ATLANTA—With more than 44 million people singing his songs each week, Time magazine lauded Chris Tomlin as the “most often sung artist anywhere.”

As the writer of praise songs such as “How Great is Our God” and “We Fall Down,” Tomlin’s work has become a staple of contemporary worship. But in spite of his success and popularity, Tomlin remains focused on shining the spotlight on God.

“I just want to be a reflection of God’s light. It’s like the moon. It doesn’t give off it’s own light; it’s a reflection of the sun’s light.”

Tomlin has received countless awards and accolades, including 14 Dove Awards and three Grammy nominations.

Tomlin’s songwriting is making an impact on churches around the globe, as well as on fellow musicians. Admirers credit his popularity to the humility and passion he displays while leading others in corporate worship.

“You don’t want people following you,” he noted. “You want people following God. I think you see that in a great example from King David. He had a very humble heart before God and really sought after God. Whether we ever sell another record or anything, I know we’d still be doing this because we love to travel and to do this. … If he never gave us another stage, I know that we would still play music, sing to him and worship him.”

Growing up in Grand Saline in Van Zandt County, Tomlin had an intense desire to be used for God. 

“As a young kid, I had given my heart and said, ‘God, whatever you want me to do. … ” I didn’t pray to be a songwriter or worship leader, anything like that, I just want to be God’s man and be available to go wherever God would lead me,” he said.

By the time he was a junior at Texas A&M University, Tomlin felt a calling to lead others in worship.

“All through college, God was really starting to open doors for leading worship,” he said. “Around my junior year, I felt like it was a strong opening of the doors. I was kind of at a crossroads as to whether I was going to pursue a career in business, or whether I was going to walk by faith and follow these doors that God was opening.”

With that inspiration, Tomlin began to pursue a full-time ministry as a songwriter and “lead worshipper”—which he views as a better description of his calling, rather than “worship leader.” He serves in that role both on the concert circuit and at Passion City Church in Atlanta.

“As God started giving me some songs to write, people were starting to sing these songs. It was a really exciting time. It was also scary because I didn’t know how to do ministry as far as a livelihood, but God was faithful.”

His music has earned awards 

Years later, Tomlin has received countless awards and accolades, including 14 Dove Awards and three Grammy nominations.

This fall, Tomlin released his sixth album, Hello Love, and now is on a 35-city tour that ends April 9. 

“Worship is a big thing in our lives, but when you break it all down, it’s love: ‘To love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, your mind, your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.’ To me, our greatest need in the world is not another song, but it’s the singers of the songs meeting the needs of the world. Hopefully, these songs cause people to love God even more, to get closer to God, and inspires people to love each other and make a difference in the world.”

During his concerts, Tomlin shares one way people can put their faith into action through a website called OneMillionCan.com. As part of the “Do Something Now” campaign, this missions outreach sheds light on seven global causes, including digging wells for Kenyan villages, providing life-changing surgeries for children in Afghanistan and building homes for former child soldiers in Uganda.

“It’s people just saying, ‘Here’s five or 10 dollars.’ And that adds up when you talk about all these different people giving,” Tomlin said.

Worship must be married to justice and action

“The heart of it is putting legs to our worship. Worship has to be married to justice and married to action in the world for it to be real and to make a difference and for God to be pleased. It’s a simple way for people who want to get involved and those wondering how they can make a difference.”

Tomlin says he feels a huge responsibility to bring people closer to God through songs.

“I feel a responsibility to use the talent and gift that God’s given me to connect people with him and give them a voice to worship him,” Tomlin said.

“So, I try to write songs with those people in mind. I try to open up worship to everything it can be, not just my personal preference, but what can it be for a person sitting in an office, or a mom driving her kids to school, or a teenager in high school? How can I bridge all those generations and try to grab something that can help them worship and communicate with God?

“When I think about songwriting, I think about: ‘What can people sing? What do they want to sing? And what do they need to sing?’ I’m really keeping that in mind and thinking about how I can craft these songs in a way that can grab hold of people and draw them closer to God. All kinds of things are involved in the songwriting process. Scripture is a big part of it. Sometimes, a certain Scripture will jump out in a way that we’ve never seen before; that’s always a big deal.”

After forming an idea, Tomlin said, the melody and lyrics usually come together about the same time. 

From there, he usually collaborates with his co-writing friends, such as bandmate Jesse Reeves.

What do you value most? 

“Worship, in itself, is not a religious word. Everybody worships things, whether they realize it or not. It doesn’t mean they’re worshipping God; most people aren’t. It’s a natural thing to give value, to give worth to something or someone. 

“That’s what we’re trying to do through this music, to help people give worth and to say there’s something in life that matters most. There’s one thing that’s more beautiful, more famous and more amazing than anything else—Jesus Christ.

“I know it’s easy to get anyone into the mechanics of worship and the ‘lip service’ of worship. But it’s all about your heart, and your heart can be so far from God, and you just go through the motions. When it becomes about the reflex or routine, it’s dead. 

“You have to engage your heart and be moved to the core of who you normally are. That’s when worship becomes real.”

ATLANTA—With more than 44 million people singing his songs each week, Time magazine lauded Chris Tomlin as the “most often sung artist anywhere.”

As the writer of praise songs such as “How Great is Our God” and “We Fall Down,” Tomlin’s work has become a staple of contemporary worship. But in spite of his success and popularity, Tomlin remains focused on shining the spotlight on God.

“I just want to be a reflection of God’s light. It’s like the moon. It doesn’t give off it’s own light; it’s a reflection of the sun’s light.”

Tomlin has received countless awards and accolades, including 14 Dove Awards and three Grammy nominations.

Tomlin’s songwriting is making an impact on churches around the globe, as well as on fellow musicians. Admirers credit his popularity to the humility and passion he displays while leading others in corporate worship.

“You don’t want people following you,” he noted. “You want people following God. I think you see that in a great example from King David. He had a very humble heart before God and really sought after God. Whether we ever sell another record or anything, I know we’d still be doing this because we love to travel and to do this. … If he never gave us another stage, I know that we would still play music, sing to him and worship him.”

Growing up in Grand Saline in Van Zandt County, Tomlin had an intense desire to be used for God. 

“As a young kid, I had given my heart and said, ‘God, whatever you want me to do. … ” I didn’t pray to be a songwriter or worship leader, anything like that, I just want to be God’s man and be available to go wherever God would lead me,” he said.

By the time he was a junior at Texas A&M University, Tomlin felt a calling to lead others in worship.

“All through college, God was really starting to open doors for leading worship,” he said. “Around my junior year, I felt like it was a strong opening of the doors. I was kind of at a crossroads as to whether I was going to pursue a career in business, or whether I was going to walk by faith and follow these doors that God was opening.”

With that inspiration, Tomlin began to pursue a full-time ministry as a songwriter and “lead worshipper”—which he views as a better description of his calling, rather than “worship leader.” He serves in that role both on the concert circuit and at Passion City Church in Atlanta.

“As God started giving me some songs to write, people were starting to sing these songs. It was a really exciting time. It was also scary because I didn’t know how to do ministry as far as a livelihood, but God was faithful.”

His music has earned awards 

Years later, Tomlin has received countless awards and accolades, including 14 Dove Awards and three Grammy nominations.

This fall, Tomlin released his sixth album, Hello Love, and now is on a 35-city tour that ends April 9. 

“Worship is a big thing in our lives, but when you break it all down, it’s love: ‘To love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, your mind, your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.’ To me, our greatest need in the world is not another song, but it’s the singers of the songs meeting the needs of the world. Hopefully, these songs cause people to love God even more, to get closer to God, and inspires people to love each other and make a difference in the world.”

During his concerts, Tomlin shares one way people can put their faith into action through a website called OneMillionCan.com. As part of the “Do Something Now” campaign, this missions outreach sheds light on seven global causes, including digging wells for Kenyan villages, providing life-changing surgeries for children in Afghanistan and building homes for former child soldiers in Uganda.

“It’s people just saying, ‘Here’s five or 10 dollars.’ And that adds up when you talk about all these different people giving,” Tomlin said.

Worship must be married to justice and action

“The heart of it is putting legs to our worship. Worship has to be married to justice and married to action in the world for it to be real and to make a difference and for God to be pleased. It’s a simple way for people who want to get involved and those wondering how they can make a difference.”

Tomlin says he feels a huge responsibility to bring people closer to God through songs.

“I feel a responsibility to use the talent and gift that God’s given me to connect people with him and give them a voice to worship him,” Tomlin said.

“So, I try to write songs with those people in mind. I try to open up worship to everything it can be, not just my personal preference, but what can it be for a person sitting in an office, or a mom driving her kids to school, or a teenager in high school? How can I bridge all those generations and try to grab something that can help them worship and communicate with God?

“When I think about songwriting, I think about: ‘What can people sing? What do they want to sing? And what do they need to sing?’ I’m really keeping that in mind and thinking about how I can craft these songs in a way that can grab hold of people and draw them closer to God. All kinds of things are involved in the songwriting process. Scripture is a big part of it. Sometimes, a certain Scripture will jump out in a way that we’ve never seen before; that’s always a big deal.”

After forming an idea, Tomlin said, the melody and lyrics usually come together about the same time. 

From there, he usually collaborates with his co-writing friends, such as bandmate Jesse Reeves.

What do you value most? 

“Worship, in itself, is not a religious word. Everybody worships things, whether they realize it or not. It doesn’t mean they’re worshipping God; most people aren’t. It’s a natural thing to give value, to give worth to something or someone. 

“That’s what we’re trying to do through this music, to help people give worth and to say there’s something in life that matters most. There’s one thing that’s more beautiful, more famous and more amazing than anything else—Jesus Christ.

“I know it’s easy to get anyone into the mechanics of worship and the ‘lip service’ of worship. But it’s all about your heart, and your heart can be so far from God, and you just go through the motions. When it becomes about the reflex or routine, it’s dead. 

“You have to engage your heart and be moved to the core of who you normally are. That’s when worship becomes real.”

Compared to Christians, fewer Jews switch faiths. Jews are less likely than Catholics or Protestants to change faiths, though religious switching nationwide has increased since 1965, according to a study released by the American Jewish Committee. Most who leave Judaism become unaffiliated, rather than converting to another religion. Many continue to identify as Jewish in an ethnic or cultural sense, concluded the study’s author, Tom W. Smith, director of the General Social Survey at the National Opinion Research Center of the University of Chicago. With 76 percent retaining their faith, Jews are more “religiously stable” than Catholics at 73 percent. While eight in ten Protestants remain Protestant, specific denominations retain a much lower percentage of members—as low as 16 percent in one case.

No opening day dogs for Catholic fans. Major League Baseball’s opening day schedule has thrown Catholic fans a curveball this year. Seven teams are hosting their home opener April 10—Good Friday, when faithful Catholics abstain from meat. That means no ballpark hot dogs. And fans shouldn’t expect any special dispensation from any bishop. “It is considered the most solemn day on the church calendar,” said Cleveland Catholic Diocese spokesman Bob Tayek, who also works as the announcer at Progressive Field. He’ll attend Good Friday services at noon, then head to the ballpark for the 4 p.m. Cleveland Indians game. That doesn’t interfere with the noon to 3 p.m. window, which Catholics observe as the time Jesus Christ hung on the cross.

Science group boycotts Louisiana. A national organization of scientists has informed Gov. Bobby Jindal it will not hold its annual convention in Louisiana as long as recently adopted science curriculum standards remain on the books. The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology told Jindal its executive committee chose Salt Lake City for its 2011 convention over New Orleans “in large part” because of the science standards. Jindal signed the law last year, agreeing with its supporters that science teachers need wider latitude to use supplemental materials for lessons on topics such as evolution, global warming and cloning. Many science groups, both in Louisiana and nationally, urged the governor to veto the bill.

Assemblies of God name new leader after misconduct. A Missouri minister has been appointed the new general secretary of the Assemblies of God, replacing the previous officeholder who resigned after admitting to misconduct. Pastor James Bradford, 56, of Central Assembly of God in Springfield was appointed to succeed John M. Palmer, who resigned after admitting to ethical misconduct and what the denomination’s news service called “an inappropriate interaction with a woman that did not involve any physical intimacy.” Bradford immediately began the post, which includes credentialing ministers and chartering churches, but he will continue as pastor of his church through Easter.

Compared to Christians, fewer Jews switch faiths. Jews are less likely than Catholics or Protestants to change faiths, though religious switching nationwide has increased since 1965, according to a study released by the American Jewish Committee. Most who leave Judaism become unaffiliated, rather than converting to another religion. Many continue to identify as Jewish in an ethnic or cultural sense, concluded the study’s author, Tom W. Smith, director of the General Social Survey at the National Opinion Research Center of the University of Chicago. With 76 percent retaining their faith, Jews are more “religiously stable” than Catholics at 73 percent. While eight in ten Protestants remain Protestant, specific denominations retain a much lower percentage of members—as low as 16 percent in one case.

No opening day dogs for Catholic fans. Major League Baseball’s opening day schedule has thrown Catholic fans a curveball this year. Seven teams are hosting their home opener April 10—Good Friday, when faithful Catholics abstain from meat. That means no ballpark hot dogs. And fans shouldn’t expect any special dispensation from any bishop. “It is considered the most solemn day on the church calendar,” said Cleveland Catholic Diocese spokesman Bob Tayek, who also works as the announcer at Progressive Field. He’ll attend Good Friday services at noon, then head to the ballpark for the 4 p.m. Cleveland Indians game. That doesn’t interfere with the noon to 3 p.m. window, which Catholics observe as the time Jesus Christ hung on the cross.

Science group boycotts Louisiana. A national organization of scientists has informed Gov. Bobby Jindal it will not hold its annual convention in Louisiana as long as recently adopted science curriculum standards remain on the books. The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology told Jindal its executive committee chose Salt Lake City for its 2011 convention over New Orleans “in large part” because of the science standards. Jindal signed the law last year, agreeing with its supporters that science teachers need wider latitude to use supplemental materials for lessons on topics such as evolution, global warming and cloning. Many science groups, both in Louisiana and nationally, urged the governor to veto the bill.

Assemblies of God name new leader after misconduct. A Missouri minister has been appointed the new general secretary of the Assemblies of God, replacing the previous officeholder who resigned after admitting to misconduct. Pastor James Bradford, 56, of Central Assembly of God in Springfield was appointed to succeed John M. Palmer, who resigned after admitting to ethical misconduct and what the denomination’s news service called “an inappropriate interaction with a woman that did not involve any physical intimacy.” Bradford immediately began the post, which includes credentialing ministers and chartering churches, but he will continue as pastor of his church through Easter.

WASHINGTON (RNS)—Focus on the Family founder James Dobson has resigned as chairman of the Colorado ministry he started 32 years ago, but he will continue to host his daily radio broadcast and is expected to stay involved in national politics.

The move is considered “the next step in a transition plan” that started in 2003 when Dobson stepped down as president, the ministry said.

“One of Dr. Dobson’s objectives during the last decade has been to help identify the next generation of leadership for the ministry, and to see it established securely before he stepped away from administrative oversight,” the board of directors announced in a statement. “That purpose has now been fulfilled.”

In addition to hosting the Focus on the Family radio program, Dobson will continue writing a newsletter that Focus says is received by 1.6 million supporters each month.

Dobson and his wife, Shirley, who heads annual efforts to mark the National Day of Prayer, have been elected founder and chairman emeritus, and director emerita, respectively.

“One of the common errors of founder-presidents is to hold to the reins of leadership too long, thereby preventing the next generation from being prepared for executive authority,” Dobson said in a statement.

“I have wanted not to make that mistake with Focus on the Family, which is why I stepped back. … Though letting go is difficult after three decades of intensive labor, it is the wise thing to do.”

Longtime Dobson colleague Gary Bauer, president of American Values and chairman of the Campaign for Working Families, called Dobson a “visionary pro-family leader” who still has contributions to make.

“At a time when few were sensitive to the struggles and pressures facing the American family, Dr. Dobson and Shirley saw that something had to be done,” said Bauer, a former senior vice president at Focus on the Family. “They have been warriors for faith, family and freedom, and I trust they will continue to fight the good fight for many more years to come.”

Longtime critics of Dobson, on the other hand, vowed to continue to counter the conservative Christian messages they expect will continue to be heard from Dobson via the airwaves.

In recent years, Dobson used his political heft to criticize candidates he doesn’t like, such as President Obama, and praise those he does, such as Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska.

“Despite my differences with him, if Dobson were truly retiring, I would wish him well,” said the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. “But I know that Dobson and so many other leaders of the religious right intend to remain active, working to force their exclusionary worldview onto the rest of us.”

The new chairman of the Focus board is Patrick P. Caruana, a retired Air Force lieutenant general who has been a board member since 1996 and its vice chairman since 2006.

WASHINGTON (RNS)—Focus on the Family founder James Dobson has resigned as chairman of the Colorado ministry he started 32 years ago, but he will continue to host his daily radio broadcast and is expected to stay involved in national politics.

The move is considered “the next step in a transition plan” that started in 2003 when Dobson stepped down as president, the ministry said.

“One of Dr. Dobson’s objectives during the last decade has been to help identify the next generation of leadership for the ministry, and to see it established securely before he stepped away from administrative oversight,” the board of directors announced in a statement. “That purpose has now been fulfilled.”

In addition to hosting the Focus on the Family radio program, Dobson will continue writing a newsletter that Focus says is received by 1.6 million supporters each month.

Dobson and his wife, Shirley, who heads annual efforts to mark the National Day of Prayer, have been elected founder and chairman emeritus, and director emerita, respectively.

“One of the common errors of founder-presidents is to hold to the reins of leadership too long, thereby preventing the next generation from being prepared for executive authority,” Dobson said in a statement.

“I have wanted not to make that mistake with Focus on the Family, which is why I stepped back. … Though letting go is difficult after three decades of intensive labor, it is the wise thing to do.”

Longtime Dobson colleague Gary Bauer, president of American Values and chairman of the Campaign for Working Families, called Dobson a “visionary pro-family leader” who still has contributions to make.

“At a time when few were sensitive to the struggles and pressures facing the American family, Dr. Dobson and Shirley saw that something had to be done,” said Bauer, a former senior vice president at Focus on the Family. “They have been warriors for faith, family and freedom, and I trust they will continue to fight the good fight for many more years to come.”

Longtime critics of Dobson, on the other hand, vowed to continue to counter the conservative Christian messages they expect will continue to be heard from Dobson via the airwaves.

In recent years, Dobson used his political heft to criticize candidates he doesn’t like, such as President Obama, and praise those he does, such as Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska.

“Despite my differences with him, if Dobson were truly retiring, I would wish him well,” said the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. “But I know that Dobson and so many other leaders of the religious right intend to remain active, working to force their exclusionary worldview onto the rest of us.”

The new chairman of the Focus board is Patrick P. Caruana, a retired Air Force lieutenant general who has been a board member since 1996 and its vice chairman since 2006.

WASHINGTON (RNS)—Digital podcasts and streaming video might bring Christian audiences inspirational messages in the future, but they aren’t bringing in the cash broadcast ministries need to weather a painful economy.

To make ends meet, religious broadcasters are tightening their belts and going back to basics. That means sticking with time-tested formulas, postponing innovations and counting on loyal—largely senior—audiences to keep donating even when it hurts.

The hope is that Christian broadcasters might actually enjoy a competitive edge during tight times that comes from serving a clientele with holy zeal for the cause.

“You don’t find businesses making sacrifices to make sure advertising dollars are paid to broadcasters. That’s not part of their paradigm,” said Craig Parshall, senior vice president of the National Religious Broadcasters.

“But individual families are willing to be sacrificial because of the mission of Christian broadcasting.”

Whether they depend on donors, advertising dollars or a combination of the two, mass media ministries are feeling the recession squeeze:

• Christian radio giant Salem Communications sold four stations, slashed 10 percent of its workforce and trimmed 5 percent off all salaries. Nonetheless, Salem’s stock price has tumbled 74 percent in the past year to less than $1 per share.

• Trinity Broadcasting Network, the nation’s largest Christian TV network, laid off workers and scrambled to fill programming holes as T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyer and other big-name ministries cut costs by producing fewer shows.

• Focus on the Family, which has produced James Dobson’s radio show since 1977, has eliminated about 450 jobs—30 percent of its workforce peak—since 2004, including 200 job cuts since November.

The industry shows signs of contraction at a time when its future is fraught with uncertainty. And it’s not just the economic downturn that is causing turmoil: Last year, a study found the percentage of megachurches with a radio ministry dropped from 44 percent in 2000 to 24 percent in 2008. Likewise, the percentage with television ministries dropped from 38 percent to 23 percent.

For programs still on the air, the challenge is attracting younger audiences who will give as consistently as their parents and grandparents. Cracking that puzzle will require experimentation, but few feel they can take significant risks in today’s climate marked by razor-thin margins.

“The industry is at a crossroads,” said Paul Creasman, associate professor of communications at Southern Wesleyan University in Central, S.C., and a former Christian radio personality and producer.

“The audience is dwindling, and they have to figure out what to do. But the Web is not the answer, because older audiences don’t use the Internet, … and younger audiences will go to the Web for content, but they’ll probably be less likely to donate.”

Moving content online may be broadcasting’s future, but it’s a nerve-wracking endeavor that doesn’t necessarily pay the bills of the present.

For now, broadcasters are trying to maintain—and even expand—the support of listeners who see family-friendly airwaves as one way to serve a higher cause, said Kevin Peterson, who covers Christian music stations for the trade publication Radio & Records.

“A lot of (stations) are still doing very well” with fund raising, Peterson said. “When stations have done a really good job at becoming a part of the community—being not just entertainment, but a resource and a friend—they find people who say, ‘I may not be able to give as much or as often, but I’m going to find a way because you’re making a difference in people’s lives.’”

To chart their way through recessionary waters, broadcasters are refocusing on their core strategies. Often, that means programming changes, though the types of changes vary from one outlet to the next.

Moody Radio, heard on more than 700 stations nationwide, has thoroughly revamped its format to about 80 percent talk. That means more preaching-and-teaching, a favorite genre for senior audiences.

Over time, Moody hopes to integrate more interactive talk, which tends to attract younger audiences. But the transition will be more of a hybrid that weaves talk together with preaching-and-teaching, not replacing either one.

At TBN, viewers are seeing new faces in slots that used to belong to some of televangelism’s biggest names. Twelve new ministries, an unusually large number, have debuted on TBN within the past year, according to spokesperson John Casoria. Many of those shows already cut their teeth on TBN-owned platforms such as the Church Channel.

WASHINGTON (RNS)—Digital podcasts and streaming video might bring Christian audiences inspirational messages in the future, but they aren’t bringing in the cash broadcast ministries need to weather a painful economy.

To make ends meet, religious broadcasters are tightening their belts and going back to basics. That means sticking with time-tested formulas, postponing innovations and counting on loyal—largely senior—audiences to keep donating even when it hurts.

The hope is that Christian broadcasters might actually enjoy a competitive edge during tight times that comes from serving a clientele with holy zeal for the cause.

“You don’t find businesses making sacrifices to make sure advertising dollars are paid to broadcasters. That’s not part of their paradigm,” said Craig Parshall, senior vice president of the National Religious Broadcasters.

“But individual families are willing to be sacrificial because of the mission of Christian broadcasting.”

Whether they depend on donors, advertising dollars or a combination of the two, mass media ministries are feeling the recession squeeze:

• Christian radio giant Salem Communications sold four stations, slashed 10 percent of its workforce and trimmed 5 percent off all salaries. Nonetheless, Salem’s stock price has tumbled 74 percent in the past year to less than $1 per share.

• Trinity Broadcasting Network, the nation’s largest Christian TV network, laid off workers and scrambled to fill programming holes as T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyer and other big-name ministries cut costs by producing fewer shows.

• Focus on the Family, which has produced James Dobson’s radio show since 1977, has eliminated about 450 jobs—30 percent of its workforce peak—since 2004, including 200 job cuts since November.

The industry shows signs of contraction at a time when its future is fraught with uncertainty. And it’s not just the economic downturn that is causing turmoil: Last year, a study found the percentage of megachurches with a radio ministry dropped from 44 percent in 2000 to 24 percent in 2008. Likewise, the percentage with television ministries dropped from 38 percent to 23 percent.

For programs still on the air, the challenge is attracting younger audiences who will give as consistently as their parents and grandparents. Cracking that puzzle will require experimentation, but few feel they can take significant risks in today’s climate marked by razor-thin margins.

“The industry is at a crossroads,” said Paul Creasman, associate professor of communications at Southern Wesleyan University in Central, S.C., and a former Christian radio personality and producer.

“The audience is dwindling, and they have to figure out what to do. But the Web is not the answer, because older audiences don’t use the Internet, … and younger audiences will go to the Web for content, but they’ll probably be less likely to donate.”

Moving content online may be broadcasting’s future, but it’s a nerve-wracking endeavor that doesn’t necessarily pay the bills of the present.

For now, broadcasters are trying to maintain—and even expand—the support of listeners who see family-friendly airwaves as one way to serve a higher cause, said Kevin Peterson, who covers Christian music stations for the trade publication Radio & Records.

“A lot of (stations) are still doing very well” with fund raising, Peterson said. “When stations have done a really good job at becoming a part of the community—being not just entertainment, but a resource and a friend—they find people who say, ‘I may not be able to give as much or as often, but I’m going to find a way because you’re making a difference in people’s lives.’”

To chart their way through recessionary waters, broadcasters are refocusing on their core strategies. Often, that means programming changes, though the types of changes vary from one outlet to the next.

Moody Radio, heard on more than 700 stations nationwide, has thoroughly revamped its format to about 80 percent talk. That means more preaching-and-teaching, a favorite genre for senior audiences.

Over time, Moody hopes to integrate more interactive talk, which tends to attract younger audiences. But the transition will be more of a hybrid that weaves talk together with preaching-and-teaching, not replacing either one.

At TBN, viewers are seeing new faces in slots that used to belong to some of televangelism’s biggest names. Twelve new ministries, an unusually large number, have debuted on TBN within the past year, according to spokesperson John Casoria. Many of those shows already cut their teeth on TBN-owned platforms such as the Church Channel.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (ABP) — A highly publicized bill passed that would have allowed concealed weapons in Arkansas churches died Feb. 25 in the state Senate.

According to the Associated Press, the law amending the state's concealed-weapons law to remove "any church or other place of worship" from a list of places where firearms are banned failed by a voice vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The bill, passed Feb. 11 by the Arkansas House of Representatives by a vote of 57-42, divided religious leaders, with pastors testifying both for and against the measure.

The bill's lead sponsor, Rep. Beverly Pyle, R-Cedarville, said churches should have the option of deciding for themselves whether or not to allow firearms in their buildings. The Arkansas Concealed Carry Association said the issue was not whether weapons ought to be in church but rather the separation of church and state.

"The issue is that self-defense is a moral decision, and that decision should not be made for churches by the state," opined a blog on the group's website. "Churches have the freedom to make this decision free of government coercion."

The Legal Community Against Violence says 48 states and the District of Columbia allow carrying of concealed weapons. Twelve states and D.C. are "may issue" states, where officials have discretion about whether to grant or deny a concealed-weapon permit, while 34 are "shall issue" states, meaning law-enforcement officials must issue a permit to anyone who meets statutory criteria.

Most states that allow concealed weapons place restrictions on where they can be carried. The majority prohibit weapons in schools, government buildings and places where liquor is served. Fourteen states prohibit concealed weapons in places of worship.

According to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the carrying of concealed weapons was prohibited or severely limited in most states prior to the mid-1990s, when the gun lobby, stunned by losses in enactment of the Brady Background Check Bill and Federal Assault Weapons Ban in 1993 and 1994 made overhauling state gun laws the National Rifle Association's legislative priority.

About 30,000 Americans die each year from gun violence, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

The Legal Community Against Violence, a lawyer group formed after an assault weapon rampage that began at a law firm in San Francisco in 1993, says Americans own an estimated 270 million firearms — about 90 guns for every 100 people.

Firearms are the third-leading cause of injury-related deaths nationwide, and firearm homicide is the leading cause of death for African-Americans age 45 and younger.

About 5,000 people a year die from unintentional shootings, and 43 percent of suicides are committed with a firearm. Guns also increase the probably of death in incidents of domestic violence.

Firearm-related deaths and injuries cost $2.3 billion a year in medical bills, half of which are borne by taxpayers. Factoring in legal and societal costs, the LCAV estimated the total annual cost of U.S. gun violence at $100 billion.

The sponsor of the failed Arkansas bill said she may try to submit the proposal again. On the same day the Senate killed the concealed-weapon bill, another Arkansas lawmaker sought to make the list of people with concealed handgun permits a secret and punish anyone who publishes the information.

Rep. Randy Stewart, D-Kirby, filed legislation to make the names of license holders confidential and punish anyone who knowingly publishes them with up to $1,000 in fines and a year in prison.

The bill came in response to an online database to search for Arkansas handgun permits that has since been removed.

–Bob Allen is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (ABP) — A highly publicized bill passed that would have allowed concealed weapons in Arkansas churches died Feb. 25 in the state Senate.

According to the Associated Press, the law amending the state's concealed-weapons law to remove "any church or other place of worship" from a list of places where firearms are banned failed by a voice vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The bill, passed Feb. 11 by the Arkansas House of Representatives by a vote of 57-42, divided religious leaders, with pastors testifying both for and against the measure.

The bill's lead sponsor, Rep. Beverly Pyle, R-Cedarville, said churches should have the option of deciding for themselves whether or not to allow firearms in their buildings. The Arkansas Concealed Carry Association said the issue was not whether weapons ought to be in church but rather the separation of church and state.

"The issue is that self-defense is a moral decision, and that decision should not be made for churches by the state," opined a blog on the group's website. "Churches have the freedom to make this decision free of government coercion."

The Legal Community Against Violence says 48 states and the District of Columbia allow carrying of concealed weapons. Twelve states and D.C. are "may issue" states, where officials have discretion about whether to grant or deny a concealed-weapon permit, while 34 are "shall issue" states, meaning law-enforcement officials must issue a permit to anyone who meets statutory criteria.

Most states that allow concealed weapons place restrictions on where they can be carried. The majority prohibit weapons in schools, government buildings and places where liquor is served. Fourteen states prohibit concealed weapons in places of worship.

According to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the carrying of concealed weapons was prohibited or severely limited in most states prior to the mid-1990s, when the gun lobby, stunned by losses in enactment of the Brady Background Check Bill and Federal Assault Weapons Ban in 1993 and 1994 made overhauling state gun laws the National Rifle Association's legislative priority.

About 30,000 Americans die each year from gun violence, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

The Legal Community Against Violence, a lawyer group formed after an assault weapon rampage that began at a law firm in San Francisco in 1993, says Americans own an estimated 270 million firearms — about 90 guns for every 100 people.

Firearms are the third-leading cause of injury-related deaths nationwide, and firearm homicide is the leading cause of death for African-Americans age 45 and younger.

About 5,000 people a year die from unintentional shootings, and 43 percent of suicides are committed with a firearm. Guns also increase the probably of death in incidents of domestic violence.

Firearm-related deaths and injuries cost $2.3 billion a year in medical bills, half of which are borne by taxpayers. Factoring in legal and societal costs, the LCAV estimated the total annual cost of U.S. gun violence at $100 billion.

The sponsor of the failed Arkansas bill said she may try to submit the proposal again. On the same day the Senate killed the concealed-weapon bill, another Arkansas lawmaker sought to make the list of people with concealed handgun permits a secret and punish anyone who publishes the information.

Rep. Randy Stewart, D-Kirby, filed legislation to make the names of license holders confidential and punish anyone who knowingly publishes them with up to $1,000 in fines and a year in prison.

The bill came in response to an online database to search for Arkansas handgun permits that has since been removed.

–Bob Allen is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.

WINCHESTER, Va. (ABP) — Faith-based charities haven't been hit as hard by the economic downturn as expected, says a new survey by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

The ECFA, established in 1979 to accredit Christian non-profit organizations that model standards of financial accountability, polled members in January to gauge the economy's impact on charitable giving.

A recent survey by another organization, the National Association of Church Business Administration, found 57 percent of local congregations experienced a slowdown in contributions.

So far that decline hasn't filtered down to parachurch ministries, however. Nationwide nearly three quarters (72 percent) of organizations responding to the ECFA said they exceeded, met or came close to their fourth-quarter contribution goals in 2008.

Dan Busby, acting president of ECFA, said many parachurch ministries reported small donations between $10 and $100 were relatively unaffected and in some cases actually increased. Some said with widespread humanitarian concerns related to the recession, ministries that serve the poor believe they will see less impact on giving than other organizations.

That doesn't mean faith-based charities are immune to the economy. Forty-one percent said they froze or delayed salary increases due to the economic downturn, 38 percent froze or reduced hiring and 18 percent laid off staff. One in 10 (11 percent) reduced salary levels, while 4 percent moved to four-day work weeks.

Half (53 percent) said they had cut travel or conference expenses. Thirty percent cut or delayed capital projects, and about one fourth reduced programming (27 percent), cut consulting fees (23 percent), postponed or cutback on computer upgrades (23 percent) or considered outsourcing to save costs and increase efficiency. (22 percent.)

About one in 10 said they had considered borrowing from restricted funds or a bank, selling assets or restructuring debt.

Half (50 percent) said they lost between 15 percent and 30 percent of their investments, and 17 percent said investment losses topped 30 percent.

More than half (53 percent) said they had stepped up one-on-one contact with key donors. About one fourth reported structural changes like increased partnering (22 percent), considered merging (5 percent) or planned for the possibility of shutting down 2 percent).

Busby said most ECFA member ministries expect 2009 to be more challenging, because many major donors who made gifts in 2008 said they may not be able to renew their financial commitments because of the economy.

"But for leadership and staff members, this is ministry, not a job," Busby said. "Despite challenges, most remain committed to making positive operational and structural decisions, including developing contingency plans, which will enable them to continue to carry out God’s purpose despite limited resources."

More than 300 parachurch ministries participated in the ECFA survey.

Previous related story:

Survey: Crisis has some churches slashing budgets, more worried

WINCHESTER, Va. (ABP) — Faith-based charities haven't been hit as hard by the economic downturn as expected, says a new survey by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

The ECFA, established in 1979 to accredit Christian non-profit organizations that model standards of financial accountability, polled members in January to gauge the economy's impact on charitable giving.

A recent survey by another organization, the National Association of Church Business Administration, found 57 percent of local congregations experienced a slowdown in contributions.

So far that decline hasn't filtered down to parachurch ministries, however. Nationwide nearly three quarters (72 percent) of organizations responding to the ECFA said they exceeded, met or came close to their fourth-quarter contribution goals in 2008.

Dan Busby, acting president of ECFA, said many parachurch ministries reported small donations between $10 and $100 were relatively unaffected and in some cases actually increased. Some said with widespread humanitarian concerns related to the recession, ministries that serve the poor believe they will see less impact on giving than other organizations.

That doesn't mean faith-based charities are immune to the economy. Forty-one percent said they froze or delayed salary increases due to the economic downturn, 38 percent froze or reduced hiring and 18 percent laid off staff. One in 10 (11 percent) reduced salary levels, while 4 percent moved to four-day work weeks.

Half (53 percent) said they had cut travel or conference expenses. Thirty percent cut or delayed capital projects, and about one fourth reduced programming (27 percent), cut consulting fees (23 percent), postponed or cutback on computer upgrades (23 percent) or considered outsourcing to save costs and increase efficiency. (22 percent.)

About one in 10 said they had considered borrowing from restricted funds or a bank, selling assets or restructuring debt.

Half (50 percent) said they lost between 15 percent and 30 percent of their investments, and 17 percent said investment losses topped 30 percent.

More than half (53 percent) said they had stepped up one-on-one contact with key donors. About one fourth reported structural changes like increased partnering (22 percent), considered merging (5 percent) or planned for the possibility of shutting down 2 percent).

Busby said most ECFA member ministries expect 2009 to be more challenging, because many major donors who made gifts in 2008 said they may not be able to renew their financial commitments because of the economy.

"But for leadership and staff members, this is ministry, not a job," Busby said. "Despite challenges, most remain committed to making positive operational and structural decisions, including developing contingency plans, which will enable them to continue to carry out God’s purpose despite limited resources."

More than 300 parachurch ministries participated in the ECFA survey.

Previous related story:

Survey: Crisis has some churches slashing budgets, more worried