[ Christine ] At Gateway I am currently what they call an ‘ artist in residence ’. They are my home church , and I have been actively and very healthily growing in the Lord because of the Word and the worship there for a little over seven years . As soon as the Lord told us that He wanted us to move to Dallas , we became members of the church online . That was three months before we moved here . They have been my home , my oasis , my building blocks , my demolishment when I ’ ve needed it . They are a very healthy and balanced church .
They have something called ‘ artists in residence ’ because they ’ re very forward thinking . Their vision for artists like us is to restore the heart of the artist to the church and the church to the artist where there is not a divide . Which is very common in congregational churches to have a divide with itinerant artists and worshippers and public-eye people like myself . Not because of anything other than we work at the same time on the same days , it ’ s really hard for someone like me to be out 50 of 52 Sundays of the year at church , because I ’ m out working and ministering , So , there are so many things that it can be breading grounds for divisions . it ’ s like the first time . I ’ m still trying to make that make sense in my mind , especially with cancel culture . If you did something I just considered to be something I didn ’ t like , then the X is on your forehead . But God ’ s love is so different , and it abounds in mercy and grace . I ’ ve had many moments in this season where I ’ ve just sat and sobbed out of gratefulness because I ’ ve been overwhelmed by His kindness when I know I don ’ t deserve it .
[ WM ] Now you will regularly be releasing singles and EP ’ s during the next 18 months , correct ? That ’ s in addition to book plans and managing your family . That ’ s quite impressive !
[ Christine ] Yes ! ( laughs ) I have a really great team ! I couldn ’ t do it alone !
[ WM ] And your role at Gateway Church . Can you tell us about that ?
What I love about my church is that they can see past that and they are more interested in the growth of our spiritual journey with the Lord , and they provide teams for that . They provide mentorship , pastorship , growth in leadership opportunities when you want to lead and volunteer at the church and rest opportunities when you ’ re burnt out from the road and you just need a place to replenish . I am spoiled by being a member of Gateway Church and a Gateway girl . I do lead worship from time to time as part of my residency , and it ’ s mostly fun because they ’ re just really awesome to be around .
[ WM ] Speaking of worship , years ago , Matt Redman profoundly penned the words , “ I ’ ll bring you more than a song , for a song in itself is not you what have required ”. So often it seems that the true expression of congregational worship can be forgotten within the gathering