Why did you chose to serve in the specific ministry?

Music has always been a part of me, since I was a child. After joining Smyrna International as a quite new christian, I decided to enter the ministry as I felt that the Lord was leading me to serve there.

When do you serve in this ministry?

It varies a lot, but overall it has become a big part of my daily life because it’s so much more than the Sundays. It’s a lot of preparation and work – at home and in church, individually and in the team.

How much preperation do you have to do prior to Sunday?

It’s a lot!!! During the week before a Sunday, I start to think about songs as soon as possible and to be open to what God wants. Sometimes the songs just comes to me easily, sometimes it takes some time and effort to find the right ones.

When I’ve decided songs, I start to prepare for the practice on the Friday with the rest of the team. That involves sending out information to the team and the musicians, finding lyrics, prepare how to sing the songs etc. The more prepared I am the better the practice time flows.

Every Friday we have practice between 5.30 to aproximately 8-9 pm. After practice on Friday, I send out the final songs and the order to the media team.

During the week and before church on Sunday I always try to have a lot of time in prayer and alone-time with God so that He can prepare me.

What time do you have to be at the church building for the Sunday service ministry?

I am there two hours before the service starts, at 1 pm.

What do you have to do before the service starts?

Prepare the stage – Clearing the stage from the morning service, setting up stands, helping the sound team if needed.
Rehearsing – Go through as many songs as possible together, warming up our voices Soundcheck – Of mikes, instruments

Check the program, communicate with the other who leads the meeting Prayer – everyone together and individual preparation if there’s time

What do you enjoy most?

Singing together, worship our wonderful Father and God.

Tell us a tricky time of ministry?

Oh there has been many tricky times but somehow it always, by God’s help, gets fixed. Last time I led worship I found out the night before we didn’t have a sound guy so Yaw, the drummer had to do both. Another time when I arrived at the church, the program was changed and we needed to add two extra songs. Thank God He had already added two extra songs in my head so it became an easy fix.

How did you handle these type of “tricky” moment?

I try not to get stressed – give it to God – and let Him handle it. I also have a team around me and we help each other.

What do you need to remember before you come to serve?

To understand the songs we are singing, what they are saying and how they minister to us. I need to remind myself that what we do is for God and not for people. Try to have as much focus on Him and not the congregation, which is hard sometimes. To be set aside for Him.

Is there an evidence of God’s presence in “your” ministry?

Yes, I believe there is. When it comes to the preparations of a Sunday services I feel God is really helping me and directing me. When we meet on the Fridays I can see how God uses all of us to adjust it, perfect it and put it together in the way He wants it. Sometimes the team comes with testimonies about the songs we sing or sharing words we feel God is saying while we are praying together. While serving we all sense and feel how God is moving, helping and putting the whole service together.

How do you keep a balance between your daily responsibilities and your voluntary service of ministry?
It’s hard because time is always a limit. Sometimes it’s a lot of work and sometimes everything goes very easily. I don’t think I have balance… Jesus is my balance :).

Do you feel fulfilled serving in this ministry?

Yes, very much so. I feel I’m in the right place and where God wants me to be. Leading worship is definitely outside my comfort zone but God always blesses me in a special way after every time. He knows that it’s a sacrifice from my part.

How can the church help in making your service more efficient and effective?

God putting people in the right place in His body always becomes a blessing for everyone and helps us to grow and move forward. At the moment we have a lack of muscians and sound people in the ministry. So if we have people in the church that are able to help with their time and gifts within these areas, that would really help us. If not we would love you to pray for us and the ministry.