Steve Angrisano is one of the best musical evangelists in the Church today. A 20-year youth-ministry veteran, his book 'Essential Songs' provides music for 37 of the most popular contemporary Christian songs (melody and text with guitar chords). Familiar from youth event and camp settings, they include hits by Steve, Matt Maher, Jesse Manibusan, and Tom Booth.

All the best call-and-response and hand-gesture songs are here -- 'Trading My Sorrows,' 'Pharaoh, Pharaoh' -- as well as now-classic songs by CCM greats Chris Tomlin, Tim Hughes, and many others.

Steve outlines four distinct stages of a successful event: warm-up, transition, prayer and celebration. He explains each stage in detail in the introduction, then gives additional advice in the performance notes. Songs are organized according to use (e.g., warm-up songs appear within that section).

Writing in a candid, casual style, Steve says there are two things every presenter needs: transparency and craft. Built on personal prayer, transparency is allowing God to speak and work through us. Craft is the skill-set behind leading a group, telling a story and singing a song. Steve gives practical tips for developing both.

Designed for event leaders, the spiral-bound Resource Book features handy section tabs, making it easy to flip to the songs you need, and a dry-erase planning guide for your set list. Event-goers can use the affordable words-only edition to follow along. This handy booklet includes complete lyrics for all 37 songs.

What does a great event look and sound like? Steve's new CD, Live: Songs from the Road, recorded in concert, features 14 tracks from Essential Songs. It's a great illustration of what can happen when you apply these principles.