Worship Team Application Process

Worship Team Auditions
Questions? Email bannerj@hope.edu

If you are interested in the worship life at Hope or auditioning for the worship team, please consider attending an informational meeting on March 11 at 7:30pm in Room 12 of Dimnent Memorial Chapel. Register here for informational meeting.

I also encourage you to join the discussion if you are in the Gospel Choir, a part of Sacred Dance or Silent Praise, or if you play some other instrument (i.e. music department students). You may have noticed that we've included the use of the Skinner organ some this year. The Chapel Choir and the Women's chorus have been a part of our worship. I've also introduced a few international songs this year.

If you intend to audition for the worship team, please read through the application process document (below). Your application AND reference letters must be turned in together to the Keppel House shortly after Spring Break. Dates for auditions will be announced soon.  Know that we are praying for you and for wise discernment as we recruit new team members.

Unfortunately, we have only two students graduating from the worship team this Spring. That means we have only two spots open. However, I strongly encourage you to attend the informational meeting anyway. I would really love to meet you, know a bit more about your interest and experience.  We do need to keep a good list of drummers, bass players, and piano players on hand.

First, I would simply love to get to know any creative people as well as people interested in growing in worship. Second, in 2012 we will be graduating a HUGE class of seniors and there will be many spots open on the team the fall semester of 2012. Our worship ministry flows out of our relationships, our love for God and each other...so, lets get to know each other and continue praying about the future of our worship music ministry.

Below you will see information about the two positions for the worship team, a vocalist and a guitarist/vocalist. I will also be helping the Gospel Choir recruit a band. I think we may have a piano player, but if you are interested in playing some Gospel music we really need at least a drummer and a bass player. Contact me directly if you are especially interested in playing with the choir.

Female Lead Vocalist: this ideal recruit would be a young woman with a strong lead vocal as well as a solid ability to harmonize and blend vocal tones with other singers. We need someone who has experience singing in front of large groups, has a confident presence and a heart for God.

Guitarist & possible lead vocalist: this ideal recruit is someone (it's been men traditionally, but that doesn't mean that I wouldn't jump at the chance to recruit a woman for this spot) with very strong guitar skills. We need someone who can lead with an acoustic and/or an electric. It would be especially helpful if we could find someone who is also interested and capable of leading songs vocally as well.

Having explained the ideal recruits for these positions, again, I want to emphasize that our ministry is based on relationships. Sometimes we have recruited a person not because they are the most talented player/singer, but because the person possesses the kind of character and maturity that will add to our worship ministry. We strive for excellence in our music craft, but ultimately we are seeking team members who are interested in learning how to trust God with the fruit of our work.

Again, I look forward to meeting more eager students, learning with you and praying with you about how we can continue to grow in our worship.

Peace to you,
Joshua Banner

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Participating in the worship team at Hope is both exciting and demanding. Because of the nature of the chapel ministry at a college campus, team members must possess commitment, responsibility,competent mastery of their instrument and the heart of a worshiper. The application process is intended to be thorough to ensure that students are released with confidence into the use of their gift. Each applicant is required to submit a written application that includes:

• 2-3 letters of recommendation. One of these needs to be from a pastor.
• A typed draft submitting all information requested on the worship team application form with thoughtful answers to the listed essay questions.

Upon review of applications, the Minister of Art and Worship, will request an audition if the applicant’s written application indicates a good fit for the vacant positions on the team. What to expect in the audition:

You should come prepared to lead a song that is familiar to our regular
chapel song rotation and you will also be expected to create a harmony part
for a song that you have never sung before. In some circumstances, if
current team members are available, you will be singing harmonies in two
parts.

Further personal interviews will also be necessary as well.

Worship team members will be expected to:

• Maintain and exemplify the life of a disciple of Christ.
• Regularly participate in some kind of spiritual accountability whether that is in a local church or a small group.
• Maintain their academic course load with integrity.
• Consider the worship team their main extra-curricular activity. Team members are discouraged from participating any other major extra-curricular activities.
• Rehearse and participate in at most two services per week (most likely be one chapel and one Gathering or two chapels).
• Be available for chapel rehearsals at 7am the morning of that chapel.
• Be available for Wednesday night rehearsals (8pm-10pm) for the next Sunday’s Gathering.
• Report to campus a week prior to the beginning of school in August.
• Regularly practice their instruments.
• Develop their understanding of worship and the theology of worship by engaging weekly one-page readings that are posted on the worship team moodle site.

The mission of the chapel worship ministry is two-fold: to glorify God through the ministry of worship on the Hope College campus and to reach the church at large both locally and globally.

The later part of this mission is accomplished by:
• providing Hope College students with mentoring, training and ministry experience that will build their ministry to the church upon graduation.
• writing and recording original worship music that is both spiritually invigorating and theologically sound.


Joshua Banner
Minister of Worship & Art
Campus Ministries
bannerj@hope.edu
616.395.7159