Marty Nemko was speaking on KGO radio last night (he’s the Career/Education/Life Advice guy) and brought up the issue of a lack of ethics in society and the workplace.  Since I was driving home from a concert in Santa Rosa, I gave him a call.  I agree that we need to teach our youth about ethics and train parents to pass it on  to their children.  But training in ethics should be more than merely identifying good and bad behavior.  We should include “consequences,” “resolve,” and “hedges.”  If we can somehow give people a vision of the consequences of their actions (such as the destruction it would cause), it would help motivate them to make a resolve to act with integrity (such as “I will never cheat on my wife, but will reserve my romance for only her”).  Then, we can think of what “hedges” to place around us to protect us from bad behavior (such as accountability with friends).  Unfortunately, there is a lack of ethics in the church as well.  What do you think?

John Fisher & Noel Paul Stookey Concert - Reggie on Guitar

This autumn has been filled with God-designed-moments for encouraging and training others.  I was able to play guitar for the John Fisher and Noel Paul Stookey concert.  Also, I’m doing a series of concerts in the Bay Area which has been great to see old friends and magnify the Lord through my music and testimony.  I’ve been recording with a band called Cede who has recently recorded my song Ain’t Nobody with a very “hot” gospel arrangement.  You can hear it at http://www.reverbnation.com/cedewest.

I’m teaching 20 private guitar lessons in San Jose, Los Altos, Mount Hermon, and Danville.  Do you know anyone who would like to be empowered as guitarists and go to the next level?  Here’s a quote from last week:  “Reggie, Thank you so much for your time thus far in teaching my son. It has been a blessing and a character builder. He has learned so much, not just guitar, but how to be a man of his word, sacrifice, and commitment. What a blessing!  So may the LORD bless you and strengthen you and may His face shine upon you and your family.” ~ Tiffany D.

Coming Events

I’ll be doing three concerts coming up, so I hope you can make one of them (see the events below or go to Events online).  I’ll be sharing about my faith journey as well as encouraging you in Christ.

Mark your calendars to pray for the following events and come if you can.  Here’s what’s coming:

• Concert in Los Altos
  November 14 (Sun) – Bridges Community Church (formerly known as First Baptist Church of Los Altos), CA. Family worship and concert.  Reggie will be sharing in concert at 7:00pm.
  
• Concert in Santa Rosa
  November 21 (Sun) – Spring Hills Community Church, Santa Rosa, CA. Family worship and concert.  Reggie will be sharing in concert at 6:00pm.
  
• Choir Christmas Concert with special guest David Talbot in Hayward December 5 (Sun) – First Presbyterian Church of Hayward, CA. Reggie will be directing the choir in a music presentation called “God with Us.” Special guest David Talbot will be sharing his organ/piano tapestry during the evening.   The Christmas presentation will begin at 7:00pm.
  
• Concert in Castro Valley
  December 12 (Sun) – New Life Christian Church, Castro Valley, CA. Family worship and concert.  Reggie will be sharing in concert at 6:00pm.

Support Status

In September, The Heartfelt Music Board of Directors sent an invitation for support toward me and my family to minister with Heartfelt Music Ministry in a larger capacity.  The hope was to raise $2,000 a month of support and right now it’s at $750.  What a blessing to have this support!  “Thank you” to all who are investing in this ministry.  We are short this month and could use some help.  If you would like to make a donation, simply click here.  If you know of a business that would like to make a donation to a non-profit organization, let me know. Thanks so much.

The Coates family is doing well.  I’ve been very busy, but make it a priority to spend quality time with family.  Sherri is gearing up for Mount Hermon’s Christmas Boutique as she will be selling some crafts there.  Brandon and Austin are enjoying school which is a breath of fresh air for us.  We appreciate your prayers.  May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving as you think of the many things to be thankful for!

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October was such a rewarding month for me and Heartfelt Music Ministry.  I’m continuing to touch over 60 students a week through instruction and coaching.  The National Worship Leader Conference in Pennsylvania was my third time with them encouraging over 150 worship leaders to play skillfully on both electric and acoustic guitars.  Heartfelt Music Ministry came to First Presbyterian Church in Richmond and with 6 instructors to train and equip in Effective Worship Leading.  It went very well and ended with me giving a concert (which some songs made it to YouTube.com through a student’s phone camera).  Also, I’ve been recording with a talented band called Cede headed up by Scott Metcalf and they have recorded two of my songs with a Gospel flavor that rocks (Getting Stronger and Ain’t Nobody).  Hopefully a CD will be out soon.

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I have received some very encouraging emails lately and wanted to share some of them.  Thank you so much for words that spur me on!

“What struck me as soon as I started reading your newsletter is how faithful you have been over the years to teach and encourage young/old musicians. Guitar playing hasn’t been my focus, but I’m so grateful that you are building this skill with musicians. What a blessing you have been to many with your teaching and worship leading! May He continue to enlarge your ministry!” ~ Wanda P.
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“I have been thinking lately about people who have a great idea and do something about it. You are one of those people! As I was dwelling on that idea, you came to the very front of my mind and I could not shake the feeling that you could use some encouragement.  MANY times when I have my guitar in hand I remember the training and good times I had at the Christian Guitar and Bass Conferences. All of that great teaching and encouragement in one place! What an awesome thing!!! I know that it had to take its toll on you and your family (to whom I am also grateful ) but you did it. I’m sure you would say not without the Lords help, but someone had to be the hands and feet for it. I am glad it was you! I have enjoyed your company and gentle spirit every time that I had the opportunity.  So I just want to say thank you for “getting out of the shower, drying off and doing something about the great idea that you had” for the CGBC. May God continue to bless your endeavors and your great ideas in the future!! Thanks again.” ~ Jeff C.
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“Enjoyed your teaching at National Worship Leader Conference East. We could surely tell that as much as your formal training is in voice, your love is playing guitar.  Thank you for the cords and techniques to work with. May God bless you as you encourage others to glorify Jesus with their best skills.”  ~ David B.
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“Reggie is the amazing triple play, fabulous musician, inspirational leader, and fantastic teacher. To find all these qualities in one person is rare, to find them in a person as humble as Reggie is astounding. I’m extremely grateful for Reggie’s mentoring, he has helped my playing and worship leading immensely. I’m proud to count Reggie as a friend.” ~ Steve M.

Picture of Reggie by Bryan Morrison

As Executive Director of  Heartfelt Music, I am training and encouraging Christians throughout the country.  But locally, I’m teaching music to over 55 students between private lessons and group courses at four different Christian Schools as well as Guitar Showcase in San Jose.  Ten hours a week, I’m ministering with First Presbyterian Church in Hayward as their Choir Director and Traditional Service Director.  Next week, I’ll be teaching guitar workshops at the National Worship Leader Conference in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Later this month, I’ll be leading worship for the Mount Hermon Men’s Retreat (Oct. 22-24).  It’s been a busy month, but it’s a joy to daily be used by God in significant ways continuing to have a high impact on many lives.

I’ll be doing two concerts in the next couple of months, so I hope you can make one of them (see the events below or go to Events online).  I’ll be sharing about my faith journey as well as encouraging you in Christ.  Hope to see you there!

• Concert & Training in Richmond
  October 16 (Saturday) – First Presbyterian Church, Richmond, CA. Family worship and concert.  Reggie will be sharing in concert at 7:00pm.  There will also be a Leading Worship Effectively & Team Building workshop Saturday, October 16 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm with breakout sessions from 4:00pm to 5:00pm on Voice, Guitar, Drums, Keyboard, and Sound.  The cost is only $10.00 and includes dinner from 5:30pm to 6:30pm.  You can make a whole day of it. For more information contact the church office at (510) 234-0954.

• Concert in Los Altos
  November 14 (Sunday) – Bridges Church (formerly known as First Baptist Church of Los Altos), CA. Family worship and concert.  Reggie will be sharing in concert at 7:00pm. For more information contact the church office at (650) 948-5698.

“A spiritual friend is one who is loyal and has right motives, discretion and patience in order to help their friend know God better.  Spiritual companionship is a process both of nurture and of confrontation.  A true friend in Christ will wake me up, help me grow, and deepen my awareness of God.  For God’s love is mediated through human relationships, by those who care for me, encourage me and desire my affections to become God-centered.” Aeired of Rievlaux, 1100 AD

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Reggie here.  I am now working with Heartfelt Music Ministry full-time. He is leading me and Heartfelt Music Ministry into full throttle, high impact, life changing work with the church-at-large to His glory.

Financial Support to Heartfelt Music Ministry is a wise investment. Our mission of leading others toward intimacy with God is the thrust of God’s heart. This gives us our compelling vision to use quality music, exemplary leadership, worship leading, practical training, and motivational speaking to encourage, inspire, and equip each person to draw closer to God.

You can donate a one-time gift or regular contribution to Heartfelt Music Ministry which is tax-deductible. We would be honored and so grateful for you to choose us as your ministry/missions organization in giving regular financial support.  Thank you for your prayerful consideration.  More information can be found at our Support Page (Click here).

Make a donation online using PayPal^TM by clicking on the Donate button below or set up a recurring monthly donation for $25, $50, $75, $100, or $125 by clicking on the appropriate amount with the Subscribe button below.
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We had a fantastic trip to Washington DC as a family with many great bonding moments.  There were some ministry events which brought us there (leading worship for the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts Jamboree, leading worship for New Life Community Church, and holding two workshops at another church), but most of the time was spent sight seeing.  We took a lot of pictures, but I just included a few to give you an idea of our wonderful experience there.

We were able to visit my brother and his wife, see many memorials (like the Lincoln Memorial), see many museums (like the Space Museum Annex and the Marine Corps Museum), go swimming in the Potomac River because of some good friends (the Turner family), see George Washington’s home, visit a Tavern in Fredericksburg, eat lunch in Georgetown, and stay with some truly amazing friends (the Katsarelis family) in Stafford, Virginia.

Thank you for praying for us.  It was a blessing that everyone enjoyed the flights for the most part.  We were all pretty flexible with the schedule and that made it enjoyable and not rushed.  The weather was actually pretty nice during our stay there.  We had many reasons to thank God for this trip, but the best one is the closeness of our family.  We are all very grateful for this.