'Last minute' blessing

Odd title for a topic.

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of attending a worship workshop and concert thereafter by Hillsong Australia. It was at KL Baptist church in Jalan Changkat Bukit Bintang. Needless to say I was blessed.

I first heard about it through Yoke Kheng when I was passing to her some papers for a meeting that I could not attend (college ministry) and just before the rather protective (or impatient?) guard ushered her off, she asked me whether I would like to go for a Hillsong worship workshop. I think before that she may have smsed me about it but I am not sure now (30lah, what to do?). Anyway, I thought about it and soon smsed my confirmation to attend. I was looking forward to it.

I have attended two Hillsong concerts in the past: Hillsong United (SIB KL) and also a Reuben Morgan concert (PJEFC) and enjoyed both a lot.

The day came finally and we were on our way to a place called Changkat Bukit Bintang. Thanks to God's grace, wisdom and mercy, Seng Chor's direction and some brilliant directing skills (and driving skills from YK) from yours truly (haha swt) we found the place with little difficulty. As we arrived we parked at the Radius Hotel just opposite the road and made our way to the church. The small entourage comprised members of BUC and KDU CF.

There were a few workshops offered: keyboard, bass and guitar, drums, vocals, media and planning. So there we were all signed up for the sessions and entered what I think was the main sanctuary. It was a new looking building with a spacious sanctuary, well furnished and modern. What caught my eye were three throne-like looking chairs on the stage. I presumed they were for God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) during the services. :) God be praised.

The team from Hillsong comprised some 'veterans' like Miriam Webster and Raymond Badham. The rest were relatively new volunteers serving in different Hillsong churches around Australia ... but they played and sang like they have been doing it for ages. The morning service started out awesomely. We sang and sang newer as well as songs from later albums and it was just a great atmosphere. Truly God was glorified. I particularly took an almost instant liking to a new song that is covered on the latest Hillsong United effort called 'Hosanna', which I hope will also be in the new Hillsong album later. Our morning worship session was powerful.

Later Ray, who I found out from his sharing was leading the team, shared a short message (a refreshing one) and introduced the team to us (if I remember correctly). Then we broke up into the different workshops. I went for the vocals led by Miriam and Elisa (another member, a pretty lady). Miriam basically gave us some pointers on preparing yourself (physically) for worship leading. Here are some tips I remember:

(i) drink lots of water as your throat is the last place that gets water,

(ii) avoid dairy products before a worship session as it causes muccus build up;

(iii) warm up (throat and voice) and warm down before and after;

(iv) know your lyrics so that you can move freely;

(v) and perhaps the 'newest discovery' for me, when you sing, you will know you are singing the proper way if you feel two muscles at your lower back tense up (basically do not sing from your throat).

The workshop ended with a Q and A session with the whole team (their testimonies were very encouraging) and they were a joyful bunch of people.

The concert

The concert started almost 730pm sharp that evening and by God's grace (and Pei Lu and Jia Yein's help) we got front row seats (I hope we did not cause people to fume at us ...). It started off very memorably with Pei Lu running up the stage and getting an autographed Mighty To Save CD (woo hoo) and the evening progressed beautifully and energetically with some of the latest and later songs. Wow, I sang and jumped and jumped and jumped some more. It was awesome to be in God's presence, in rededication and worship to Jesus. The concert paused with an evangelistic message and sharing (praise God our Father for those who responded) and ended with One Way (twice) and King of Majesty (yayy). My legs and foot (that I had earlier suffered a torn muscle) and throat were put to the test. It was wow. God be praised. To God be all glory.

All in all it was a great feeling to worship Jesus so freely and passionately. I only hope we can use what we learned and with God's anointing, bring my local church, BUC, to higher planes of worship to Jesus.

God blessed the day truly, although .. hehe ... it was a 'last minute' blessing in the sense that I only got to know about it last minute.

All glory to Jesus.

Some of us and Miriam Webster.