As awesome as Vertical’s Christmas services were, there was something about what went on behind-the-scenes to make those services happen that made it even more special to me. Here’s a list of several things happened that most people who came to these services didn’t see, along with a few fun facts (and a few pictures):

• The nearly 5-hour setup on Tuesday night as we battled sound issues, power issues, and many other unknowns. To see the patience practiced by our amazing volunteers was indeed a beautiful thing. I saw people that night who would not leave until everything was as it should be. There was no “settling.” Everyone knew that we were not doing this for ourselves, but to reach the lost this Christmas. Fun fact: We actually had band rehearsal while everything was being setup. It was sort of neat to rehearse these songs while people were setting up the backdrops, testing lights, etc. Our team worked together so well given the circumstances.
• The intense rehearsals by the band leading up to the event. We did our whole set with loops and a click track (sans the first song), and the band BROUGHT IT big time. We rehearsed the songs for weeks ahead of time. Fun fact: “Everything Changed” almost didn’t make the set. I thought, “this song isn’t really ‘congregational’,” so I’m not sure if we need to do it. However, after playing it on a Sunday morning prior, we decided it had to go in.
• The filming of the Christmas testimony videos. I had the privilege of working with James Lewis of JIL’s Audio & Video to shoot and edit these videos. As we were filming, I was constantly thinking, “This is going to speak to someone. I know it.” Fun fact: Each of the videos was around 5 minutes long. However, we had about 1 hour and 20 minutes worth of footage to work with! Definitely a daunting task. Each of our three volunteers definitely let the Lord speak through them. Also, the music behind each video was all original, composed in Reason and Garageband.
• The diligent prayer, study of God’s Word, and spiritual support offstage. There were countless times when Mike would be preaching, Rhonda would be singing a capella, I’d be about to walk out for “Everything Changed,” and many other times, when there would be impromptu prayer lifted up for that person right behind the curtain offstage. It blessed my heart to hear and see the prayers, laying on of hands, all the way down to tears cried in joy for our brothers and sisters being allowed to do what we do in the name of Jesus. Fun fact: On Friday night, I was so emotionally overcome by “Everything Changed” that I was literally in tears when I walked off stage. Luckily, I walked right into the embrace of one of my brothers in Christ who immediately prayed for and with me. Pray now – speak life.

Here’s a little photo gallery of the “behind the scenes” stuff. Click each image for a description and to see the image full size.

There were many other moments just like these that only a few of us got to see. These are just a few. But the reason for this post is to let you know that God was working on multiple levels that week, and in the weeks leading up to it. This was a Christmas season that literally changed my life.

…and we didn’t even have church on Sunday.