The following are essentials for participation in Worship Ministries. They are a guideline for leadership. Please note that some of these essentials deal with those who want to be involved in the music portion of Worship Ministries. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Kevin.
1) You must be committed to Spiritual Growth through Prayer and the Word
"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." John 4:23
Being committed to God's changing power and allowing Him to use you to impact our community is a great adventure. When we are committed to spiritual growth, through prayer and studying the Word of God, we will become all that God desires us to be. As you become more like Christ, the music program, as well as the church, will benefit from your spiritual growth.
2) You must be committed to Praise and Worship
"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth." Psalm 100:1
"Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things..." Psalm 98:1
We are committed to living a lifestyle of praise and worship. "The worship of the sanctuary is meaningless unless it is preceded by six days of worship as a way of life" (How to be an Effective Worship Leader, Kraeuter). Our Sunday morning worship or midweek worship experience should be the by-product of daily disciplines. God is enthroned in our praises (Ps. 22:3). Put simply, praise will bring the presence of God to our midst. When we praise God, He takes residence in our lives. Lifting up our voices in songs of praise and worship to God on a daily basis keeps us in tune with Him and what He wants us to do.
3) Committed to Fellowship
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25
This commitment goes beyond a once a week participation. We strongly encourage those involved in worship ministry at The Neighborhood Church to attend an EXCELERATE Small Group. We also strongly encourage fellowshipping with each other outside of the worship team/ensemble setting. Enjoying the fellowship of one another is fun and encouraging, not to mention a key element of building a cohesive ministry.
4) Committed to Excellence
"24a...No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing..." 2 Samuel 24:18-25
If we wish to offer God a sacrifice of praise, then let us offer Him a spotless sacrifice that has worth. In order to obtain the quality of music we desire (see mission statement) for this sacrifice of praise, it is important for us to strive for excellence. This being the case, it is crucial to set some guidelines to help achieve our musical goal, which is quality. These guidelines are:
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You must be a born again believer.
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You must have attended The Neighborhood Church at least 6 months (some exceptions are made at the discretion of either the senior pastor or Kevin).
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You must attend church on Sundays on a regular basis even when not scheduled for ministry. A weekday service (Small Group, etc.) is strongly suggested.
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You must attend all practices pertaining to your ministry group (unless prearranged), showing common courtesy to the other members of your group by being on time.
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You must support your worship/group leader and band/group members in prayer, in action, and in word.