Heading out tomorrow for Mad City

tomorrow morning Laurel and I will be travelling with Dan and April O’Keefe to check out what Joe and Angie Steinke are doing in Madison, Wisconsin (aka. Mad CIty). More specifically we will be seeing what it will take to build a similar community here in Cleveland and better understand how we might relate as a “hub” of a larger missional cluster of communities nationally. 

This couple has been developing prophetic music and art for sharing Christ with student culture for over 12 years. In 1997 they made a decision to focus on writing worship and dance that sponsored intimacy and intercession at the worship event. They enjoy creating “multi-arts” events where a fusion of visual art, dance, acoustic, and electronica come together for an intense time of meeting God. Though Todd and Laurel a passion for ministering to student groups and partnering with student ministries, they also have a heart for creating worship environments for a cross-generational gatherings.

Berger’s lead team to North & South Carolina

We just got back from our trip leading 4 worship events in North and South Carolina. Our team came together from several states this time where we ministered with Dan and April O’keefe (Cleveland), Ben & Robin Pasley (Colorado), Ryan Lott (Cleveland), Stacy Chech (Chicago), Doc Harrill (Cleveland) and Caro Pelhan (South Carolina). We joined the Pasley’s team as they led an event in Charleston, SC. Laurel was able to partner with Caro in dancing, I had a great opportunity to lead a team of painters to create what they were seeing and hearing from God during the concert by collaboratively painting on a couple large canvases. We were blown away by the specificity that the Lord spoke prophetically to one individual through the painting that night. He donated to us a $1000 that we were able to give to the local church to minister to the poor in their city.

We then made our way to North Carolina where we met up with the rest of our people from Cleveland & Chicago to lead the first Enter the Worship Circle events with the original collaborators on the Village Thrift recording. Our team was also asked to lead several creative workshops on Dance in Worship, Prophetic Painting, Developing A Personal Mission Statement, Harp & Bowl Prayer, and An Introduction on Using Turntablism and Electronica In Worship. I can’t tell you how good it felt to not only have the opportunity to minister in concert, but to come back a second day to the local creatives to release new giftings and impart vision to them in a classroom setting. We were able to use several of the Village Thrift songs and some freedom really broke loose not only in the people but in ourselves too!

We then headed out to Cambell University to lead one final worship event to kick off the School Year for the returning students to Campbell. Again, what a blessing to be back to see the students again (we were there the same time last year). The Lord used this time to realign a lot of people to get their eyes off of themselves to follow him. Several people made the treck from the previous event to join us at Campbell.

It was a blessing to minister with our friends, make new friends along the way, and catch of with some old friends as well. We definately see the Lord working in and through His people wherever we minister. One thing we are starting to hear more consistantly is “we’ve got to get to Cleveland”. It appears the Lord is putting our humble city in the hearts of people wherever we go. I’m looking forward to telling you more about what we feel the Lord is calling us to build to missionally reach out to the students here in Cleveland. It seems that God is up to something here locally that we can be a part of and we look forward to discovering this in our journey ahead.

In His Love,

Todd & Laurel berger

This couple has been developing prophetic music and art for sharing Christ with student culture for over 12 years. In 1997 they made a decision to focus on writing worship and dance that sponsored intimacy and intercession at the worship event. They enjoy creating “multi-arts” events where a fusion of visual art, dance, acoustic, and electronica come together for an intense time of meeting God. Though Todd and Laurel a passion for ministering to student groups and partnering with student ministries, they also have a heart for creating worship environments for a cross-generational gatherings.

Todd’s Music featured in THE JOURNEY musical

THE JOURNEY – A NEW MUSICAL! Co-Created by Laurie Frey and Michael Barnard – Book by Eric Coble – Music and Lyrics by June Rachelson-Ospa, Daniel Neiden, Jim Papoulis, Lynette Wright, Sherry Paige, Todd Berger and Ryan Lott, Directed by Michael Barnard – August 4 & 5
A bold, fresh look at one woman’s experience with breast cancer, and how her own life and the lives of everyone she has ever loved are changed forever.  A wildly theatrical ride of humor, fear, and faith that will touch your heart, and leave you singing.
Only $8 per reading or Special $30 all 4 Show Discount Package.  Readings are held at Phoenix Theatre in the Little Theatre.

This couple has been developing prophetic music and art for sharing Christ with student culture for over 12 years. In 1997 they made a decision to focus on writing worship and dance that sponsored intimacy and intercession at the worship event. They enjoy creating “multi-arts” events where a fusion of visual art, dance, acoustic, and electronica come together for an intense time of meeting God. Though Todd and Laurel a passion for ministering to student groups and partnering with student ministries, they also have a heart for creating worship environments for a cross-generational gatherings.

Berger Calendar Update

Well here’s the latest. It appears that we will be entering our busiest ministry season as of yet. Here is our schedule as follows:
Aug 17-21: North Carolina
We will be doing a short EWC tour in North Carolina making stops in Charleston, Winterville, and Raleigh. Like planets aligning, our team will converge from Colorado, Chicago, South Carolina, and Cleveland to include the entire Berger family (the girl’s first ministry trip with us!), Ben and Robin Pasley, Dan and April O’Keefe, Ryan Lott, Doc Harrill, Stacy Chech, and Carolyn Pelhan. After we get back, the girls will be heading up to Canada to spend some time with family. When Laurel gets back from Canada, she and I will then head out to Colorado (Aug 24-26) to spend some time with friends. When we get back, we will have a few days before heading out (Aug 30-Sep 2) to hook up with the Mad-City crew for strategic partnering to disciple students here in Cleveland and to network for other missional endeavors both nationally and internationally. When Joe Steinke and crew came in a few months ago, they were a huge inspiration to us for building a similar faith community here in Cleveland. The rest of September will be somewhat quiet as we finalize several other EWC events that will run us into 2007. At the end of September (24-30), we will be taking an actual family vacation to South Carolina with the O’Keefes.

In general, we can see the Lord working behind the scenes and opening more opportunities for partnering with other ministries to minister to students. Please pray that God would give us the grace for this season.

This couple has been developing prophetic music and art for sharing Christ with student culture for over 12 years. In 1997 they made a decision to focus on writing worship and dance that sponsored intimacy and intercession at the worship event. They enjoy creating “multi-arts” events where a fusion of visual art, dance, acoustic, and electronica come together for an intense time of meeting God. Though Todd and Laurel a passion for ministering to student groups and partnering with student ministries, they also have a heart for creating worship environments for a cross-generational gatherings.