Protect The Altar

Send us Fan Mail How do worship leaders choose the songs they sing each Sunday? In this episode of Protect the Altar, Deborah Hong & Tim Rice dive into the heart behind building a Sunday set list! Whether you're a worship leader, pastor, musician, or volunteer, this conversation offers practical insight and biblical perspective for leading worship with purpose and sensitivity to the Holy...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Protect the Altar , Deborah Hong sits down with Chad Gentry of 90's Worship Night to discuss the importance of honoring the generations that have gone before us. Together, they explore why understanding the history of worship matters, what today's worship leaders can learn from past moves of God, and how gratitude for previous generations helps shape a...

Send us Fan Mail What if the very thing God has called you to is also the place where you feel the weakest? In this episode of Protect the Altar , Deborah Hong and Tim Rice sit down with Essential Music Publishing songwriter Nick Bays to discuss his journey in songwriting, ministry, and learning to depend on God's strength. Nick shares how our greatest gifts can often expose our greatest vuln...

Send us Fan Mail Paul Baloche Interview: Worship, Leadership, and Legacy Join us for a special live conversation with worship leader and songwriter Paul Baloche as he shares insights from decades of ministry, leadership, and songwriting. In this episode of Protect the Altar , we discuss the heart of worship, staying faithful through seasons of ministry, and the legacy of a life devoted to glorifyi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Protect the Altar, Deborah Hong and Tim Rice sit down with Pastor Mark Estes for an honest conversation about recognizing a religious spirit, the difference between religion and true relationship with God, and how legalism can quietly distort our view of grace, truth, and intimacy with Jesus. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the thing you’re hoping in can’t actually sustain you? In this episode of Protect the Altar, Tim Rice & Deborah Hong have an honest conversation about how misplaced hope and misinterpreted truth can quietly rob us of our joy, peace, and confidence in God. Together, they unpack the difference between biblical hope and false expectations, how disappointment can...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Protect the Altar Podcast, Deborah Hong and Tim Rice sit down to discuss why the Church must get her joy back, the dangers of living under shame, and how freedom and healing are found in Christ. Join the conversation as they share biblical insight, encouragement, and practical wisdom for walking in joy again. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Protect the Altar Podcast, Deborah Hong and Tim Rice unpack “The Secret to Contentment” and the truth that contentment is something you can learn. They dive into what Scripture says about guarding your heart against covetousness, and how comparison and constant striving can quietly steal your peace. This conversation will encourage you to anchor your life in...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Protect the Altar Podcast, we sit down with special guest Stephen Brewster of The Harmony Group to talk about what it really looks like to navigate both the music industry and ministry. Stephen shares his perspective from years of experience working at the intersection of creativity, calling, and career—breaking down the tension many artists and worship lead...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Tim Rice and Deborah Hong dive into what it truly means to steward the promise of God over your life—without falling into the trap of striving, hustling, or trying to make things happen in your own strength. So often, when God gives us a promise, our instinct is to take control and push it forward. But what if the key isn’t in striving… but in surrender? Tim and D...

Send us Fan Mail Comparison is one of the fastest ways to lose sight of your calling—and in this episode, we’re confronting it head-on. Join us on the Protect the Altar Podcast as Anna Sotelo shares her powerful and personal journey of overcoming comparison and learning to walk in true obedience to God. Through honest storytelling and spiritual insight, Anna opens up about the struggle of measurin...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Protect the Altar, we sit down with Pastor Mark Estes to talk about what it truly means to stay faithful through every season—both seen and unseen. Ministry isn’t built on moments of hype, but on a life of consistency, surrender, and deep roots in God’s presence. We dive into why it’s essential for worship leaders to know the Word of God for themselves—not just...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for a conversation with Derek Winkley as we explore what it means to answer God’s call to be a disruptor. In this episode, we unpack the tension of stepping out in bold obedience, discerning where God is leading, and recognizing how easy it is to unintentionally disrupt for the wrong kingdom. Learn how to align your influence with His purpose and become a force for the rig...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Protect the Altar , we dive into what it really means to protect the unity of your worship team. We talk honestly about those moments when you feel triggered by others, how to navigate differences with grace, and practical ways to pursue peace without compromising truth. If you’re leading or serving on a team, this conversation will help you build stronger, heal...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the podcast, we discuss The Church in an Age of Outrage with special guest Patricia Estes , one of the senior pastors of North Palm Church. Together we talk about how believers can resist the enemy’s bait to become consumed with everything happening in the world and avoid falling into traps of anger, bitterness, and outrage. Discover how the Church can keep its...

Send us Fan Mail Tim Rice joins Protect the Altar for a powerful conversation about the subtle ways carnal thinking can influence worship leadership—and how leaders can stay anchored in the Spirit while stewarding the altar. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In “The Levite Portion (Part 2)”, we dive deeper into the tension between platform and presence, image and anointing, visibility and true intimacy with God. What happens when private encounters are meant for corporate impact—but we keep them hidden? When gifting subtly shifts from glorifying God to building identity? When skill begins to replace submission? This episode confronts...

Send us Fan Mail The Levite Portion (Part 1) | ft. Pastor Dakota Andekin In this episode, Deborah sits down with Pastor Dakota Andekin for a rich and convicting conversation about what it truly means to receive the Lord Himself as your inheritance. Pastor Dakota shares his story—where he’s from, how long he’s been in ministry, and how worship has shaped his faith journey. From there, the discussio...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Protect the Altar , we sit down with Corey Howells for an honest conversation about what it really looks like to guard a tender heart in ministry . After years of serving, leading, and carrying responsibility, it’s easy for passion to turn into pressure and tenderness to harden into survival. Corey shares wisdom, stories, and practical insight on staying spiritu...

Send us Fan Mail Finding Your Place on Your Worship Team 🎶 What does it look like to truly find your place on a worship team—especially when the journey includes uncertainty, tension, and growth? In this episode, Deborah Hong, Nathan Carey, and Kyle Power have an honest conversation about navigating the ups and downs of serving on a worship team. From seasons of feeling overlooked to learning how...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Protect the Altar , Deborah & Tim have an honest conversation about fighting the desire for fame in worship . In a culture that constantly elevates platforms, numbers, and visibility, even worship can slowly drift from devotion to performance. We talk about how the spirit of this age subtly creeps into worship culture—and how worship leaders, musicians, and...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Protect The Altar, we dive into the heart of building a healthy, honoring songwriting community within the local church. We talk about why songwriting is not just a creative outlet, but a vital part of church life—shaping theology, discipling believers, and giving the congregation a language to sing their faith. We discuss: Why songwriting matters for the church...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Protect The Altar Podcast , we dive into a powerful and often misunderstood topic: how to gain spiritual authority . True authority isn’t self-appointed—it’s formed. We unpack how submission , faithfulness , and consistent time with the Lord in prayer are essential pathways God uses to shape leaders who carry weight in the spirit. Whether you serve on a wors...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Protect the Altar Podcast, we dive deep into the difference between covenant relationships and transactional relationships in ministry. So much of today’s ministry culture is built on usefulness, platforms, and outcomes—but God’s design has always been rooted in covenant: relationships marked by commitment, sacrifice, faithfulness, and shared responsibility...

Send us Fan Mail Overcoming Pride | Protect the Altar Podcast Pride is one of the most subtle—and dangerous—traps the enemy uses against the worshippers of God. In this episode of Protect the Altar , we have an honest and pastoral conversation about how pride creeps into worship ministry, how it disguises itself, and how it ultimately threatens the purity of the altar. We talk about: The most comm...