When I was a senior in high school, I was president of the Youth Council at my church. One Sunday each spring, the Youth Council completely took over the two Sunday morning services at my church, filling every role from choir director to youth minister to pastor, and everything in between.

As president, my role in the service was the sermon, and I was ready. This was the church I had grown up in, and I recognized every face in the audience. They were family to me, and I was family to them.

I wasn't nervous at all..until I stepped up to the podium. The enormity of the situation, as a 17-year-old, hit me. I remember thinking, "This is where the word of God is preached, by a very able pastor. What in the world am I doing up here?"

My family and I watched the service on local television the following week. When the expression on my face changed as I stepped up to speak, my family thought I was nervous about speaking to an audience. I knew that it actually was because I realized what significance that podium held. It was an enormous responsibility, to be behind the years-old wooden furniture that had served in the ministry to countless people over the life of my church.

My pastor left our church a few years later to start a community church, one much more casual. My family followed him. His pulpit changed with his ministry, to a gleaming glass podium, but the significance was the same. The new podium reflected a new ministry, as did the new seating, music and overall atmosphere of the church.

Pulpit furniture is completely reflective of your church. It's where you communicate your message, your ministry. This month, we focus on some of the podiums and pulpit options available to you.

I'm also proud to introduce a new column to the magazine. A few months ago, we surveyed some of our readers, and one repeated request was for an article that talked about real products being used in real churches. We're always responsive to what you want to read about, and so, with this new information, we decided to launch "The Real Stuff." I hope this column will show you how other churches use certain products and/or services to further their ministries and help you as you continue to further your own.

I'm always interested in hearing from you. You can reach me at jill@religiousproductnews.com .

God Bless,

Jill Pinheiro