The White House has officially booked my Covenant Church of Naples worship team for a very special Christmas performance on December 2nd. 2025!

 

Back in early August, an announcement was made that First Lady Melania Trump was inviting Americans to apply for volunteer performance slots and decorator positions for the 2025 Christmas season at the White House. I happened to be scrolling through social media that morning when I saw the announcement. "To the Batphone!" I exclaimed to myself as I texted Pastor Chuck Betters, our worship leader and world class pianist. I asked if I could apply for a chance for our incredible team of musicians to take the gospel to the President of the United States home. "Sure", he replied. I imagine he was thinking, "what are the odds? Let the guy dream."

 

We didn't think much of this application and, personally, I quickly forgot about even doing it. During rehearsal about a month later, I received an email from the Executive Branch of the Federal Government of the United States of America stating that we had been selected to perform at the White House. It was all I could do to NOT disrupt rehearsal as we all only have 2 hours together to rehearse Sunday morning service songs before some have to peel off for other appointments and gigs. It's really a special time that we all have with one another to give praise to the Lord and prepare and fine tune Sunday morning service when we will lead about 1500-2000 people in worship, which is both a privilege and responsibility.

 

Below is a special performance we did during Christmas Eve service, 2024. The irony of playing this very popular mash-up is that it was put together, recorded and performed by Lincoln Brewster, the worship leader of a church my wife & I used to attend in California years ago. We saw Lincoln perform this many times in person, so it was surreal getting to perform the song for our brother and sisters at Covenant Church. We are doing it again this year! Make sure to come to one of the 4 services on Christmas Eve. Can you believe that we had to add another service?!

 

The Lord's House is growing.

 

 

So there it was. An email staring back at me with a sobering reality that we are now going to be playing two 45-minute acoustic sets at the White House in December for guests of the first family. I imagine the President and First lady will be in attendance since I found out later that we are playing the evening of December 2nd, opening night of these events that will span from Dec. 2nd through Dec. 20th. It is more likely to have the President come out and greet people on opening night than on day 12. Know what I mean?

 

What an incredible blessing that has been bestowed on an incredible church and worship team right here in Naples to bring Christ-filled Christmas music to the most famous home in the world, the center of power on earth. Just think of how many applications were submitted... We are all incredibly humbled and grateful. I imagine we will be playing much of the same music at our Christmas services here in Naples that we do at the White House, with the only difference being that we will be fully amplified at our US 41 location.

 

If you feel led to contribute to our team getting to DC and back, please follow the link below to Covenants secure giving portal. 

 

 

If you would like to attend service and raise a Hallelujah with us, we have 2 services every Sunday. The first one is at 8:30am and the second at 11am. It is a beautiful church with sound, biblical teaching. The best I have ever experienced.

 

I hope to see you there. And if you do pop in, please come up and say hello!