Richard is a main pastor of Bethany Community Church in Seattle, a thriving church with more than 3,000 people. Richard teaches at conferences and various Torchbearers Bible Schools all around the world. His book, The Colors of Hope: Becoming People of Mercy, Justice, and Love was awarded by Christianity Today as one of the best books of the year 2011. He has authored two other books including, The Map is not Journey: Faith Renewed While Hiking the Alps and O2: Breathing New Life Into Faith. Richard is a father of three grown-up children, and if he is not teaching or writing he likes climbing, hiking or skiing.

Worship Leader” and “Artist” are seldom two titles that blend as seamlessly as they do in describing the music and motivation behind multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter George Louis. Even with over 15 years of musical achievements and accomplishments, George still feels as though he has only scratched the surface. George then began playing the drums, playing alongside Eddie Espinosa and Andy Park to name a couple. By the time he became a teenager, George was leading worship and writing and composing worship music. His original music has been recorded and played all throughout Mexico, Latin America and Europe. George founded and released albums with Boxhaul7, The Fuse, and Adiosmercedez, working along with producers such as Dan Blessinger (London Symphony, Zac Brown), Kevin Dukes (Pink, Sarah Evans), Benny Faccone (Santana, Ricky Martin, Mana, Sting, Luis Miguel) and Brian Garcia (Kelly Clarkson) – all Grammy Award-winning producers and now personal friends.

George learned that God will test you to the point of exhaustion and surrender. There is a crossroad and decision point where the focus of “self-serving” versus “giving God the glory” meet. It is where the spirit of entitlement and pride wrestles with the “I don’t need you, you need me” attitude. Disciple, or poser? This answer came in George’s complete surrender of his God-given talent and his vow to God: “If you don’t want me to pursue music ever again…(sigh and gulp), then I am okay with that. I surrender all to you.” Two years passed by and not a single chord was played, nor a song written. It was during this silent walk in the desert with Jesus that confirmed to George that it was Jesus who completed him, not music.

George continued to lead worship at many churches and events in Southern California such as Lake Avenue Church, the Crossing, KKLA Men’s Gathering, EPIC Worship Conference, Franklin Graham Samaritan’s Purse World Conference to name a few, including his previous church Harvest Riverside. It was during this time that he met his beautiful wife and accepted God’s calling to full-time ministry. George Louis currently serves as the Pastor of Worship at his home church, CORE Church Los Angeles with Pastor Steve Wilburn, and continues to write songs and lead worship every week. “If we think of ourselves as more than servants, we are out of order. God can’t use us until we fully surrender.” This is George’s prayer, and the message behind his original song “Surrender”:

• Chorus Take my life and make it yours

Lord, I leave it in your hands

Take my dreams, my plans, my hope

Take it, I surrender all

Take my life and make it yours

Lord, I leave it in your hands

Take my dreams, my plans, my hope

Take it, I surrender all

(listen to this song in its entirety at GEORGELOUISMUSIC.NET)

Robert has been pastor at Newbreak church for the last 15 years.