BuffaloChristian.com presents 5 questions with...Benji Cowart
1. What is it that you do? I am a worship leader and essentially I have the responsibility of figuring out what songs and what song order will take someone who walks through the doors of our church (The Chapel at CrossPoint in Getzville) on a journey that goes from where they are (maybe they just had a fight with their spouse on the way to church or just lost their job and are really angry with God, etc.) to encounter God's presence through worship and being ready to respond in obedience to His word and voice as it is presented through the message.
2. How would you describe the spiritual climate around here? Having lived all over the country (Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Las Vegas, Georgia, and now New York), I would say that this is by far the most thriving spiritual climate that I have experienced so far. It's amazing to see changed lives over and over again in response to hearing and receiving the good news of man's opportunity for reconciliation to God through Jesus. It is also amazing to see churches of different denominations working together to make sure that every man, woman, and child has repeated opportunities to hear and see the gospel.
3. What's the best advice you've ever been given, spiritually? I don't know if I can figure out what would be the "best" advice, but I can give you a couple of bits of wisdom that have been passed on to me. One is that we have to be willing to bring everything into the light. the greatest power that sin has over us is in the secret. We were never meant to overcome sin by ourselves; we are called to struggle honestly before other believers...our battle with sin is one that is only won in numbers...another bit of advice, in your "quiet time" make sure that your goal is always to meet with God. Transformation comes from meeting with God whether that comes through His Word, through worship, or through just sitting and knowing that He is there with you.
4. What's good about Buffalo? This is easy-- the greatest thing about Buffalo is the people. I have never lived in a place that is so community-minded. We know our neighbors better here that anywhere else we've lived. Our church consists of some of the greatest people I have ever known and I love the sports culture here (though it is a bit obsessive at times). I hate that Buffalo gets such a bad rap all over the country because I would take all of its negatives just to have the chance to live alongside of its people.
5. What's something you're involved in that might surprise some people? Not sure if I have much going on that would surprise anyone; I talk alot so anyone who knows me knows pretty much everything going on in my life all the time. I am an avid fan of mixed martial arts and I am a below average golfer. I do have a pretty famous brother, Jeremy, who has photographed everyone from Bebo Norman to Britney Spears.