ministries

Come Be With Me

Live worship w/ Dr. Tim Smith and friends

@ Living Hope Fellowship, Aloha, OR 2005

Release Date: 01-Jan-2007

Label: SongSmith Ministries

UPC: 809780009124

Genre: Christian/Gospel (primary)

Executive Producer: Dr. Tim Smith Producer: Evan Earwicker

My Stores

• iTunes U.S.
• iTunes Australia/N.Z.
• iTunes Canada
• iTunes UK/European Union
• iTunes Japan
• MediaNet
• eMusic
• Rhapsody
• Napster
• Sony Connect

My Songs

• 1 It’s All About You Tim Smith (Song ID: USTC10780230)
• 2 Isn’t He Good Tim Smith (Song ID: USTC10780233)
• 3 Mighty God Tim Smith (Song ID: USTC10780234)
• 4 Let not the Wiseman Tim Smith (Song ID: USTC10780235)
• 5 All My Streams Tim Smith (Song ID: USTC10780236)
• 6 Come Be With Me Tim Smith (Song ID: USTC10780237)

Check this album out on iTunes here.

Check out this album on iTunes here.