It is easy to play off your strengths, but probably more necessary to rebuild your weaknesses. A couple of years ago a Humanist group from Europe became greatly concerned about the rapid conversion to Christ of the Hill Tribes in Rattanakirri, Province. They did some research and decided it was our music. So, they imported some top music teachers from Europe and put them to work teaching the local religious groups how to incorporate music into their religious practice. It was worse than a disaster, actually causing a more rapid decline in attendance in their religious services.

I have multiple talents, yet music is definitely not one of them. A rusty hinge would knock me out of a singing  contest. I guess I enjoyed listening to some songs as a kid, but I hated studying music in school, would wait until my mom’s car pulled away from my piano teacher’s house, and run down to spend the lesson money at the soda fountain, that is until I got busted. I flunked band in high school for slipping out of the music room and hanging out in the ag shop, I never purchased a single record as a teenager. I was a musical moron. But, I have to admit, that nothing touches the heart like music, and anointed worship can bring tears flowing out this stone head of mine. I actually believe that music is a proof of God’s existence. It exists in every culture and almost universally focuses on love. In fact, my favorite worship song of all time is secular: “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You.”

These orphans learn to play instruments to help lead worship

With the exception of imported Christian tunes, most music in Cambodia is secular. This may explain why we put so much emphasis on music training for our Cambodian churches. It connects the secular to the Divine in a painless seam. Cambodians love to sing, there is something like 1,000 karaoke bars in Phnom Penh. There is a reason for that, and though the devil may think they are his, God planted the musical seed in every heart. We put in for music training grants with foundations at every opportunity, and have found that the simple addition of a keyboard, and a trained musician, will double the size of a church in six months.