Harp Hunters: The Person, Purpose, and Position of the Minister of Music

(Paperback)

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A call to specialized ministry, like the music ministry, necessitates our understanding of God's initial call on our life. Choir members must be able to see themselves from a biblical perspective. By-Laws will always be subjected to arguments and disagreements. It is not as easy to argue with the Word of God. God requires us to "be" Christians before we can "do" Christian work. He created us "human being", not "human doers", nor "human havers". Every member of the music ministry, whether a choir member, praise team member, or musician, must be taught to see themselves and their function through the lens of the Word of God. Until they understand the truth of their identity, they will continue to equate choir and praise team membership with being the sum of what it means to be a Christian. God is not impressed with our singing and our playing. We don't get extra credit for being in two or three different ministries. We can't earn God's favor by being busy. Though God needs workers, He needs worshippers more. Richard Foster in his iconic book, The Celebration of Discipline" writes: "Service as a substitute for worship is idolatry. Activity is the enemy of adoration." We cannot allow our "doing" to blind us of our "being". Our theological framework should lay a solid foundation on which to grow our people beyond singing a song. Our ministry is an extension of who we are. We cannot separate the preacher from the sermon, nor should we be able to separate the singer from the song.

Author Bio

Eli Wilson, Jr., is a native of New Orleans. He is an ordained Minister of Music with 35 years of full-time experience. He is the founder of Eli Wilson Ministries - A Church Music Educational Leadership Resource Ministry. Eli is an independent solo artist with 10 recordings to his credit. His compositions have been published in 6 hymnbooks, and recorded by Keith Pringle, Babbie Mason, Trinity United Church of Christ, and Ben Hill United Methodist Church. Minister Wilson is the author of "Equipping the Church Choir for Ministry: A Church Music Resource for Musicians and Choir Members.

Eli is a Certified Life Coach with 10 years of experience. He has held the position of Music Director for the Children's Defense Fund's Annual Proctor Institute at Haley Farm for 18 years. He has been the worship leader and a workshop presenter at the Hampton Minister' Conference. He has held music ministry positions at St. Community Baptist Church (East New York Brooklyn), Emmanuel Baptist Church (Clinton Hill/Fort Green Brooklyn), and the New Covenant Baptist Church of Orlando. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Minister Wilson did his undergraduate work at Dillard University - New Orleans - in Vocal Music Education and his post-graduate work at Colgate-Rochester Divinity School and the Eastman School of Music - Rochester, NY - in a combined master's program in Christian Education and Sacred Music. He also holds an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Virginia Seminary and College.

Minister Eli Wilson is committed to the work of Jesus Christ and has dedicated himself to developing church music leaders to work toward developing their full potential for the future of the church music ministry. His mission statement is "Keeping the Word of God Alive through theologically sound, biblically based music."