Southern Exposure
Babbie Mason
Empowering Women With an Embrace
Empowering Women With an Embrace
To the world of Christian music, Babbie Mason hardly needs an introduction.
A Dove Award-winning recording artist, Mason has performed for U. S. presidents, been a part of the Billy Graham Crusades and has even graced the stage at Carnegie Hall. She has been a part of the Gaither Homecoming music series, appearing on the Grammy-winning Kennedy Center Homecoming and performing at major Gaither events such as Praise Gathering and Jubilaté. And she hosts her own talk show, Babbie's House; teaches songwriting at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee; and hosts the Christian music seminar, Inner Circle. With such a demanding schedule, one might wonder how she has ever found time to write such hit songs and church standards as "All Rise," "Each One, Reach One," "Hallowed Be Thy Name," "Standing in the Gap" and "With All My Heart."
The daughter of a Baptist minister, Mason was born in Michigan, but she has resided in suburban Atlanta or rural Georgia since 1980. Her ministry has taken her to megachurches, such as Rick Warren's Saddleback Church in California and New York's Brooklyn Tabernacle, but she is also quite at home in much smaller congregations. Through her impassioned performances and with her heart for ministry, Mason is bound to encourage, embolden and challenge her audiences, regardless of the venue or setting.
A Dove Award-winning recording artist, Mason has performed for U. S. presidents, been a part of the Billy Graham Crusades and has even graced the stage at Carnegie Hall. She has been a part of the Gaither Homecoming music series, appearing on the Grammy-winning Kennedy Center Homecoming and performing at major Gaither events such as Praise Gathering and Jubilaté. And she hosts her own talk show, Babbie's House; teaches songwriting at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee; and hosts the Christian music seminar, Inner Circle. With such a demanding schedule, one might wonder how she has ever found time to write such hit songs and church standards as "All Rise," "Each One, Reach One," "Hallowed Be Thy Name," "Standing in the Gap" and "With All My Heart."
The daughter of a Baptist minister, Mason was born in Michigan, but she has resided in suburban Atlanta or rural Georgia since 1980. Her ministry has taken her to megachurches, such as Rick Warren's Saddleback Church in California and New York's Brooklyn Tabernacle, but she is also quite at home in much smaller congregations. Through her impassioned performances and with her heart for ministry, Mason is bound to encourage, embolden and challenge her audiences, regardless of the venue or setting.
Her most recent endeavor is Embrace, a women's ministry which premiered on March 27, 2009 at the Church at Mirror Lake in Villa Rica, Georgia. Mason was kind enough to recently elaborate on Embrace, and our conversation is as follows:
GREG FREEMAN: Babbie, you clearly have a passion for women's ministry. Tell me what motivated you, a recording artist and songwriter whose music transcends gender and race, to get involved in women's ministry? And why do you think it's so important in this day and time?
BABBIE MASON: I suppose the '90s brought on a trend where women's conferences became popular. Upon receiving invitations, I began to lead worship, do special music and concerts at these women's events. On the flip side of that part of my motivation, I admit, is purely selfish. I absolutely love ministering to women. When I am a part of or attend Christian women's events, just like other women, I find myself laughing, crying, celebrating other girlfriends and drawing closer to Jesus. Every girl in the world needs that.
GREG FREEMAN: Babbie, you clearly have a passion for women's ministry. Tell me what motivated you, a recording artist and songwriter whose music transcends gender and race, to get involved in women's ministry? And why do you think it's so important in this day and time?
BABBIE MASON: I suppose the '90s brought on a trend where women's conferences became popular. Upon receiving invitations, I began to lead worship, do special music and concerts at these women's events. On the flip side of that part of my motivation, I admit, is purely selfish. I absolutely love ministering to women. When I am a part of or attend Christian women's events, just like other women, I find myself laughing, crying, celebrating other girlfriends and drawing closer to Jesus. Every girl in the world needs that.
GREG: Your most current endeavor is Embrace. Elaborate just a little on this event and its accompanying music project. And who are some of the people you'll be working with?
BABBIE: The purpose for Embrace is to create an atmosphere where women can gather to worship Christ and rejoice in who we are in Him. This worship concert is designed to fortify the hearts and minds of women through exciting Christ-centered worship music, God-honoring testimonies, proclamations, prayers and the power of friendship. We'll even have a women's mass choir! It's an event where women can bring their daughters, friends and even their neighbors to rejoice in the God who celebrates us. This worship concert will create an atmosphere where Christian sisterhood is celebrated and the name of Jesus is magnified. The worship songs we'll sing for Embrace have been written especially for us and will lead us to a place where we can meet the God who is worthy of our praise. I'll be the lead worshipper for the event, but at each local concert we'll involve women from the local church to participate on stage.
GREG: Embrace is not just for the conference centers and big city convention hotels, right? Aren't you guys encouraging churches to host an Embrace event in the intimacy of their sanctuaries?
BABBIE: Absolutely! While the Embrace event can enhance a women's conference or a weekend retreat , there is something to be said about experiencing Embrace in the intimacy of the church sanctuary. I have always loved the excitement and even the intimacy I find in the church sanctuary. I guess it comes from being a preacher's daughter. There's something powerful about this place that is dedicated to worship, about a sanctuary choir in the loft and the altar where we can go to pray. I just love being in church!
GREG: I can see the potential for spiritual renewal and even evangelism through events like these. What do you hope to accomplish through Embrace?
BABBIE: My prayer is that as women experience this awesome worship event that the myths and lies that women have heard and believed would be dispelled. The world has jaded women and even Christian women have bought into the lies our adversary has told us. He has told us we're not good enough, we're not beautiful enough, we don't measure up, we're not qualified and no one loves us. I long for women to know the awesome truths about what God has said about us. Through the Embrace events we have already launched women have been encouraged and strengthened and truly blessed in a way that goes beyond the surface. Even the men that have worked behind the scenes have told me they were deeply moved. This would be a great opportunity for women to bring their daughters, friends and even their neighbors to rejoice in the God that celebrates us.
GREG: How can readers learn more about Embrace and to whom should they go to inquire about scheduling one of these events for their church?
BABBIE: For more information, please visit Embrace. There, you can read about the event and e-mail us from the website. You can also contact us at Babbie Mason Ministries or call 770-258-8863.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
"Babbie Mason (b. 1955)," New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 3, 2009: http://www.newgeorgiaencyclopedia.org
OTHER SOURCES
Interview with Babbie Mason on February 10, 2009
Author: Greg Freeman. Published April 3, 2009.
BABBIE: The purpose for Embrace is to create an atmosphere where women can gather to worship Christ and rejoice in who we are in Him. This worship concert is designed to fortify the hearts and minds of women through exciting Christ-centered worship music, God-honoring testimonies, proclamations, prayers and the power of friendship. We'll even have a women's mass choir! It's an event where women can bring their daughters, friends and even their neighbors to rejoice in the God who celebrates us. This worship concert will create an atmosphere where Christian sisterhood is celebrated and the name of Jesus is magnified. The worship songs we'll sing for Embrace have been written especially for us and will lead us to a place where we can meet the God who is worthy of our praise. I'll be the lead worshipper for the event, but at each local concert we'll involve women from the local church to participate on stage.
GREG: Embrace is not just for the conference centers and big city convention hotels, right? Aren't you guys encouraging churches to host an Embrace event in the intimacy of their sanctuaries?
BABBIE: Absolutely! While the Embrace event can enhance a women's conference or a weekend retreat , there is something to be said about experiencing Embrace in the intimacy of the church sanctuary. I have always loved the excitement and even the intimacy I find in the church sanctuary. I guess it comes from being a preacher's daughter. There's something powerful about this place that is dedicated to worship, about a sanctuary choir in the loft and the altar where we can go to pray. I just love being in church!
GREG: I can see the potential for spiritual renewal and even evangelism through events like these. What do you hope to accomplish through Embrace?
BABBIE: My prayer is that as women experience this awesome worship event that the myths and lies that women have heard and believed would be dispelled. The world has jaded women and even Christian women have bought into the lies our adversary has told us. He has told us we're not good enough, we're not beautiful enough, we don't measure up, we're not qualified and no one loves us. I long for women to know the awesome truths about what God has said about us. Through the Embrace events we have already launched women have been encouraged and strengthened and truly blessed in a way that goes beyond the surface. Even the men that have worked behind the scenes have told me they were deeply moved. This would be a great opportunity for women to bring their daughters, friends and even their neighbors to rejoice in the God that celebrates us.
GREG: How can readers learn more about Embrace and to whom should they go to inquire about scheduling one of these events for their church?
BABBIE: For more information, please visit Embrace. There, you can read about the event and e-mail us from the website. You can also contact us at Babbie Mason Ministries or call 770-258-8863.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
"Babbie Mason (b. 1955)," New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 3, 2009: http://www.newgeorgiaencyclopedia.org
OTHER SOURCES
Interview with Babbie Mason on February 10, 2009
Author: Greg Freeman. Published April 3, 2009.
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