son. He practically lived in my house during his high school years. Chris is a really relational and funny guy, but he’ s not the loudest guy that walks in the room. He was a little bit shy. He was playing drums, and Brian Johnson got him on guitar, and he was singing, and there was just an anointing on him. But he just wanted to play drums, and I finally said,“ Chris, I am banning you from playing drums! You cannot play drums anymore. You are going to lead worship.” So he started leading worship, and you could just tell there was something on his life when he led. So we were doing the Wednesday nights, and then I would just take Chris and some of those leaders and put them onstage at our conferences.
Kim had just been saved and moved to Redding when she turned eighteen, and got involved in our youth group. Kim has always had a gifted voice. You could tell there was something on her even in those early days. She moved to North Carolina and I remember telling her,“ You can move to North Carolina, you can move wherever you want, but I can tell you right now that you are going to be the voice for our movement.” She moved back a year later, and sure enough she was, and it’ s been fun to watch. She led our Friday night prayer gathering for years, nine until eleven o’ clock. We might get five kids or we might get 20 or 30. 40 was like a home run! We’ d do it up in the great room at Bethel, and we’ d have to scrounge up a guitar player, and Kim would be up there leading for two hours with us, but you could tell that when she was leading there were breakthroughs happening.
Walking with worship leaders … for me the fulfilling part is not just seeing people around the world sing the songs that Chris has written, it’ s knowing the story, his journey, the integrity, the price he’ s paid, the heart he has. That’ s the part that’ s so fulfilling.
[ WM ] What’ s the difference, in your mind, between Jesus Culture and Bethel Music?
[ Banning ] When people ask about Bethel Music or about Jesus Culture worship, it’ s Bill Johnson. At the end of the day our DNA comes from what Bill taught us, and what Bill modeled regarding the presence of God. Both have that as their core values, and at the end of the day it’ s about His presence, it’ s about hosting Him, so both have that. And this doesn’ t answer your question, but what Bill is so brilliant at is allowing people to be themselves. He does not require you to fit into some mold. Have a passion and love for the presence of God and
20 June 2020 Subscribe for Free...