… many thanks for the continuing effort and dedication you and your team put into maintaining what has become a 'lifeline' for many of us. It's amazing how quickly we miss it when it stalls... anyway it did enable me to get on with some real work for a while! ;-) Your newsgroup is a fine example of how the Internet can get people to work together sharing experience and knowledge. It is certainly my early morning coffee break read!.
- Carey Davies  |  United Kingdom

I just wanted to let you know how blessed I have been lately by reading the CSC list. It's not only filled with a wealth of technical information, but the heartfelt spiritual counseling and guidance from you and others on the list is just tremendous. Thank you again (and Jeanna) for hosting such a wonderful forum! I just wanted to let you know I am praying for you and your ministry, specifically that God will give you the physical strength and endurance while you burn the midnight oil.
- Andrew Mundy  |  Maryland

I am thankful for this list, because it makes us virtual neighbors even though we are physically scattered all over the world. I find that many of the other audio professionals on this list share my passion for *good* sound, and have a heart to serve the Church with excellence. I greatly appreciate this discussion forum, as it allows me to learn from the wisdom of many others. While I volunteer my time to my church for sound, video, and other technical matters, I am also in the sound- and video-system design business. Learning from others' experience helps me avoid mistakes and do a better job, whether for the profit of my business or for my church body.
- Kenneth Reighard  |  Pennsylvania

I'm the main sound tech (volunteer) in a church of about 250 in Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada and over the last couple of years I've read, re-read and made others read most of the articles and sample discussion threads available on the CSC website. Many thanks Curt for a great resource that rescued me from the hands of some well-meaning knob-twiddlers and garage band junkies! I look forward to what I expect to be an important next step in my ongoing training.
- Tim Cowan  |  Canada

Just wanted to drop in as a new member of CSC and say hey from Cincinnati, OH. I am the worship leader of a Vineyard church here in town, and I come from the land of studio engineering and producing as well as some fairly serious hours put in behind the FOH desk around the country. I'm 36 with a wife-that-I-don't-deserve and two really cool kids. You can usually find me on the back deck reading something and drinking dark roast, vacuum-brewed coffee or riding my old motorcycle around town with a guitar strapped to the back. I want to say that I love the "heart" of this list, and I'm floored by the helpful attitudes of all you guys (and gals) – and with such a range of experience too.
- Tyler Brown  |  Ohio

Well as usual we have so much to be thankful for and we just wanted everyone on this list to know how thankful we are to have a bunch of friends like you. Our live sound has made such an improvement since we been a part of this forum. You folks have helped us with equipment choice, directions for purchases, and opinions that helped us make decisions. For all of this we are forever grateful!!!!!!
- Bruce Weeks

Curt, I don't know how I can thank you enough. For this list being here, for your wisdom, and for your divine timing.
- Karl Freudenreich  |  Ohio

The value of this list is in part due to the depths of the various topics. Sometimes we wonder about the more final outcomes, and it is great to hear such a report.
- Paul Kealy  |  California

I have been tapped for some additional technical responsibilities and leadership at church, and my ultimate goal (and my mandate from my Pastor) is to train and develop leaders to carry out the work of the media ministry at our church, Friendship Worship Center in Abbeville, SC. From my prior experience with the CSC, there is no better resource for informal training, real-world application of knowledge, and association related to the technology side of ministry.
- Andy Johnson  |  South Carolina

I just want to thank you and all the others for a very educational thread. I have not one doubt in your personal and business integrity. As I read in an old post of yours, titled something like "Y'all are so Cool", it is so obvious that through this ministry God has brought together a fantastic and unselfish group of professionals, amateurs and lay ministers. All of which seem eager to help one another out.
- Jeff Martin  |  North Carolina

Thank you so much for the service you provide for all of us. I cannot begin to tell you how much I have learned from the people on this list. Not just about the technical aspects but also the human aspects of our involvement in this ministry field.
- Greg Rachal  |  California

You and the list have been a great source of inspiration in times of trouble, and an incredible resource when a question needs to be answered.
- Dave Marks  |  Texas

Right in the middle of our first of 3 services celebrating our Lord and Savior. What a job it has been! Long rehearsals, changes to the program and a lot of personalities to deal with. I'm looking out over a sea of people and listening to our fantastic choir and traditional musicians combined with out contemporary singers and the band. What a blessed event. Hard to believe we pulled it off. We are using just about every mic we own and 38 of our 40 channels.

I could go on for a lot longer, but I needed to thank everyone on the board for all the help and support. I seem to pick up something from almost every post and thread. Wanted to especially thank Curt and family for this great resource and their blessings to each and every one of us. This community gives me reason to go on each week and continue my work for our Father.
- Lee Hoyt  |  Florida

Ten years ago my church task was in chaos. We had a poorly designed system in a live auditorium. Standing waves and comb filter problems galore with very uneven sound throughout the auditorium. My ears (and I am an engineer by degree and vocation) said the spoken word was clearest when not run overly loud. But staff members insisted the louder the better, and even reoriented speakers during the week when I was not present. This led to not only a lot of personal frustration, but also much disrespect of me from the church family. I was once presented with a letter of reprimand from a staff member stating the musicians had 100% say on FOH. I refused to accept it stating I could hear the music, the musicians could not, and that I would gladly work with the musicians to give them the artistic impact they desired.

Both my team and those of the musicians are all volunteer. One music team leader did not know what she did not know. Once a vocalist in the worship team who had intermittent hearing problems kept asking for more monitor. I complied, but then this leader publicly lambasted me for poor balance. It was obvious to me the leader was hearing the monitor wash overpowering the FOH, but my explanations were not accepted.

My breakthrough came with a change of music leadership. The new man had three years of physical science in college, but more importantly wisdom. He was the one who told me about this listserve and suggested I subscribe. He subscribes and lurks. Two years ago there was an extensive discussion on monitors and the problems they cause with wash. He could not believe such a simple thing as a monitor could be so complicated. But he also recognized that what this group's consensus was on that issue was consistent with my insistence of certain monitor placements. He has since trusted my judgment completely. He had always tried to retain an open mind, but previously did not understand my issues. Today he is pushing for a Hearback system to allow all musicians to have their own mix while minimizing monitor wash.

Bottom line is that this ChurchSoundcheck list was instrumental in developing a loving cooperative relationship between musicians and techs. That and a Worship Leader who lives his love of Christ.
- Anonymous CSC Member