About CSMI
Mission Statement:
Christian Songwriters and Musicians International is a community of songwriters and musicians desiring to network with each other for the purpose of expanding God’s Kingdom. We are here to assist and encourage both songwriters and musicians in all genres of Christian music.
CSMI is committed to protecting the rights of the songwriter, lyricist, artist and musician in the music industry. We are an ever evolving community of songwriter’s and musicians around the country striving to connect people for the purpose of furthering the gifts that God has given them as well as the audience to receive it.
Through education, workshops, recording, performance, and evaluation, we are networking God’s people with the David’s of our generation.
CSMI Network was not only estabished to unite Christian song writers and musicians to each other, but also to network the artists to the listener, and the songwriter to the recording artist.
Whether the venue is a church, conference, festival, or music showcase, we want to serve this network by leading pastors, concert promoters, artists looking for that inspiratioal song to record, to CSMI members with integrity.
With mentorship, advice, instruction, education, and an open heart to serve God with the vessels he's entrusted to us, we will establish a network that will meet the needs of the writer, musician, singer, worship leader, pastor, and promoter.
I believe strongly we are held to a high standard any time we have a visible platform in ministry, whether music or other related arts. In that regard, the trend of Christian record labels being owned and managed many times by secular and non-Christian entities can hinder the growth and development of the artist because they have to answer to non-Christian authority. We are not talking a secular job, but in the element of Christian ministry, Christians should be in leadership and ownership of entities that promote and publish audio and video medium that is called Christian. This has created many roadblocks for serious Christian songwriters and artists who do not want to water down their song or message.
The goal of CSMI is to work together with our members to bring honor and glory to the Lord through the gifts and talents he has given us. In doing so we will strive to keep the love of Christ in our hearts for each other, pray for one another, and ask God to guide us. In Christian music especially the business end the spiritual goals and identities of the organization tend to get buried,overlooked or predicated as not being important. They are crucial to the growth and blessing and testimony of that organization.
We must show moral and spiritual fortitude in defining who we are as a person to project that in our ministry and music. If we have a poor walk with Christ we will have a poor testimony and this will permeate our outreach. Today we see morals and values eroded on every side and this is apparent in Christian circles as well. We require in the CSMI that the members have a decent walk with the Lord,not engaging in sexual immorality or inappropriate behavior. Adultery, homosexuality and or criminal or injudicious behavior will disqualify a member. If you have struggles,shortcomings, or are growing in Christ we welcome you and will help you on your spiritual journey. Please be above reproach and bring honor to the one we sing about.
CSMI Board.
Here is a list of scriptures that discuss the issue of our testimony. You will see that they all point to the idea that we should be trying to live a life without offense toward God and man. The scriptures deal with being blameless not sinless.
Scriptures about being above reproach:
Phil. 1:10.that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
Phil. 2:15. that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world
James 1:27.Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Jude 24.Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
1 Corinthians 1:8.Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 6:14.That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Hebrews 4:14-16.Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Luke 1:6. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
Colossians 1:22,23.In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel,
1 Thessalonians 2:10.Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
1 Thessalonians 5:23.And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 7:28.For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Revelation 14:4, 5.These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Ephesians 1:4.According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Ephesians 5:27.That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
2 Peter 3:14. be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Integrity
We don't want to scare people off by just having rules but we ask that members apply the word of God to their life and use this as their magnifying glass to keep integrity in their life, music, and ministry.
The Lord picked 12 men to be Apostles. You can read the many shortcomings thay had but for the most part Christ picked them, transformed them and used them as his priciple leadership to start the church.
Gene Schmidt Founder
A Short Bio of GENE SCHMIDT
His genre-diverse original music has been heard on an international level and sung in different languages. His acoustic ability complements the numerous melodies he has composed over the last two decades.
In an age when the world is experiencing hardships of epic proportions, Geno’s acoustic folk style with inspiring lyrics bring comfort to hurting and healing hearts. His acoustic songwriting demands a cultivated palette to fully appreciate the burst of diverse flavors at play in his music. Although his style is acoustic based, the arrangements go much deeper, culling from ballad, folk, slapstick country, rock and contemporary.
Over the years he has been petitioned to write theme songs for causes and/or campaigns. His song “Heart To The Homeless” received recognition from President Reagan when Nancy Reagan held a homeless campaign.
Causes close to his heart are Romanian orphans and believers that have been persecuted for their faith. He draws from personal experiences from his international travels as well as aspects that effect our daily living; love, pain, life, death, and the lessons learned in between.
Gene has spent over 20 years with Hand of Help Ministries and over 20 years with the music group Remnant.
He also wrote the anthem The Voice Of The Martyrs and The Martyrs Praise reminding us of Christians around the world suffering for Christ.
