Hi folks,
For anyone who's been following our attempts at FREE, Saturday night local non-denominational worship concerts: It went well, I think. We feel we are making real inroads, but it's a slow, hard slog.
Good points
Lots of teens came, many of whom we think have never darkened the door of a church. People there from almost every church in town. Word is spreading about the quality of the music and the value of the concerts, even if the ministers don't approve or whatever.
People brought friends. Jamie invited 3 colleagues from work, who are not Christians, who CAME with their wives. And STAYED to the end, coming up and shaking his hand afterwards. He knows that when people from work see the passion we put into Christian music, it's an opportunity for great conversations about God later down the road.
The 17 yo guitarist who plays with us gave his testimony which was POWERFUL! (Future preacher, I reckon.)
3 non-christian kids came who Jack had invited from his home-ed Drama class . They seemed impressed by the 'loudness' and 'coolness' of the music. Great potential for future conversations with them, about Jesus, for Jack .
One of our singers sang a solo of Casting Crowns 'Set Me Free' which I think was the highlight of the whole night.
Grace's duet went very well. She was more in control of her voice this time.
The Igniter Video, 'Sunday's Comin' went down VERY well.
We got enough help to clear up and pack out before the site manager came to lockup this time! Phew!
I got to be in the audience and sing and worship next to Windy!{g}
Bad points
Some ministers still not advertising the concerts in their church newsletters.
Some of the musicians and regulars not really using the potential of these concerts and inviting enough people. I think they are afraid of being pushy.
The equipment we are borrowing is not good enough for our purposes. Very loud at the front whilst not being loud enough at the back.
Lots of last minute organisational details going wrong so Jamie and I were highly stressed the day of the concert. We could use an administrator or something.
None of Grace's invitees came. She was disappointed.
Drummer had double booked himself, having played all day at a music festival and so, by the end of the night, he was pretty exhausted!
We're out of money! So no more events until God prompts people to make donations.
Thanks for your prayers, folks!
Here's the set list so you can see what kind of stuff we're doing.
Give Thanks to the Lord (Forever) Chris Tomlin
Yesterday, Today and Forever Vicky Beeching
Happy Day Tim Hughes
Let my Life-Song Sing To You Casting Crowns
When I Was Lost (There is a New Song) Kate Simmonds
When I call on your name you answer Ben Cantalon
Oh Blessed Lamb Once Slain Ben Fielding/Hillsong
East to West Casting Crowns
Set me Free Casting Crowns (Solo)
Testimonies
I Belong to you (Duet)
Sunday's Comin' (Igniter Video)
I Looked Up Martha Butler
Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) John Newton/Chris Tomlin
Unfailing Love Nigel Briggs
Jesus My King (Wonderful Saviour)
Great Are You Lord Chris Tomlin
Your Mercy Taught Us How to Dance Matt Redman
Living to Make Your Name High Hillsong
Dance, Dance, Everybody Dance Tim Hughes
And um, there was a little something at the end which I may not speak of in public. Email me if you are really THAT curious! {vbg}
For anyone who's been following our attempts at FREE, Saturday night local non-denominational worship concerts: It went well, I think. We feel we are making real inroads, but it's a slow, hard slog.
Good points
Lots of teens came, many of whom we think have never darkened the door of a church. People there from almost every church in town. Word is spreading about the quality of the music and the value of the concerts, even if the ministers don't approve or whatever.
People brought friends. Jamie invited 3 colleagues from work, who are not Christians, who CAME with their wives. And STAYED to the end, coming up and shaking his hand afterwards. He knows that when people from work see the passion we put into Christian music, it's an opportunity for great conversations about God later down the road.
The 17 yo guitarist who plays with us gave his testimony which was POWERFUL! (Future preacher, I reckon.)
3 non-christian kids came who Jack had invited from his home-ed Drama class . They seemed impressed by the 'loudness' and 'coolness' of the music. Great potential for future conversations with them, about Jesus, for Jack .
One of our singers sang a solo of Casting Crowns 'Set Me Free' which I think was the highlight of the whole night.
Grace's duet went very well. She was more in control of her voice this time.
The Igniter Video, 'Sunday's Comin' went down VERY well.
We got enough help to clear up and pack out before the site manager came to lockup this time! Phew!
I got to be in the audience and sing and worship next to Windy!{g}
Bad points
Some ministers still not advertising the concerts in their church newsletters.
Some of the musicians and regulars not really using the potential of these concerts and inviting enough people. I think they are afraid of being pushy.
The equipment we are borrowing is not good enough for our purposes. Very loud at the front whilst not being loud enough at the back.
Lots of last minute organisational details going wrong so Jamie and I were highly stressed the day of the concert. We could use an administrator or something.
None of Grace's invitees came. She was disappointed.
Drummer had double booked himself, having played all day at a music festival and so, by the end of the night, he was pretty exhausted!
We're out of money! So no more events until God prompts people to make donations.
Thanks for your prayers, folks!
Here's the set list so you can see what kind of stuff we're doing.
Give Thanks to the Lord (Forever) Chris Tomlin
Yesterday, Today and Forever Vicky Beeching
Happy Day Tim Hughes
Let my Life-Song Sing To You Casting Crowns
When I Was Lost (There is a New Song) Kate Simmonds
When I call on your name you answer Ben Cantalon
Oh Blessed Lamb Once Slain Ben Fielding/Hillsong
East to West Casting Crowns
Set me Free Casting Crowns (Solo)
Testimonies
I Belong to you (Duet)
Sunday's Comin' (Igniter Video)
I Looked Up Martha Butler
Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) John Newton/Chris Tomlin
Unfailing Love Nigel Briggs
Jesus My King (Wonderful Saviour)
Great Are You Lord Chris Tomlin
Your Mercy Taught Us How to Dance Matt Redman
Living to Make Your Name High Hillsong
Dance, Dance, Everybody Dance Tim Hughes
And um, there was a little something at the end which I may not speak of in public. Email me if you are really THAT curious! {vbg}
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14 comments:
Sounds like an awesome evening with a great line-up of songs - word will spread, mark my words, and more will come.
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
- Matthew 21:22
We will be praying for you!
What a great night - glad that it went well, am thankful for the loaned equipment and hopeful for donations and future events.
Glad to hear it went well Dorothy.
Of course we're that curious.
I love the logo; I just noticed SON in songs..
Oh, I love those Casting Crow songs! I would think that would bring in a lot of young people. Put a little metal into it, and it's a go. ;)
So glad it went well, wish we could have been there, it's now high on our to do list ... so we'll be praying you get the money to do more.
We're just now talking about what on earth to do for our two, as they get older .. our church has no other youth at all ... we're thinking the local CofE youth group might be the best answer .....
What you need is a bit of viral marketing ..... hmmmmmm ......
Hi, Dorothy. Jackie posted and "introduced" me to you over at Hedgrow Ways.
What an interesting ministry you're developing! Our family tends more to gospel bluegrass and four-part a cappella, but we're trying to make our way around to some really tiny rural churches here in Canada and encourage them with music. We were to a tiny native church yesterday, and the only people there were the preacher (not a minister but a local truck driver who felt the call of God to share the Word), his wife, and one old native man. The preacher was very discouraged, but God picked that day to send us, and we were able to encourage with songs.
So always keep singing. Your joy is so different from what the world knows, and sometimes you won't even know it but that'll be the only hopeful thing some of these folks have heard in a long time.
It sounds like this has come a long way from your first efforts. I am sure that doors will keep opening for you.
Another awesome lineup, Dorothy! I'd love to live close enough to attend!
Praying for the future of your budding ministry.
Good that it went well. Don't know how you kept up this busy pace while you were all ill but I'm glad tpo hear concert, drama, etc all came off well.
Wow, Dorothy, this is just awesome!
Be bold here -- how much does a concert cost? We're blessed by how you share your heart and burdens and praises and prayers!
In Christ-
Scotty, for all the Nowlins
Scotty, each concert costs about £250 for hall and equipment hire, printing for advertising and refreshments. Though the refreshments usually come out of our family's hospitality budget.{g} We also recently paid for a year's CCLI licence which gives us the legal right to peform the songs.
The Youth Workshop cost only about £50 to put on. We also have plans for a Battle of the Bands type event to showcase and encourage young Christian worship musicians but that will wait until we have more funds.
We can't charge admission for our events because then our CCLI licence would be far more expensive. (But in any case, we don't want cost to be a factor for people to have to consider at all!)So we ask people to bring a food item for the town's Food Bank instead. It's good to be able to bless the Food Bank with a big donation of food the week after a concert!
So, that's our situation. It's been very hard asking for donations locally, though we have done, and they've been slow to come in, because, I think, people feel guilty giving to something like this when there are so many other more important causes to give to, especially abroad. I think it's hard for locals to see this as 'mission'.
Jamie and I have lots of ideas of things we could do if the funds were there, that no one else is doing in North Oxfordshire. I guess God will let us know if He wants them done, in part, by whether the funds become available.{g}
Thanks for prompting me to write all that out, Scotty. I hope you guys are all well and happy!
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