Create a Unity in the Praise and Worship Team

We have heard many stories that tell about the chaotic practice, devotional dry, a praise and worship team that had a lot of pressure, also this thinking: Musicians with far age  distance will have a different styles, different expectations, different characters, and everything. Is not this all sound like a hardship?

Unity is one of the elements of victory. Imagine a professional sports team try to win a championship while they are angry and hating one another. They will never become the champion.

So if Unity is so important, how do we make it happen? What can you do today to make a difference? There will be no definitive answer, but here are some brief tips that will inspires you!

1. Convey your vision to them!

Convey your vision regularly. People will be interested when there is a vision and targets they need to accomplish, and the end result of this vision!

2. Convey your expectations.

Tell expectations that you want to achieve them, including those new potential. They will strive to achieve your desired expectations.

3. Have fun together!

Laugh with them, have fun! Do not merely talk about service, development, and targets in front. Try to sharing of personal life.

4. Remember to pray before and after exercise.

Prayer is to unite, so make sure you do not miss a part of this one.

5. Listen to the opinions of others!

Do not just focus on your way alone. Still listen to the opinions of others, because they see from a different angle.

6. Ask for their opinion.

You also need to be active to ask their opinion. Thus they will feel involved in the team.

7. Give praise

When your partner do something good, give praise to them. Especially when they are the new potential. It will motivate them to increase their capacity and explore their talent more.

8. Conduct periodic Fellowship

You should encourage your team members to fellowship together. You can invite them to eat together, watch a music concert, or just hang out and chat.

9. Sharing the Word of God.

You can also invite your team to share the Word of God and mutually reinforcing.

Those are some few tips to create a unity in the praise and worship team. You can try to apply those tips to your own praise and worship team in your church. Hope it help. God bless you :)

Journey to Become a Drummer

To be a drummer is one of my dream, When I was a little boy, I see a drummer on my church and I think that he is awesome. I said to myself that one day I should be a drummer. Few years had passed and there is no opportunity or me, even just to touch a the drum. I has forget my childhood dream to become a drummer. However, God has a different plan for me. In 2005, my church open a regeneration program for the musician and I join it, but I join with the guitarist's group. I join it for few weeks, but I didn't feel good in playing guitar because my fingers are still too short and I cannot hold the chord well. I was transferred to the drummer's group where for the first time I touch a drum! I learn some basic rhythm to play drum such as 4/4 and 3/4. I also learn some basic sticking skill such as single stroke, double stroke, paradiddle, etc. Finally, I could play some simple songs.

While learning, my teacher recommend me to start my service on Sunday School. If I am not mistaken, it was in 2009 when I start my ministry as a drummer on my Sunday School. I keep playing and stop learning because my teacher should move to Jakarta. However, it was not a big problem for me. With the lessons that I have learned and individual practice everyday, I can keep playing drum. I also hear many songs to learn the arrangement of certain songs. I feel bored with my Sunday School service (although I know that it was not right) and I want to increase my capacity. I desired to serve in the Sunday Service but, I didn't brave enough to nominate myself as a drummer in the Sunday Service. I thought that my skill is still far below the skill of those who already start playing in the Sunday Service. I just buried my desire and try to be faithful with the ministry that God has given to me.

In 2012, I already can be regarded as a senior drummer in my Sunday School. I was appointed to play at the Christmas Celebration of my Sunday School. Fortuitously, the arranger was one of the pianist that play in Sunday Service. At that time, I didn't think anything. I just think to give out my best. Precisely on March 2013, that pianist call me to serve in Sunday Service. I was very happy, and I directly say yes to his offer, but I try not to leave my ministry in Sunday School. I start again as a junior, because the genre of music that was played in Sunday School and Sunday Service was completely different. I learn much from my seniors.

As the time goes on, I didn't join Sunday School anymore and I trust my ministry to the junior drummer there so there could be a regeneration. I'm focus to my ministry on the Sunday Service. At first, I made many mistakes in my playing, but my seniors always support me and teach me how to play it well. Finally, now, I can play much better than the first time I play it. Until now, I still can't be said perfect, although my seniors can't. We all are still learning to give the best in our ministry.