Praise Band Review - Christian Praise & Worship

Let's talk praise.  Let's talk worship.  Let's talk Maranatha Chapel Praise and Worship.  If you are looking for diversity in your praise music, Maranatha Chapel in San Diego is the place to get it.  With different types of praise and worship music available at this church, you can't lose.  Maranatha's Sunday worship team has a traditional to soft contemporary sound that is well defined in their new CD "Offerings of praise".  For those who like a more edgy contemporary sound, Maranatha's Wednesday night worship team has what you're looking for.  And if that wasn't enough, they also have established Christian artists come by every Wednesday night for featured performances.  As you can see, Maranatha Chapel covers it's bases regarding praise music.  The church is located at 10752 Coastwood Road, San Diego, California 92127.  Sunday service times are 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. with Pastor Ray Bentley.  To learn more, visit their website at www.maranathachapel.org.

Interview

This interview features Maranatha Chapel's Worship Pastor, John Wickham.  Pastor Wickham has a lot of experience with church worship.  He has worked with many churches, praise bands and Christian artists over the years and has some good advice for other worship leaders.

PR: How long have you been the worship leader at Maranatha Chapel?

John: Well, let's see.  I came down here in '96.  So it's been about 6 1/2 years, almost 7.

PR: How many members in the worship team?

John: For the weekend worship team there's around 25 that are active.  That's not counting those who are on stand by.  Wednesday night it's a different group.  So, it's in addition to that.

PR: How would you categorize Maranatha's praise music?

John: We get our music from a lot of different sources.  As far as the weekends go, it's contemporary.  Wednesday night is contemporary but with an edge.  Wednesday night is more like passion kind of stuff.

PR: Maranatha has a large congregation.  Are there any issues that you run into keeping everybody focused during worship and preparing hearts for Pastor Bentley's message?

John: Gosh, I think that's on going.  I think generally on Sunday mornings you're always going to have people...I think it's fair to say they're like a mixed multitude.  I would like to think the majority are, but I think there are many people who aren't even believers.  I remember years ago Pastor Chuck (Smith) giving a message to musicians and one of his first points was that you have to totally trust God for fruits in ministry.  I know it's the work of His Spirit that's going to do it.  So, I don't mind when people clap (as in applaud), but it's really not an indicator of anything spiritual going on.  It may be.  It may not be.  It just isn't by itself.  Anything of eternal value is the work of His Spirit, and that's what we pray for.  Anything else is just noise.

PR: Are there any tips you can give to other worship leaders in regards to renewing worship in their church?

John: Well, there's a number of little practical things.

1) First off, don't do things in too high of keys.  It's discouraging and it's hard for people to sing out.  They don't really want to sing solos and be heard by their neighbor.  I think that's important.

2) I think new songs are important.  If they're really wordy, it's okay once in a while because they could be really uplifting if it's the right song.  Like a band oriented song.  There's some really good songs out there like that.

3) I think leaning more towards doing songs that are a little bit more familiar.  Somebody said 'It's like an old pair of shoes that you really like.'

4) And, I think just having them do things different like joining hands and having them pray, or pray for the person on their left or their right.  Just not having a set, 'This is how we do it all the time.'  There's a saying, 'The bigger the machine, the slower it moves.'  When you get a big worship team sometimes that's hard to do, to be flexible.

It has to come from whoever the worship leader is, have that be their primary goal.  To really have people come before Jesus.  Not to just have a band.  

PR: Great advice Pastor Wickham and thank you for letting Praise Report be a part of Maranatha's praise and worship.  May God Bless you and produce an abundance of fruit from the ministry He has given you.