Hope Chapel Kona
Praise & Worship Ministry
Guidelines

Vision Statement

We desire to encourage and engage the congregation in corporate worship by ushering in God’s Presence and leading the congregation through songs of praise and worship into intimacy with God.

Mission Statement

To redeem the gifts and talents of song and music by cultivating a heart of worship unto God and living a lifestyle that is pleasing onto Him.

Building Big Hearts

Praise and Worship is more a matter of the heart, rather than talent. Both a sinner and a saint can sing Amazing Grace without worshipping. We want to build big hearts and not big singers or musicians.

Big hearted worshippers create an atmosphere of one that points to Christ, and not to the individual singer, musician, or band. We must not allow songs with groans or other sounds that might be interpreted as sexual. We want the focus to be on Christ alone.

Usher, Lead, Protect

We want to usher in the Presence of God by worshipping Him with a pure heart, and living a lifestyle pleasing onto Him. We do not want the light on us to be greater than the light in us. Remember, we serve an audience of One, and not of the people.

We want to engage and lead the congregation into the Presence of God. We want participants to worship, and not just listen. We want people to be excited about God and His goodness, and not how good the song is.

We must be vigilant in protecting the atmosphere. Worship also means listening to God. We must protect the sacredness of the atmosphere by allowing Holy Spirit to speak and touch the hearts of the people without distraction.

What is “Worship”?

Worship is not music and song, rather music and song can help in worship. Worship is an act and attitude of love towards God where hearts are rooted in Holy Spirit and in the revealed truth of God. Worship is a lifestyle, where it is achieved if exercised in both spirit and truth.

Levels of Worship

The Holy Tabernacle during the time of Moses consisted of 3 parts: The outer court, the inner court (Holy Place), and the Most Holy of Holies. We will use this set up to illustrate leading people progressively through levels of worship. The goal is to take people from the outer court into the Most Holy of Holies.

For the sake of simplicity and understanding, we will identify the 3 levels of worship as:
1) Outer Court-PRAISE
2) Inner Court-WORSHIP
3) Most Holy of Holies-INTIMACY

Keep in mind that as a worship team, we must first know where we are going, before we can lead people there. It’s important that we ourselves reflect these levels in our lives on a continual and consistent basis.

Level 1: Outer Court-PRAISE

We incorporate up-scale and up-tempo songs that help lifts the mood. Imagine this level to deal with the physical body of individuals. We create an atmosphere where the congregation can rid themselves of the troubles, worries, and anxiety. At this time the congregation is focused on God, and is provoked to engage in praise with joy, thus bringing their flesh into submission.

Level 2: Inner Court-WORSHIP

This is where the congregation transitions from a focus on God, to a fixation on God. As the previous level dealt with the physical body, this level deals with the soul (mind, will, and emotions). The worshipper begins to look internally as the focus now shifts to their need for God.

We incorporate mid-to-slow tempo songs of worship focused on moving the congregation to respond to God’s love.

Level 3: Most Holy of Holies-INTIMACY

This is also known as the “secret place” where the worshipper transitions from worship to intimacy. The Most Holy of Holies is a place of complete peace, where God speaks to us without distraction. It is a place of great exchange, where God gives beauty for ashes, oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. In this place, God can speak healing, and we receive it because we hear Him.

The worship team must create an atmosphere where there is very little use for words in this place. Intimacy worship songs could have very few words repeated over and over again. At times no words, but very little instruments being played, allowing people to hear from Holy Spirit.

Song selections

Typically, the song selection would be 2 Praise songs, 1 worship song, and 1 intimacy song. (This has been shortened to a max 3 songs due to the shorter services mandated by the state due to covid. This restriction should be lifted soon.) The amount of songs is not as important as properly leading the congregation from the Outer Courts into the Most Holy of Holies. We must choose songs to assist in progressively leading people from Praise, to Worship, to Intimacy.

A note to the Worship Team

There are many important aspects of praise and worship, but the most important one is to make sure you have your own praise and worship time with the LORD. Praise and worship are not limited to just songs; it also includes daily devotions, times of prayer, thanksgiving, and keeping oneself pure before the LORD. Simply put, worship is a lifestyle; therefore, worship does not begin on stage during corporate service. It begins off-stage, where the fruit of the daily disciplines of a life devoted in praising, worshipping, and being intimate with God is revealed on-stage.

Additionally, in partnering with you, HCK will do our very best to recognize the potential in each person who aspires to be part of the worship team. We will do our very best to embrace, strengthen and train you. However, keeping in mind that “desire seldom means readiness.” We may ask and encourage those who aspire to be a team member of the worship team to invest time and finance to sharpen the area of skill and talent from venues outside of the church’s ministry (i.e. instrument training, voice lessons, etc.)

Guidelines to ensure a standard of worship that glorifies God

• Regular attendance and commitment to Hope Chapel Kona and their Worship Team for a probationary period of at least two (2) months.

• Must display a true heart of worship and love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

• Must have the heart and skills that are acceptable to the church leadership and worship team.

• Must be a constant learner by receiving constructive criticism and be willing to adapt to changes.

• Must be prepared in staying focused during rehearsals.

• Must be aware and willing to take on the commitments to worship schedules.

• Must arrive promptly according to call time and be ready, willing and prepared to run through any material as deemed necessary by the worship leader.

• Late arrival for sound check and rehearsals may warrant sitting out for that worship set, unless permitted by the worship leader.

Manner of Dress:

Because we want to present the Kingdom well, a team member’s manner of dress is important. We do not want our manner of dress to be a potential distraction or stumbling block for everyone. We desire that our manner of dress be “tactful and tasteful” in presenting the Gospel. We must wear proper clothing that is modest and discreet and causes no attention to self. Moreover, we must be open to the manner of dress being requested for special occasions.

MEN:

1. Slacks and nice shirt

2. No shirts with worldly and/or offensive slogans and/or pictures

3. No jeans that reveal a lot of skin

WOMEN:

1. Slacks and nice blouse.

2. No short skirts above the knee or tight-fitting blouses (absent of presentable jacket)

3. No spaghetti strap blouses without a presentable jacket or other.

4. No jeans that reveal skin

5. Please wear appropriate undergarments – as stage lighting may affect clothing.

Prerequisites:

1. Member of Hope Chapel Kona

2. “Tithing” member

At the discretion of leadership, we will provide “allowances of grace” to those who are genuine in reaching toward excellence.

Character Auditions:

1. We believe that Godly character must prevail above any desire, talent and skill.

2. We believe that a consistent lifestyle that pleases God is the highest pursuit above talent and skill.

3. We believe that everything we do must be done “HEART FIRST.”

4. We believe that “Serving” on Hope Chapel Kona’s Worship Team is an honor and privilege no matter what capacity of service. Therefore, “setting-up and breaking down” sound equipment is part of the responsibilities one must be willing to assume.