Music Ministry Launches on High Note

The quality of singing in the services of the Kingston Church of Christ has soared to new ‘highs’ of excellence, following the launch of the newly-formed Jamaican Music Ministry’s workshop series. The improvements were apparent from the day after.

“I saw a definite determination on the part of the [singers and sound technicians] to put what they had learnt into practice,” says Russell Pierre, head of the Music Ministry. “The aim was to raise the standards of excellence in singing and song leading in the church. It encompassed singers and key support people such as the sound technicians.” 

The success of the workshop has struck a pleasant chord for the Kingston Church of Christ (KCOC)’s Music Ministry as it was its first formal project since its inception. The ministry’s work is organized by the KCOC’s Music Ministry Committee, Pierre’s brainchild. 

“For almost two years, [head of the Jamaica Arts and Music Ministry, Evangelist Brian Santos] has been telling me that I needed to duplicate myself,’ explains Pierre, known for his energetic yet powerful performances and song leadership. “I took it to mean that I needed to disseminate to another individual the convictions I have about the singing.” 

So he gathered a group of disciples, each known for his or her talent, skills, leadership ability and strong biblical convictions to form the Music Ministry Committee. Its goal was to develop and improve the Jamaican ministry, extending it eventually to encompass the entire Caribbean. The committee would seek to create a performing group that could ‘be anything, do anything and go anywhere’ for God. 

The workshop was the start of that effort, drawing together all the singers and sound technicians from the ten churches meeting across Jamaica, in an intense, all-day theory and practical sessions on everything relating to their singing- from developing the heart of a song leader to keeping the voice toned for singing to dressing for positive impact.  The presenters included Evangelist Brian Santos, head of the Jamaica Folk Singers, Noel Dexter; Broadcaster Gerry McDaniel (a disciple in the Kingston Church) and Vincent Chin Pen, regarded as one of the island’s best sound engineers. 

It all paid off. “A number of people have been coming up to me saying it was excellent!” notes an enthused Pierre. “Based on the responses, we are going to have more workshops.” 

Plans are now in place to start a performing group for ‘outside’ engagements, for additional training sessions specifically for song leaders as well as to develop a curriculum for singers in the church, to document the history of the Music Ministry in Jamaica and to start a quarterly newsletter. It appears that the KCOC’s newest ministry is already reaching for the skies!