Torch, Spring 1984

as many as possible to sing a simple, pre– announced song. Encourage each choir mem– ber to bring someone along to choir practice, then check during rehearsal to see how many were successful. i. Ensembles (1) Sixteen singing men's group, male quartet, a double quartet, or one dozen singers. Pick from the adult choir only because some might want to be in special groups only . I try to make the adult choir so special that just to sing in it should be the greatest privilege and thrill . (2) Ladies' ensemble, trio, double or triple trio of women . Having their own outfits will add a touch of class to your music ministry. (3) Mixed ensembles of young married couples and/or college-age. A music practice night for all special groups could help get your specials ready for singing in your services . It could be started with a potluck supper at 6 p.m. Each group then uses the main auditorium for half-hour periods, with another half-hour period in a Sunday school room where they work on parts and memorization led by a member of that group. The music director should work with each group in the main auditorium. Following are some other ideas that help an overall music program. A dynamic song leader is essential in leading the music portions of the services. You need choruses and worship songs expressing love, devotion, and commitment to the Lord . People really do love the Lord and a chorus or song is a beautiful way to express that love. Do not scold your people for not singing; make them want to sing instead. Have the sound man mike the choir as they sing the hymns in unison. Let the audience hear the big sound of the choir singing and they will naturally join in. No one wants to sound like he is the only one singing . If you have a Christian school, make sure your music period or choir practice is scheduled for a time when 100% involvement can be achieved, if desired . Many schools are keeping young people who could learn to sing from being a part of the choir because of poor scheduling. Growing a singing church presupposes you are growing singers. Growing expresses the fact that it won't happen overnight. Set your goals, but be patient. The more your people know music and how to sing it , the more they will be uninhibited to sing out, thus encouraging others standing close by to sing . This will help to produce a singing church! You learn by doing, so work at getting as many involved as possible. Another way to learn is by role models. Invite good musicians to your services for special concerts. Excellence sharpens to create excellence . Your soloists will use these trained singers as role models and will want to deliver their next specials on the same level of excellence and spiritual dedication as they observed in the invited guest. What part should music have in the church service? Traditionally , we have had one-half hour of music and preliminaries and one-half hour of preaching. In the service, it seems we're giving music almost equal time with the preached Word of God . Therefore, let's make sure that music fulfills the reason for its existence in our ministries - that of preparation for the Word of God, as well as a ministry that communicates a message of its own. Christianity is something worth singing about; Christ has put a new song in our hearts . What kinds of music should be used? I think our churches need three basic types of songs. We need one type that addresses itself to the Lord, such as, "How Great Thou Art" or "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty ." Another type is a testimonial song communicating to those in the pew, such as: "I Would Love to Tell You What I Think of Jesus" or "Have You Any Room For Jesus?" There are also songs of commitment, which are neither songs of worship or testimonial, but rather a prayer to the Lord, such as : "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go, Dear Lord" or "Have Thine Own Way , Lord. " These three are types of songs, but what about style? Here is where we need spiritual discernment and a desire for balance. I'm all for some of the new songs being written ; yet, I'm vehemently opposed to the philosophy that we must use the world's idiom in order to keep our youth happy. I can't be comfortable with the rock-and-roll and disco style of contemporary music to convey Christian truth . I think we need different styles of music , but we need to draw the line as to what is proper and what is improper in our churches. I realize this is a volatile issue and needs more than these few sentences to cover the subject . What I want to emphasize, however, is that we need balance with discretion in our choice of music style . How do we build appreciation for great church music? Exposure is the key . Most people who don't really like the classical style of music do love the "Hallelujah Chorus" mainly because they have heard it often. Much exposure equals much appreciation, but it has to be good exposure . It must be done right. Many times we drag out the old hymns until they sound like a funeral dirge. Let's sing them with life, vitality, and understanding , and your people will begin to love the old hymns and request them too. There are reasons why a church is a singing church, and there are methods for molding one . Let's use them and make it happen. Rev. Don Krueger is associate in music at Bethesda Baptist Church in Brownsburg, Indiana. He held similar positions at Blackhawk Baptist Church in Fort Wayne , Indiana, and Emmanuel Baptist in Toledo , Ohio. He studied music under Fred Waring and Norman Luboff and traveled for 10 years as a chalk artist/musician in evangelistic work. 19