[Worship] What A Blessing!

["Dee Schaefer" <deecatw@angelfire.com>]

Hi everyone!  This is my first time to write.  I just joined this group a couple of days ago and already you have made an impact with me.

I am so thankful that I happened to come across this group.  I was doing an internet search for worship leader resources and that is how I found you!   Time after time - over the past year - God has led me in the direction He has wanted me to go.  What's so wonderful is that I finally really stopped to listen to what He had to say!  It's taken me a long time but He has a plan and I am doing my best to follow His plan.  I just had to share my life-changing experience with you.

He planted a seed with me one year ago - about a little mission church that was starting in the area.  At the time I was worship leader in another church and just wasn't listening to Him.  But what patience He has!  He kept nudging me and planting other seeds - finally I think He had to give me a big shout so that I would take notice.  This mission church was in desperate need of a music leader and piano player.  After receiving several phone calls from the minister, I finally returned his call.  I just knew there wasn't any way I could handle two churches at once.  But after about an hour long phone call, I said I would help through the summer.  

What turmoil I was going through.  God kept telling me that He had a need for me to go to this new mission church - He had placed a vision with Pastor Brian and the vision was most definitely in active mode.  But I couldn't understand why I would want to drive 25 miles from home rather than the one mile drive I currently had.  Why would I want to go through the work of establishing another team - and all that it entails...but God kept saying "I need you to move on."  Plus the feelings of guilt at leaving my current church...in the last two years no one had stepped forward to say they would fill in for me at the piano on any Sunday I needed to be away.  (Thank goodness for my Kurzweil and being able to record the music for an entire service!)  I really had to do some serious praying...

Another huge concern was the fact that my current church was so desperately trying to establish a contemporary service - we had all the necessary things in place - sound system - singers - and members crying for the quenching of their thirst given by this service.  Our newly hired minister was not as supportive of this service as we had thought.  So I was very concerned that my leaving would be because of his lack of support of the service.  I prayed and prayed and prayed.  Finally, God lead me to the answer...I was moving on because it was what He wanted me to do.  And not because of anything occuring at my current church.

Once those decisions were made and were made known to the members involved...I can only begin to relate the overwhelming peace that enveloped me.  I finally knew that I was "called" to my new church - Pointe of Hope.  

What a blessing this church has been to me personally as well to many people in the Kansas City area.  One of the most meaninful events that has come about as a result of my becoming involved in this church is that my husband of 12 years is finally attending worship with me and he is very supportive of the church.  He has even helped greet, hand out bulletins, flyers, etc.  Something he would not do at my former church. And for the very first time in our married life, he and I had communion together.  That was an event that I prayed would happen just once before the day I die...I had just wanted to experience it just once...the Holy Spirit has moved his heart even more than he realizes.  Praise God for all that He has done!  

We held a phone campaign in Oct and dialed over 20,000 households in the KC area...as a result we have almost 1000 names on our mailing list and each week we are seeing new faces at each service.  Christmas eve was a special evening because three different people spoke with Pastor Brian about getting baptised.

We had held weekly Sunday evening worship and had about 50 in attendance on average throughout the summer.  And in September we moved our service to Sunday a.m.  We set a goal of having 125-150 attend our Kick-off Sunday which was Dec 3.  Up to that day, we had only maxed at 80 at any one service.  But God just does not let us down, does He?  On Dec 3, we had 130 chairs filled!!!!  It was fantastic.  

And our worship team has grown and matured.  Each one of us feels that God has specifically led us to this church and His mission.  We've been very blessed.  The only major element we are missing on our team at this point is a bass player.  Once He brings that person in - then our goal is to develop more members so we can have at least two teams which will then allow us to rotate members so we can all worship in the congregation as well as with the team.  It's so exciting to see God's hand working...

We feel as many of you - people are crying for a meaningful worship.  Something that isn't the same week after week.  We must do something to get the lost to know our Lord and in this day and age the traditional service and liturgy isn't meeting their needs.  Please don't misunderstand me when I say that...the traditional service holds a very special place in my heart.  But we must reach these lost people...and I keep praying that those who argue against the contemporary service will begin to open their hearts and understand that we must speak the venacular of the day!   hmmm...I wonder where they plugged in that pipe organ back in Jesus' day!   Psalm 150 is one of my favorite chapters.  It keeps telling me that all instruments are acceptable - as long as we are playing for that audience of One!  It is all for His glory!

I'm sorry this got so long...but I just wanted to share with you all, that I too, have experienced what you experienced.  With God on our side - who can be against us?  Pray and let God direct your actions and your responses...

I will keep you all in my prayers.  And I look forward to reading your e-mails and sharing with you.  God has blessed us with a great gift and what a blessing it is to be able to use this gift to His glory.

God bless you all....In Christian love, DeeDee  


Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com

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