Converting a secular song to gospel

[imani.keys]

One of my leaders wants to do a gospel version of "All I Do" by Stevie Wonder.  I want to give him creative license, but his prep skills leave much to be desired.  I predict the most he's going to do to the song is change 'girl' to 'Lord'.  I am having a difficult time converting the song myself without changing it all together. 

I know he really wants to do this song and but so far his ideas have been shot down for one reason or another.  I don't want to discourage him, and he gets really defensive when I try to tell him what he needs to do.  :-/

What should do?

[kodacolor]

First of all, do you even want to do the song?

I'm not sure how to approach this but I really feel that this song needs to be left alone.  Not every unoffensive secular song should be converted into a gospel song.  There has to be over 100,000 already made gospel songs between gospel and CCM for you guys to choose from rather than to convert this song.

IMO, when you tell him you can't do the song be sure to highlight the good things about him.  Stroke his ego a bit.  No matter how you do this it's gonna hurt.

[momuzik]

...I predict the most he's going to do to the song is change 'girl' to 'Lord'....size]

Just see what he comes up with.

...I am having a difficult time converting the song myself without changing it all together...

Well...change it altogether.

...so far his ideas have been shot down for one reason or another.  I don't want to discourage him, and he gets really defensive when I try to tell him what he needs to do.  :-/...

Truth be told, you have to look at the ministry as a whole, not just him and his feelings. He'll be okay.

First of all, do you even want to do the song?...Not every unoffensive secular song should be converted into a gospel song...

You can also try redoing an old hymn.