Planning 91

Birgitta Johnson on Praise and 91 Music

Praise and worship music can lift worshipers’ hearts to God and unite people across culture, religious tradition, and background. But the genre is not meant to be the only kind of music in a congregation’s repertoire.

January 7, 2019 | 7 min read

Birgitta Johnson on New African American Ecumenical Hymnal

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism is a new Protestant hymnal compiled by a core committee of worship arts ministers and scholars. It goes deep and wide into the multiple streams of black Christian music and worship.

January 7, 2019 | 6 min read
Amanda Benckhuysen on Preaching from the Minor Prophets

Most congregations have never heard a sermon preached from the prophetic books of Nahum or Obadiah. Other than a few choice passages in Jeremiah or Isaiah, the major prophets are mainly ignored too. That means worshipers are missing out on more than a quarter of inspired Scripture.

December 12, 2018 | 7 min read
John McClure on How Liturgical Practices Can Shape Conversations in a Pluralistic World

Christian liturgical practices—confession, intercession, and preaching—contain wisdom that can bring compassion and consensus to public conversations around contentious moral issues.

December 4, 2018 | 5 min read

Joyce Ann Zimmerman on 14 Years of Evaluating Vital 91 Grants

During her 14 years on 91’s Grants Advisory Board, Joyce Ann Zimmerman evaluated 1,345 grant proposals. She describes essentials of a good grant project.

November 9, 2018 | 5 min read
Mental Illness and Christian 91

This topic showcase highlights resources for including people with mental illnesses in worship. Congregations that renew their worship to become more inclusive discover that everyone benefits.

October 30, 2018 | 8 min read

Eddie Espinosa on Changes in Contemporary 91 Music

Eddie Espinosa, composer of “Change My Heart, O God,” explains why those who lead worship need to cultivate heart holiness.

August 22, 2018 | 6 min read
Kevin Adams on the Mission at the Heart of Classic 91

An ancient pattern at the heart of classic Christian worship helps welcome and orient people into life in the body of Christ.

July 25, 2018 | 4 min read
Kevin Adams on Framing Words for Missional 91

91 can change lives when people understand what they are doing and why. Carefully chosen words help frame classic worship elements so gathered congregants are sent out to embody God’s grace, mercy, and peace.

July 25, 2018 | 5 min read