don't get me wrong though! God is as diverse as we could ever imagine and no one technique is wrong - we all have a part to play.
"By whatever means possible", I believe St.Paul advises....

Anywhere. If I like what i hear I listen to it then play it on the piano (I can read music but only to study). My singer and I pick up a lot of songs from the AfroCarribean community, for example. A lot of old pentecostal choruses we have to do now in reggae or ragga with an electropop twist.
sometimes, I might hear something on an album I've bought, or on the web somewhere.
I agree with Angie that quite a lot is replicated and I don't know why. I'm not sure the same thing would happen in the same way in the secular market? Either way, it does put me off buying compilations.
I stick to individual artist albums and one-offs. but I also listen and study a lot of secular dance music right now because it seems to me the good ideas are there (as far as technique and engineering / production goes).
I don't have to agree with the lifestyle and dogma of current DJ's and dance music outfits, but there is no denying they are jolly good at what they do. If that's what the kids are listening to, we would do ourselves a favour to learn the language so to speak, but without abandoning the law of Christ.

Large events are always good but i find these days that large events are all using the same songs and it's a lot to do with who your signed with! Shoot me!! Seriously though I am a songwriter myself and find it's virtually impossible to get songs to a larger gathering. Now don't get me wrong i know God can make a way but we used to be more willing to help grassroots writers and surely that's what it's all about isn't it?

That's why this site is so awesome because it does just that. However I do think as worship leaders looking for songs we need to look a bit further than the latest Kingsway or Survivor release.

There's a wealth of gifting out there that are listening to God's heart too!

Blessings

Angie Lendon

:-)

Although events are usually the source of new worship songs, I then buy the cd, either from the event or that of the artist. Grapevine is one of the best with Godfrey Birtill currently my favourite singer (probably my age). This could all change now with "Worship Journal".

Worship CD's are interesting because you can have listened to a song a thousand times, and all of a sudden it grabs your attention in a new way. It's like it builds up in your spirit for the moment it needs to be sung in your church or just by you personally.

If I hear a song and love it, I google the words and play it!