Artist Spotlight
Worship Communicator - Joel Engle
by Ken Wiegman

2004 Surrender Conference

In March, national speaker Joel Engle launched his "2004 Surrender Conference: Louder Than The Angels Tour." This two day conference is a student-focused event filled with teaching, music, video, and a special youth leader breakout. This is all with the intent and focus of glorifying Christ and instilling worship as a lifestyle. The tour is planned to run through November.

The conference is broken down into five sessions that all begin with worship through music and video. Following the corporate worship is a time of teaching and theology. Topics include what is worship, who we worship, how we worship, and the importance of personal and corporate worship.

Joel's ministry can relate to all ages but the target audience is youth, high school or college aged individuals. As a part of the conference each student receives Joel's latest worship CD, the Surrender handbook, and Glorify (a 30 day devotional).

Joel Engle - The Person

Reading through Joel's background gives you a sense of the powerful impact Christ had in his life. Despite all the tragedy in his childhood Joel has been redeemed by Christ and used by God to reach out to youth.

The tragedy begins when Joel was just an infant, as his father abandons Joel and his mother. Then at the age of 11, Joel discovered his mother lying face down in the kitchen after suffering a massive stroke. Sadly she passed away a few days later.

After his mother passed away, Joel went on to live with his grandparents in Oklahoma. Three years later tragedy struck again as Joel's grandfather died, leaving the grandmother who was unable to care for Joel alone. At that point in his life Joel placed himself in the Baptist Children's Home in Oklahoma City. Then at the age of 16 Joel was adopted by the Engle family, and thus began a new journey.

Living with the Engle's, a Christian family, Joel discovers the saving power and redeeming love of Christ. After years of tragedy, depression, rage, and confusion Joel began to accept and feel God's grace, love, and victory. This wondrous power of God led to a passionate and thankful life dedicated to full-time Christian ministry and a lifestyle of worship.

Joel Engle - Accomplishments

As a worship leader and songwriter Joel has seen much success. He has published over 40 songs, some of which have been recorded by Point of Grace, SONICFLOOd, and Charles Billingsley. Joel developed Spin360, a quarterly worship resource that provides leaders with the latest modern worship songs along with lyric masters, chord charts, sheet music, multi-media slides, and a newsletter with helpful articles, interviews, and tips. Over the past few years Joel has been able to minister to hundreds of thousands through his music and his life changing testimony.

Probably his greatest achievement was when he became a father in 2003. Knowing what little I do about Joel's childhood, I can't imagine the powerful impact this must have had on him, but I'm sure it was a high point in his life.

Joel Engle - The Music

"Louder Than The Angels" the new companion CD to the conference is full of high energy praise and worship. It's piano-driven and there is a full orchestral accompaniment. There are 12 tracks that celebrate Christ and proclaim God's glory, all of which are original songs penned by Joel himself.

If one were not able to attend a conference, the CD is a fine tool for personal worship and possibly corporate worship.

The So What Factor

Joel Engle has taken a devastating childhood and turned it around by the power of grace. Through the Surrender conferences and his various worship resources Joel uses his God given talent to help others realize this renewing power of Christ. More detailed information can be found at www.SurrenderConferences.com.