christianmusicADM: Welcome to tonight's chat, Rick! And thank you for being here with us.

Rick Muchow: HI EVERYONE! Thanks for coming.

christianmusicADM: dave asks> What notation software do you use at Saddleback?

Rick Muchow: We use Mosaic at Saddleback, which is by..... I don't recall at the moment, but it's great.

christianmusicADM: TJ asks> Rick, do you plan to ever go on tour?

Rick Muchow: I feel called to be a local worship pastor and I'm already pretty busy just keeping up with my family and Saddleback. I do a lot of Purpose Driven Church conferences though. I'll be in Rio De Janeiro in March and then in Florida the first week of April.

christianmusicADM: What's the average attendance at those Purpose-Drive events?

Rick Muchow: The PD events, as in conferences, generally run 3000 or so pastors and worship leaders, staff and lay people.

christianmusicADM: YouTheMan asks> What is your background?

Rick Muchow: I became a Christian when I was a senior in high school and I got involved in leading worship during high school. I looked for every opportunity to be of service. I saw a gospel group at our church... They were a Hispanic band, but sang in English, and after seeing them I thought how cool to be able to do something like that! After college, where I worked up a Bachelors of Music in San Jose, California, I was signing in a group called the Gospel Expressions. The first church I was at was only 60 people and I served as music and youth director. Then I was serving in Gilroy for 4.5 years in full time music ministry. My last year in Gilroy, I performed over 175 concerts and ministry events and felt led to go full time in music on the road. That lasted about 3 months when Pastor Rick Warren at Saddleback invited me to join. My wife Laura told me she did not want to be on the road any longer and I instantly felt the call to be at Saddleback.

christianmusicADM: OtisP asks> Describe how a smaller church with very little musical talent can develop a worship environment?

Rick Muchow: Worship starts with the leader. We don't just lead worship, but we worship. The Bible says that where 2 or more are gathered He will be in our midst and we will experience His presence. Worship does NOT have to sound like a professional praise album to be worship. We are to worship in spirit and truth... Worship starts in the heart! If I were still in a small church, I would minimize the congregational singing and use midi files for the fast songs, and minimal accompaniment on the slow songs, and offer performance music. Always think of how to get the congregation involved, it does not have to be professional to be honest and sincere, and THAT'S what people are looking for, not to mention that's what God requires.

christianmusicADM: dave asks> I was at Saddleback last Tuesday night to watch rehearsal....when do the band, vocalists, orchestra get together to practice or do a run through?

Rick Muchow: Tuesday night is rehearsal night. At the end of the night around 8:30 pm, we put it all together.

christianmusicADM: jimper says> Rick, it has been a long time since your start at First Baptist Gilroy…

Rick Muchow: Yes, it has!

christianmusicADM: dave asks> When will there be a worship leaders only conference?

Rick Muchow: During the May PD conference at Saddleback, on the Monday prior to the conference we will offer 3 tracks.... vocal, instrumental, and tech for worship leaders.

christianmusicADM: Apu asks> When did you first begin writing music, and do you do all of your arrangements?

Rick Muchow: I started writing in 4th grade and write now when I can't find a song that matches a need we have in a service. Bob Barrett, Jason Mills and Tony Guererro at Saddleback do our orchestrations, and I influence the arrangements.

christianmusicADM: TJ asks> Rick, your music is so versatile - do have a preference between the slow, intimate worship songs and the high-energy tunes?

Rick Muchow: Thank you! I love all kinds of music. My preference is the type of music that is going to help others to worship. My passion is to worship God, but after that there is nothing greater than seeing other people entering the presence of God.

christianmusicADM: TJ asks> Rick, I've seen you play guitar and piano at Saddleback. Do you play any other instruments?

Rick Muchow: Not really.

christianmusicADM: dave asks> One day is a difficult thing to explain to the elder team! "I'm going to CA for the day!"

Rick Muchow: The entire conference is applicable to the worship pastor. Most of the concepts apply equally to the worship pastor. Understanding the paradigm is 1/2 the battle. The Purpose Driven concepts will work for any pastor, including worship.

christianmusicADM: jimper asks> Rick, what are Mike and Rendy Hadley doing now?

Rick Muchow: They are wonderful friends, living now in Scotts Valley up near Santa Cruz in No. Cal.

christianmusicADM: kn5000rules asks> Rick do you offer any music ministry internships as Saddleback? Hey if you do I work for free in anything you need!

Rick Muchow: I am very interested in music ministry internships! I think the best way to go about that would be to email me from EncouragingMusic.com via the info@encouragingmusic.com address. I don't know much about internships, but I'm trying to look into them more deeply.

christianmusicADM: dave asks> How do you plan a service? Who is involved in that process?

Rick Muchow: Great question! I just wrote an article about that issue which is coming out in the Communicator from J&J Music during March, but here's some of those ideas... I plan the music around the Purposes: Membership, Maturity, Ministry, Missions, and Magnification. Our Sunday am service is a seeker sensitive service, which means it is an evangelistic service, so I think about our target (who we are trying to reach) and plan the music accordingly Our target on the weekend services is Saddleback Sam. There is a lot to that, but basically knowing the type of music that "Sam" listens to and programming the service with that music is how I try to reach out to the people. I use an acrostic called IMPACT:
Inspire
Movement
Praise
Adoration
Commitment
Tie it together
Another way to think of it is doing a song that is a hand clapper, a hand holder, a hand raiser and then a hand holder. Sunday AM, I have 4 songs: 2 hand clappers, 1 holder, 1 raiser. This is just a general guide. The song before the message is upbeat, positive and talks about the benefits of knowing God. AND does not steal the thunder of the upcoming message. The song after the message is thematic and reinforces the message. It's an application/commitment song. At the end of the service, we do a community song, which is our hand holder.

christianmusicADM: TJ has an interesting comment> My sister-in-law says that Rick's whole body becomes an instrument of praise

Rick Muchow: Chuck Fromm (involved with Worship Leader Magazine and a founder of Maranatha Music) was at a recent Saddleback event, and commented on the same thing. He wishes he could dance with me, but he might be embarrassing. ;) He commented how Cliff Barrows (with Billy Graham) directed with his hands, waving his hands and how the hippies in the 60's adopted and adapted that as they learned to worship and how Chuck feels that I've brought something like that to another level using the whole body. I'm not really conscious of how I do that. I try just to worship and not bring attention to myself.

christianmusicADM: kn5000rules has a long one> Hello Rick. I'm a young 19 kid in charge of the music at my church, but the church doesn't think of me as a music minister because I'm not ordained! What do you think about that? Also do you have Spanish translations of your songs? God bless you and great ministry.

Rick Muchow: Thank you for the compliment! It really doesn't matter what the church thinks, but what God thinks. We lead worship for an audience of ONE. Be patient with your church, and overlook offenses. Keep what you do, what God calls you to do, as the main thing. We don't do this for man anyway. To answer your 2nd question, there are Spanish translations. There is a church in FL that is translating many of the songs. I'll try to get a note on EncouragingMusic.com about that.

christianmusicADM: cw asks> Do you have any suggestions on how to get more players in a band?

Rick Muchow: To get more players in the band, pray and nurture the musicians as they come, if you don't have any, it seems like you will never get any, but they WILL come. Musicians are looking for a friendly environment to express their love for God. Just having an opportunity for them is the first step.

christianmusicADM: worshipleader asks a similar question> How many musicians are paid staff versus volunteer?

Rick Muchow: At Saddleback, most of our musicians are volunteers. I recommend that you build on a volunteer basis, but pay the people that do this full time, the professional musicians, if you can afford to pay them. All musicians outside of paid staff and contracted musicians are volunteers, they participate as an expression of their SHAPE and desire to use their talents for God in ministry. SHAPE is
Spiritual Gifts
Heart
Abilities
Passion
Experience

christianmusicADM: drgodpop asks> Do you guys ever play "secular" songs in your services (songs that would be known by many having heard it on the radio)?

Rick Muchow: Sure we do! We're getting ready to do "I Can't Wait To Meet You" by Macy Gray, first week in March. I'm looking forward to it.

christianmusicADM: TJ asks> This may be a silly question, but Rick you are so blessed by the Lord in what you do, and He has given you such talent, you make it look SO easy. Do you ever get a little nervous before you begin a service?

Rick Muchow: E V E R Y T I M E. It takes a lot of concentration to do what we do. First we are directing during sound check trying to get it all right and then within 5 minutes, we have to take of the director's hat and become a worshipper, focusing on God and not on all the performance details. It takes a lot of energy, and I think faith. We're really out on a limb sometimes, but God always comes through. The more out on the limb, the more He comes through.

christianmusicADM: OtisP asks> Does using midi curtail the spontaneous nature of a worship service?

Rick Muchow: It can. I suggest using midi only for the fast songs. The arrangements of fast songs can be programmed more easily and are more predictable. Also there is a certain amount of flexibility in midi where if you do want to go back and do the song over, you can do this pretty easily. Slow songs are where I find room for spontaneity and allowing room for the Spirit to lead.

christianmusicADM: YouTheMan asks> Where can I get your music to use in my church, [on your] web site?

Rick Muchow: Yes, EncouragingMusic.com. We have a ton of resources on the site.

christianmusicADM: OtisP asks> What standards do you apply to your worship teams---what do you require from them?

Rick Muchow: We audition 3x per year and audition for talent, time availability and spiritual commitment. We ask that everyone learn the music by memory, that they are punctual to rehearsals and sound checks, have at least 80% attendance at worship services and rehearsals and we ask them to complete the CLASS program (101, 201. 301, 401) at Saddleback which walks through basic beliefs and mor,e and we ask them to conduct their lives in a manner appropriate for a leader.

christianmusicADM: Apu asks> First I wanting to thank Rick for his music, I convert from Hindu to Christian. Also I wondering if any of the purpose driven material is translated and available for my people in India?

Rick Muchow: Welcome to the family! The Purpose Driven Church book by Rick Warren is translated for the India audience. You can find it at www.pastors.com. It is the foundation for pastors/leaders in designing services, outreaches, events.... everything within your church.

christianmusicADM: dave (in regards to acquiring new musicians) asks> how do you audition and turn away some?

Rick Muchow: It's very hard... I look at it as an opportunity to help people find their ministry, which may not be public leadership in music, but everyone can worship!

christianmusicADM: TJ has another long one> How do we get our elderly loved ones to get beyond the style they're so accustomed to (hymns) and focus on the Christian LYRICS that are so powerful in your songs? The Gospel choir last year did an INCREDIBLE arrangement of "For Unto Us A Child Is Born". There was only a handful of "discontents" (including my mother-in-law) who wanted nothing beyond Handel's original transcript . . .

Rick Muchow: I don't think you need to get them to do anything. Be patient with them. When I was in Gilroy, I started a senior adults choir and learned their songs. Every week for 2 hours we would eat their pie and cakes and sing songs they grew up on. I hope when I'm 80, there will be a place in the church like that for me. Many of these people in the Gilroy choir became my strongest allies. When they saw me enjoying "their" songs, they were more sympathetic to some of the newer music I was using to reach the younger generation.

christianmusicADM: ChipsNSoda asks> What type of things do you keep in mind' when searching for a song?

Rick Muchow: Target audience, sound Biblical doctrine, place in the service it will go, does it fit my theme, is it singable. It is hard to find songs that fit a specific need. You have to look really hard and keep looking until you find the right one. There is a lot of great music being written today, not all of it fits a worship service, but there are a lot of songs that do.

christianmusicADM: And our last question tonight comes from TJ> When's your next Saddleback album, Rick?

Rick Muchow: Tentatively in May, but hopefully I will be really inspired while I'm in Brazil at the Purpose Driven conference! I'm thinking about doing a more acoustic, intimate sounding project. I've written about 5 songs so far, 5 or so to go. We'll be posting news on EncouragingMusic.com as I get further into the project. Keep up to date by going there, and by getting on the newsletter!

christianmusicADM: That's all the time we have for this evening's event. I want to thank RICK MUCHOW for being here this evening!

Rick Muchow: God Bless your work in the local church. Jer 29:11. Thanks so much for having me! :)

christianmusicADM: Special thanks again to Scott Shuford and everyone at Big Man Creative (www.bigmancreative.com) for helping make this event possible!

Copyright 2003, About Christian Music and Encouraging Music. Please inquire in regard to reprinting.

About: The Human Internet About has more than 700 topic sites, each overseen by a professional Guide. The About Network provides customers with an experience unlike any other on the Web and features the Internet's best link directories, original content, community features and commerce opportunities. Media Metrix (November 2000) ranks About.com as the 6th largest Web Property, and THE #1 Arts & Entertainment Web Property. About Christian Music is one of the network's most popular sites, and can be found at http://christianmusic.about.com