| I had the Katy Perry hit “Dark Horse” stuck in my head for days after listening to the song on repeat while editing an article years ago about the beat-stealing lawsuit brought against her by Christian rapper Flame. Last week’s earworm was far less annoying and came after editing our recent feature on “The Blessing,” the Kari Jobe worship song that inspired more than 100 virtual choirs around the world. The song is already familiar and repetitive, and I kept clicking through the international compilations belted out by worship singers from all over, recorded in their own little squares. It’s a beautiful song, and scrolling through versions spanning communities and languages across the globe, I couldn’t help but imagine the biblical scene of the people of God joining in song in the New Creation. Glenn Packiam, author of Worship and the World to Come, wrote about the impulse for us to sing during the pandemic (and any time that hope seems lost). “What do we do without physical touch and social interaction? We sing. … Singing makes us feel better. Science, as it turns out, agrees.” When it comes to “The Blessing” videos, this particular expression of worship wouldn’t have happened without the coronavirus shutdowns. Worship music experts say Christian hits, though they have lots of staying power once popular (think of recent smashes like “Oceans” and “Reckless Love”), often take a while to gain popularity. They trickle from radio play, to worship musicians learning and rehearsing, to being incorporated into Sunday services. As CT reported, “Way Maker,” a recent hit in the US, was actually first recorded five years ago in Nigeria. But “The Blessing” skipped those typical steps. The viral “virtual choir” trend took off, with singers quickly learning the song and recording themselves mostly from their homes. It’s brought together Christians within cities and countries to collaborate and inspired worshipers across borders. Similarly, we see technology and the involvement of local talent accelerating the work of the church in another field: Bible translation. As Morgan Lee reported for the current issue of CT, “technology sped things up and empowered those who were impatient for the Bible.” And I also see it the very ministry of CT as well. This year, we have dramatically expanded our translations, with articles available in up to 10 languages. Our non-English readership has tripled, and it has been a joy and answered prayer to see CT serve the global church in this way. As we continue to grow, shift, and improve our offerings, there are going to be some changes to this very newsletter. I’m signing off from my weekly reflections, though I’ll still be around in my role editing and reporting online news, including covering women’s faithful contributions the body of Christ. That calling hasn’t diminished, and neither has CT’s commitment to spotlighting women as writers, leaders, thinkers, and ministers of the gospel. Starting next week, writer Melissa Zaldivar will be here to share with you. I'm excited for you to meet her. Thank you to the many faithful subscribers—women and men—who have offered their feedback, prayers, corrections, and encouragement over the years. It has been a blessing to have my words land in your inbox each week! Kate | 