Every recording artist and actor I’ve met increases the size of their entourage to match their increased fame. This is partially due to the demands put on their lives and the need to keep up with their heavy schedules – Not to mention the help needed to manage the internal pressures that drive their desire for a normal life.

Adding a publicist to the entourage is most talent’s number one choice due to the media demands put on their life. Since social networking has grown, some publicists manage double duty, while other talent hires a specialist that does nothing but social networking. Our visual society next demands that wardrobe, hair and makeup experts join the team. Even physical fitness instructors and chefs have been added to some teams. And, of course, the big burly security guards.

But there is on chair left empty in most stars’ entourages including Amy Winehouse’s – The pastor, rabbi or spiritual counselor.

We all know that rock stars and actors go off the deep end from time to time as the pressures of their fantasy world tears them apart. We also know that our spiritual leaders help us to keep a healthy perspective on life that encourages right choices and balanced living. So, why don’t entourages include a pastor?

Sales are generated based on publicity and most publicists can lift their talent above the noise of the competition with sensuality and controversy. The tabloids were filled with Winehouse’s addictions, provocative clothing, battles with bulimia, acts of theft, and other outrageous rock and roll type behaviors – Instantly catapulting her to the forefront of people’s minds and the top of the charts.

But, at what cost?

Winehouse seemed to have someone looking out for her physical, mental, and emotional needs, but what about her spiritual needs?

What would have happened if she had a pastor in her entourage? Would he have helped to bring balance to her life? And if so, would she have lost the edge that the press hungered for? Would she have slipped into oblivion and just been a great singer in some side street pub?

I sometimes wonder if the reason’s pastors are not a part of the entertainment world is due to the health and balance they help bring to the talent – Making them normal and not newsworthy. I can’t even imagine a studio or recording company wanting to keep their talent balanced when every controversy shoots sales higher into the top charts. Then again, maybe it’s not about the studios, but rather pastors wanting to avoid sensuality and controversy in order to maintain their holy or righteous appearance.

Unfortunately, Winehouse needed that balance to maintain a longer life, but did not have it. Oh, she may have visited her rabbi from time to time, but no one ever reported her having one in her entourage. In fact, regardless of her looks and the Star of David necklace she sometimes wore, few knew she was Jewish – Although everyone was confident she was a Brit.

I’ve watched a lot of Christian filmmakers and actors slip into a backslidden condition when they emerged into the spotlight. The funny thing, none of them had a pastor in their entourage either. In fact, the most successful ones were trying to carefully balance between a Christian life and a media life without any form of safety net or support group.

Why is it that Christians in the media think they are above falling prey to success?

My pastor in my home church is very successful and surrounded by deacons who watch over him. Billy Graham always had someone with him when speaking with a woman. As for me, I’d love to have an entourage like the guys I bunked with in Ireland. We were open and honest about our struggles and successes, keeping each one of us in line through sincere accountability with no judgment of our failures.

So, if you know a pastor who feels led to join an entourage, encourage him or her to do so and let’s see what happens when the entertainer becomes a quality role model. In the meantime, pray for the Winehouse family and the pain they’ve endured.

Copyright © 2011 By CJ Powers

I was asked to begin praying for the trip to Ireland a month before we left. Not only did I take the request seriously, but I also asked others to pray with me for clarity in my role during the trip. My prayers extended to seeking God for my personal life.

God put a call on my life to touch people’s lives through media in a way that helps them apply kingdom principles in a practical way within their every day life. However, I’ve needed clarity for some time in understanding what venue I was to use in order to fulfill this calling.

Was I to be a pastor/evangelist/missionary who uses media to reach the hurting? Or, was I to be a filmmaker who revealed Godly principles within my stories? Either way seems to accomplish the same goal, but both come about in very different ways. The only thing I knew for certain was my God given calling.

This lack of clarity was brought about by the rules within the denomination I served and the church I attend. My church empowered me to minister as a teacher and co-leader within the encouragement ministry, partially fulfilling my calling and allowing me to touch a thousand plus people one on one over the past 5-6 years.

My denomination on the other hand states that divorced people can’t be pastors. Not that I need to be a pastor to fulfill God’s calling in my life, but many people I’ve touched have recommended I lead a church. Of course, my denomination does allow evangelists and short-term missionaries to be divorced, so you can understand some of the confusion I’ve experienced.

It unfortunately comes down to the interpretation of one particular scripture verse blended with another. And yes, various translations do increase the argument. However, if you pull back a step and realize that the Apostle Paul killed Christians before he got his calling from God, you do have to consider why divorce seems to be a deterrent.

In the meantime, the passion burning within my soul to help others understand how to apply the Bible to their everyday life continues to grow in intensity. I’m compelled to help people understand the difference between having a relationship with God versus living out the rules of religion. I’m driven to empower others to find the free gift God has for them and to understand his plan for their lives – making a difference in their community by sharing grace, mercy and love.

I have to bring hope to others.

In preparation for Ireland, I sensed that God wanted me to speak. I didn’t know what that looked like or how it would play out, but I prepared for it. Once in Ireland, I was asked to join a small team to visit those in the local Teen Challenge program who were fighting to get off of various addictions and I knew in that moment I would be speaking.

Marty was in charge of the small group and asked two of us men to speak. Pete went first and shared some stirring comments that touched the men’s hearts. It was then that I realized what I had prepared wasn’t going to work. As I frantically debated within my mind if I should pass on speaking or attempt to share something different, Marty introduced me and I found myself standing in front of the men with a blank mind.

God made a promise to me in the Bible that he would give me the words I needed in the hour I needed it, so I trusted him and began to speak. I told the men that I was not able to share like Pete had, but I told them I was capable of telling a story and asked their permission to do so. Their response was unanimous so I started in.

By the climax of my talk, I saw the light bulbs going on. They understood God’s message. And I was thrilled to have been used by him to share. I saw that five of the men were in tears and I heard one shout out words of excitement based on how he was touched. It was clear that God used me as a vessel to deeply touch the men.

I was in a moment that confirmed my calling and the venue wasn’t media, but a rustic lodge. Later that afternoon I shot footage for the documentary that touch my heart and the heart of others standing by listening. Again, my calling was confirmed, but this time associated with the media.

My expectation for answers in Ireland wasn’t directly met, but God’s calling was confirmed.

Toward the end of our time in Ireland, I chatted with a woman who was upset that she hadn’t seen God move in a specific way. She had prayed for weeks with the expectation that she would see God move in her life, but all she saw were several people experiencing God’s miracles. She was happy for them, but nagging within the back of her mind was her unanswered prayer.

I was amazed to hear her share story after story of the miracles she watched unfold in the lives of others. I had to ask her what she prayed prior to the trip. She said, “That God would open my eyes to see his hand at work.” I started laughing. Here she was waiting for God to do something special in her life and she hadn’t realized that he was answering her prayer time and time again.

To ease her curiosity of why I was laughing, I helped her to see how God had blessed her by opening her eyes to see his hand at work in numerous lives. As best as I could tell, she was the only one on the trip with such a vantage point. When the realization hit her, she broke out laughing with tears of joy welling within her eyes. God had answered her prayer.

But as for me, God only clarified what I already knew. So today, my prayer is for him to open a door for me to enter into the right venue. In the mean time, I’ll just keep on touching the hearts God puts in front of me. I will do my best to encourage each one I meet to develop a personal relationship with the one God that wants them to be filled with peace, joy and love. I will bring hope to the hurting and come along side of those beginning to walk according to kingdom principles.