In the time that I’ve spent with our worship team at Aldrich I’ve come to learn that vastness that’s gospel music.  It’s hard to sometimes put a finger on what KIND of gospel music we’re talking about.

But as I’ve spent more time talking with one particular member of our worship team we’re talked a lot about the history of music with the African American Church, which I believe laid a good foundation for the kind of music that resonates with the team.

At this point, I’ve spent 15 months with our team.  In that time I’ve spent a lot of time listening, during rehearsal, how the African American people on our team sing and interpret songs.  Not that this makes me an expert by any means, but this has also been helpful in writing songs, updating songs, or even trying songs that would resonate with them.

Now we’re still learning from one another as we share CD’s, YouTube Videos, and our hearts over time.

But listen to what I’m saying here.  In order to build a bridge to another through the diverse styles of music and languages that’s represented on your team, congregation, and the Body of Christ…we need to be patient, intentional about listening to one another, intentional about developing those relationships, willing to make mistakes, willing to confess, and willing to forgive.

I know that might seem overwhelming because our minds really want to narrow how we do ministry into one or two things, but it’s much more complex than that.

So, I want to encourage you with this passage of Scripture found in Romans 15:5 about endurance because you, just like I do, need endurance as we continue to answer the call on the Church to worship together:

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.

Blog post by Peter Kihyun Park

© 2012 – 2011, Peter Park. All rights reserved.

Related posts:

1. Heart music and one member of our congregation
2. Using music tracks instead of having live music
3. Why don’t I talk more about music?