We are embarking on our 2nd album project (to be launched by 2009).
Calling all Hope Church songwriters to submit your songs for the album! Download the powerpoint slides from the E-resources Box for details and song criteria.
Shortlisted songs will be announced by October 2009.
Contact Fenny at hopesongwriters@gmail.com for any further queries.
During my preparation for leading worship on 30 Nov (message was on Martha’s response to Lazarus’ death in the book of John), I sensed God wanted to do something special in the lives of the people. It was going to be something birthed out of faith. The words God gave me were “God saves.” I came across a song, Hosanna, by Paul Baloche in his Album “A Greater Song.” I looked up the internet for the meaning of hosanna as I had forgotten. It is the Hebrew word used an exclamation meaning “save, we pray.” With that I started to choose my songs around this theme. The final selection of songs were Hosanna, Overtaken (CFNI), and The Time Has Come (Hillsong) for praise and With All I Am (Hillsong), Here I Am To Worship (Tim Hughes), Call (Hillsong).
As I gathered the team for our first practice, I asked the team whether they knew the meaning of “hosanna.” Most made a guess. Finally, someone came up with the right answer. I invited someone to share their salvation story. After which I through it open to the floor for someone to share a life story of how God had saved them. The stage sound team member then shared how his experience of God saving him a new believer while he was driving on the road after a late night out on the town. It was wonderful to hear real stories of how we had experienced God’s saving power firsthand. I led the people to pray over the seats in Nexus for God’s saving power to touch both pre believers and believers; after which we practiced the songs.
During the first service, I asked the congregation whether they knew the meaning of hosanna, before leading them to repeatedly declare it as an intro to our first praise song. Things went fairly smoothly. After free worship, I shared the gospel message but stopped short of inviting people to respond as I felt the atmosphere of faith was not really there. During second service, things went fairly smoothly again, though we did forget some lyrics here and there. However, I sensed the timing was right to invite the people to respond after sharing the gospel message. After 15 seconds or so, a hand went up in the back of the auditorium. To see that hand going up brought a mixed feeling, joy and at the same time being humbled that God had answered our prayers.
I later spoke with the person beside him and this person had been attending church for some time but never had been responsive when it came to making a first time decision for Christ. That day, was his day of salvation. Hallelujah!
I want to encourage you as well as our other lead worshippers two things:
1) The power of God comes when we align our theme with the Word of God
2) Praying together not only for ourselves but for God’s people to meet Him is so crucial to see God work in worship.
