When you walk into a church service, chances are the first thing you’ll hear is music.

But why do churches start with singing? What’s the point of praise and worship songs? Pastor Simone Mohammed from Courageous Church shares her take.

What Is Praise and Worship?

“Praise usually refers to faster, upbeat songs,” Pastor Simone explained. “Worship is slower and more contemplative.”

But it’s not just about music styles. “The Bible talks about worshiping in spirit and in truth,” she said. “So it’s not limited to a specific type of song. Worship is so much more.”

Worship Prepares Us

In the Bible, people often sang before going into battle. “You’d think they’d send the strongest soldiers first,” Pastor Simone said. “But instead, they sent the worshipers.”

She believes this shows how powerful praise can be. “It’s preparation. It aligns our hearts and minds before we face challenges.”

Singing Shapes Our Perspective

“There’s power in what comes out of our mouths,” Pastor Simone shared. “The Bible says the power of life and death is in the tongue.”

She explained that when we sing, we’re not just repeating lyrics. We’re speaking truth, gratitude, and faith even when we don’t feel like it.

“Our posture matters. What we think about and sing about affects our whole being.”

Does Music Style Matter?

Some love old hymns. Others prefer modern worship songs with electric guitars and drums. But according to Pastor Simone, the style isn’t what counts.

“It’s not about the sound it’s about the heart,” she said. “God looks past the music and into our intentions. The key is the message. What are the lyrics saying? What’s your focus?”

Final Thoughts

So, why do we sing at church?

Because it help connect us with God. It prepares us for life’s battles. And it reminds us who He is, no matter what we’re going through.

As Pastor Simone said, “Worship is more than a song. It’s a powerful act of faith.”

Article supplied with thanks to Sonshine.

Feature image: Canva

This story is told from the perspective of Maggie, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. She describes what it is like to be part of a caring church community while carrying the weight of deep trauma. For those who have not lived through such experiences, the thoughts and responses of survivors can sometimes seem difficult to understand.

By sharing her journey, the hope is that readers—especially Christians—might develop greater awareness and compassion for those who live with hidden wounds, and learn how to walk alongside them with gentleness and care.

*This account includes references to abuse, and some may find the content distressing. Reader discretion is advised.*

Here is Maggie’s story:

Abuse survivors and the church community are things that don’t easily sit side-by-side. The church is supposed to be a safe place, for everyone. When we hear church and abuse, there is a correlation that assumes abuse within the church. While my abuse happened both within and outside of the church, I make no distinction for the survivor in this article, as the ramifications of abuse know no boundaries.

I walk into my church service each Sunday, wondering what encouragement, song or part of a sermon will trigger me. I live in hypervigilance of something that will reignite my childhood trauma, some innocuous comment that sends me into self-protection mode.

As a survivor, I often hide in the shadows, fearful that someone will spot an erratic behaviour or ill-fashioned response and won’t understand. It’s the challenge of being in a community where God has shown us so much mercy and surrounded with His love. Because as a survivor, I lived through hell, and whether from sermons, worship, or stories that are shared about God’s mercy and love, I often feel like a failure because my history impedes my appreciation of His grace.

I have learned to manage the triggers that blindside me using techniques that get me through. I deliberately go to our church’s smaller evening service, sitting in the back, next to the aisle so that I can escape if I am triggered. Anxiously, I wait for one of my few trusted companions to arrive. They know my heart, which allows me to relax slightly, not feeling so exposed.

Inevitably, the guilt starts. Whether from being encouraged to immerse myself in God’s word or acknowledging our sin before God. The cognitive dissonance can be deafening. How do I acknowledge my sin (often maladaptive behaviours from childhood), when it is how I was raised? I always survive the service. I know the intent is well-meaning, intended to draw us closer to God. The music, the set-up, the sermon, all cater to the 70% of the congregation that didn’t come from a traumatic childhood.

I feel deflated and misunderstood most of the time.

A Few Insights 

I hope that by sharing my perspective and experience, readers might understand what life can be like as a Christian survivor. How for me at least, I reconcile my history and faith. I offer these concepts as guideposts rather than absolutes. It is about starting a conversation, not drawing a line in the sand.

1. Our brains are wired differently.

Because of what we survived, our God-given creative brains rewired us for survival.

This re-wiring is remarkably similar to those who have had a traumatic brain injury (1). There are many studies that show the effect childhood abuse has on the brains of survivors (2). From cognitive impairments and emotional dysregulation to sleeping disturbances, the list goes on. Because of our trauma, we see the world through a different coloured lens.

2. Shame can be debilitating for survivors.

This is a core part of what we struggle with in church and life.

Ashamed, we feel loathing instead of God’s love after sermons. We are ashamed of what happened to us and fear being judged. We are ashamed of the things we did to survive, knowing that many of those things, from maladaptive and addictive behaviours to sexual promiscuity, enabled our survival. The very coping mechanisms that helped us survive are condemned and cause shame. 

3. Saying “Trust God, He’ll get you through” can be unhelpful.

While well-meaning, saying ‘Trust God, He’ll get you through’ is a simplistic perspective.

We experienced betrayed trust throughout our childhood. It’s actually amazing that we believe God will carry us, when it would be easier to blame Him for how it’s all gone wrong. Trust is one of the most difficult things a trauma survivor wrestles with. To be given a pat on the back and encouraged to just trust God, when we’re overwhelmed by a trigger reinforces a sense of failure, and a torrent of shame returns. Why haven’t I healed quicker? Why is life so hard? Do I not trust God enough?

4. Ask questions.

In the intimacy of a small group (mainstays in Christian fellowship), for the survivor, it can feel like our trauma is the elephant in the room.

I have tried to provide my survivor perspective when discussing a passage of scripture, leading to an uncomfortable silence. Instead, I shut down. What I crave is someone to ask me how wrestling with this passage affects me as a survivor. Having those discussions, especially in the light of a complex diagnosis (e.g., mine with Dissociative Identity Disorder), is a breath of fresh air. It means people want to understand and provides a sense of validation and affirmation of God’s love for us.

5. Prayer and Friendship are key.

We all live busy lives, and it’s easy to say we will pray.

Many times, prayer is action. It’s not about a few well-meaning words and moving on; it’s about picking up the phone and saying, hey, let’s grab a coffee or take a walk. It says, I am making time for you. We don’t need platitudes that are easy; we need friends who are there. I suspect this sort of sincere friendship is something that would go a long way for many struggling in our churches.

6. Believe that we are strong.

We are tougher than you might think. We’ve been through hell and survived. Living with it may be tough, but we got through. We don’t need to be coddled, we need respect.

We live in a fallen world.

Statistics indicate that 32% of children have experienced childhood abuse (3). That means that the likelihood of sitting next to someone in a service or bible study group that has a traumatic history is not uncommon. And the world is not getting any better. It is the responsibility of the church to understand ALL members of the congregation, and to carve out a place for the growing number of trauma survivors in our midst. The church should not and cannot take the place of therapeutic help.

Instead, the church needs to provide a place of safety and compassion, where the practical skills of learning to trust and feel safe can be put into practice as we walk through this world and come to terms with our history of trauma, and our place as a child of God.

A word to survivors.

There will be readers who are survivors of some sort of trauma that has defined and shaped their view of the world.

All I’d like to say is, if you have reached through the muck of your history and are clinging to God, don’t give up. Believe that in the church community, there will be rest. Take charge of your future, and if you don’t find that respite in the church you are in, then reach out, ask for what you need or find a new church home. Do the hardest thing of all: trust yourself. Trust what you know of God and lean into Him. That support is there; you may have to look beyond the jagged edges of the ragamuffin mob of believers that surround you, but God will introduce you to people of faith you can be real with. They won’t be perfect; no one is, but they can be a heart where who you are is accepted and loved.

Start there.

Here are versus that help me each day:

Proverbs 3.5-8, Deuteronomy 29.29, Romans 5:3-4, Psalm 139, Psalm 46.10

Maggie Walters is a trauma survivor and author of SPLIT a life shared: living with Multiple Personality Disorder. She is an advocate, both in and out of the church, for changing the narrative around mental health and complex trauma.  

Article supplied with thanks to Akos Balogh.

About the Author: Akos is the Executive Director of the Gospel Coalition Australia. He has a Masters in Theology and is a trained Combat and Aerospace Engineer.

Feature image: Canva

Have you ever caught yourself thinking about your church or ministry in terms of “me and mine”? It’s a common trap.

We can become so focused on our own needs, successes, and recognition that we miss the bigger picture of what it means to be part of a community.

This empire mindset often prioritises personal gain and status, and we see it play out in church culture, where success is often measured by numbers—attendance, followers, and influence.

But the kingdom flips this script completely. It’s about “ours and theirs,” focusing on the collective good and the flourishing of all of us together.

The question we need to ask ourselves is: are we nurturing an environment where everyone can grow, or are we accidentally building our own little empires?

We’re called to build the body of Christ, not a brand.

Our mission goes beyond just loving our own church; it’s about loving the bride and genuinely loving others. The heart of the kingdom beats for community, connection, and mutual support. We need to recognise that our needs are deeply intertwined with those of others. We shouldn’t just ask God to meet our needs; we should be open to how He can use us to meet the needs of those around us.

Have you heard the story about the long spoon? It goes like this: In a certain place, there were two groups of people, one in heaven and one in hell. They all had long spoons tied to their arms that made it impossible to feed themselves. The people in hell were starving because they couldn’t get the food to their mouths, while those in heaven were thriving. Why? Because instead of trying to feed themselves, the people in heaven used their long spoons to feed one another. This story is a vivid illustration of the power of generosity and community. It reminds us that our well-being is not just about meeting our own needs, but about serving each other.

When we fixate on building our own platforms, we can easily lose sight of the core mission: to love God and love people.

The pressure to keep up appearances or grow a following can become suffocating, often distracting us from the essence of our faith.

In contrast, embracing the kingdom mindset brings us freedom. We shed the burdens of needing to impress others and instead find the space to serve authentically. So I ask you: whose kingdom are we really building? Are we pouring our energy into something that serves our agenda, or are we aligning ourselves with God’s purpose for His kingdom?

This is a question we all need to reflect on—whether you’re a leader in the church, a volunteer, or simply a follower of Jesus. We must regularly assess our motives.

Are we serving God, or is He serving us?

Are we trying to grow a big church or ministry to advance the kingdom or to feel valued in this complex world?

It can quickly become about the size of our churches, youth groups, and ministries. We can start with pure motives to reveal Jesus to a generation but fall into the trap of using it to feed our egos. We can preach about identity but struggle with insecurity and low self-esteem. We can write posts about not comparing ourselves to others while refreshing our feeds every ten minutes to see who’s reading. We can repost a picture saying “choose joy” but feel miserable from Monday to Saturday. We can continually talk about grace but show it very little.

So I ask you: are you serving God, or is He serving you? Are you trying to grow a big church or big ministry to take ground for the kingdom or to feel valuable and significant in this thing we call life? (Of course, no one will ever admit it, but it happens a lot in church life.) Are you leading, preaching, singing, or posting for validation, or to truly bless those around you?

This isn’t just a question for pastors and leaders; it’s a challenge for every single one of us as Christians. We’re all called to build the kingdom.

So, let’s be real with ourselves. Let’s shift our focus from what we can gain to what we can give. Let’s fully embrace the generous spirit of the kingdom, trusting that as we pour into others, we’ll find ourselves enriched in ways we never expected.

Together, let’s be vessels of His love. When we do this, we’re not just building a church; we’re igniting a movement that can change lives and advance the kingdom—because in giving, we truly find ourselves.

About the Author: Sabrina is a pastor and a psychologist who is dedicated to helping people experience wholeness and growth. Passionate about building healthy families, she spends her days raising kids, supporting clients, and creating resources that inspire freedom and hope.

Article supplied with thanks to Sabrina Peters.

Feature image: Canva

Coober Pedy’s Catacomb Church is unlike most other churches in Australia, carved out of a hillside in the opal mining capital of the world.
And although the church has found a way to beat the extreme heat of the desert, Catacomb Church isn’t immune from the realities of operating in a remote part of Australia.

Pastor Dave Wood and his wife Margaret joined the church 18 months ago as its full-time ministry couple, ironically after a 30 year career as a mining engineer.

He says that he seemed destined to wind up in the outback following a decision to enter ministry full-time.

Bush Church Aid is an organisation that is dedicated to ensuring the gospel message is available to everyone living in remote and regional Australia.

Partnering predominantly with Anglican Dioceses, BCA helps to provide gospel workers in the outback, support those bush locations through prayer and ensure that experienced clergy and other volunteers are available to pastorally care for those in the field.

Without the support of Bush Church Aid, churches like Catacomb Church would struggle to keep the doors open in remote areas.

“Our church has around 12 regular members, but then in the tourist season it goes up to 30 or 35,” Dave said. “There’s no way we could afford a minister. So there’s ourselves and about 40 other churches around Australia supported by BCA.”

Dave says that the support of BCA not only keeps the doors of the church open, but enables him and wife Margaret to get out in the community.

“ The days of people just walking into the church is long over, you’ve got to go out to them. You’ve got to go to their church. So myself and Margie join a lot of things. 

“Margie’s in the historical society and she helps out at the drive-in. So we have South Australia’s last drive-in and we’re both on the committee for the drive-in, which is a load of fun. 

“I’m part of the SES and I do a Christian radio show, Dusty Radio, so it’s all about being arms and legs.”

“We had a mission group not long ago do some work down in the Aboriginal community, and they were so thankful. It was such a wonderful opportunity to reach out to a fairly hurting minority, to be honest. 

“Doing stuff in the community is really impactful, and then you get to have those conversations.”

If you happen to find yourself in Coober Pedy, you can visit the Catacomb Church at Lot 746 Catacomb Road.

You can also visit the Bush Church Aid website to find out more about serving with, or supporting the work of BCA in regional and remote Australia.

Article supplied with thanks to 96five.

Feature image: Supplied and Used with Permission