| An Important Lesson learnt |
My recent trip to Indonesia has been a very fulfilling
one. I was there to visit my father's church in Jakarta and assist in any
way I could. Quite a vague objective. However, God provided amazing opportunities
for me to serve, and also taught me some valuable lessons which I also
hope to share with you!
Firstly, I learnt to keep an open mind. I had a preconceived
notion of Indonesia as a mosquito-infested, hot and boring place, from
previous trips. This trip was a totally different experience however. Fun-filled,
activity-packed and meaningful. As worship leaders, let's not close ourselves
to God's leading and opportunities because of previous experiences. God
is doing a new work today!
You could almost say I was plunged into the
fray. 3 hours before the 2nd service, the worship leader came up to my
room in the church and in halting English with numerous hand signals, indicated
that he needed me to play for the service! I gathered that the regular
keyboardist had taken an unscheduled break, and - wonders of wonders -
there was only 1 other backup in that 70-strong congregation. Me.
Rehearsal started about an hour before the service. It was a Roland
synthesizer. I fumbled with the controls, trying to find out how to switch
the thing on. And wonder of wonders, nobody knew how to operate the keyboard.
It was sometime before I found out how to set rhythm and accompaniment.
With 45 minutes or so to go before the service. |
| Lesson Two: In case
of emergency |
Not surprisingly, the songs were
all Indonesian. Even less surprisingly, all were new to me. Thank God that
a hymn book was present. But wait! There were no notes or bar lines. Only
the melody in number notation , foreign to a conventionally-trained pianist
like me. I came close to panicking.
Lesson number two: In such situations, just memorize how to start
the song and what key and tempo to play in. Jot it down on paper! Once
the people start singing the song, hopefully their volume will drown out
your mistakes.
|
| Lesson Three: Don't
Push that Panic Button! |
Lesson number three: Try not
to panic. Pray. Look professional. The church is watching! I winced
when I realized that for a particular song, I forgot to press some button
and there was no rhythm or bass accompaniment!! Of course, I had to look
as if I had intended for them to hear a piano solo. Don't forget that. |
| Lesson Four: Slow
down! |
During the practice, the worship
leader said some of the songs were played too slowly, so I upped the synthesizer
tempo. But during the service, the congregation could hardly keep up. And
these synthesizer things, once you're one beat off, you're finished. The
congregation knows it.
Lesson four: When using the synthesizer tempo, use a slower tempo
for fast songs than you think you can go without getting out of breath.
5-10 beats per minute slower. |
| Lesson Five: Watch
that tree! |
And now, the communication violations.
It was Christmas. No snow in tropical Indonesia, but there was a large,
well-decorated tree with flashing lights beside the stage.
In between the pulpit and the keyboard.
Could you have guessed it? I could not see the worship leader at all.
Here was my predicament. He was talking in Indonesian. He could well be
talking in Latin for all I cared. He probably gesticulated to me during
the songs, but in vain. Only the Christmas tree knew. I had no way to know
what I was supposed to play.
Lesson five: Stage and musician layout is important. Be careful
where you put your Christmas decorations. |
| Lesson Six: Get a helper! |
Quick as a flash, I got my mother,
who knew Indonesian, to sit beside me and tell me what the worship leader
was saying, whether he was repeating or ending.
Lesson six: Try to make the best out of every situation. |
| Lesson seven: Do as the
Romans do! |
Unfortunately, the music from the keyboard
was so loud, my mother could not hear what the poor guy was saying in the
midst of the songs. But at least she could tell me whether the guy wanted
to sing another song or the doxology. As I whispered to her urgently, the
members sitting near me gave me strange looks.
Suffice to say, I finally made it through the service, considerably
wiser.
Lesson seven: If you're going to Indonesia, learn Indonesian. |
| What Indonesian Worship
is About |
Those who have never experienced
worship in Indonesia should make it a point to visit an Indonesian church
service, especially contemporary services in Pentecostal and some other
churches. The multi-branched "Bethel" Pentecostal church in Jakarta boasts
high-energy worship not unlike many fast-growing churches around the world.
Indonesia
could well be said to be a singing nation. The number of recordings
by local artistes in any CD shop can be staggering. There are many Christian
artistes, too, in this 10%-Christian nation. Therefore, a vast number of
truly local Christian songs exists. Most of these songs employ basic, "light"
chord progressions; much variety, however, is obtained from extremely tuneful
melodies which many of the songs possess. |
| Why Indonesian? |
We realize that the songs of different
cultures are stylistically different. Although all worship God, one culture’s
songs may not be as edifying to another culture. For example, although
Negro spirituals can be deeply moving to Americans, the Chinese may not
respond similarly. We marvel at Ron Kenoly’s excellent worships, but we
may not sing the songs on his albums. Hence we realize that one must
never copy wholesale another culture’s or tradition’s songs, just because
those songs were successful in that other culture. Yes, they testify
of how God has moved in other cultures. But God may move differently in
your own church. It is good to sing cross-cultural songs, because they
do build unity; but you, as a worship leader, must find music which you
can call truly yours.
My fellow workers and I, from Singapore, have heard these songs from
Indonesia. When we heard them, we knew instantly that they were "us". I
managed to translate 2 of them with help from my parents. These songs were
"revival" songs of Indonesia, birthed in the huge revival, of the last
30 years, which has seen God’s family in this predominantly Muslim archipelago
grow by 20 million. I believe that God will use these songs to renew believers
here in Singapore, and even elsewhere. Enjoy! |
| Worship Songs of Indonesia |
| Immediate Listening
and Enjoyment; Includes Lyrics |
| English Title |
Original Title and Author |
Description |
| Lord You're Beautiful |
Kau Yang Terindah
Robert & Lea |
This powerful worship song has been said to be an Indonesian
"Power of Your Love" equivalent. Its forceful words and sweeping melody
makes it a favourite in Indonesian churches. |
| Holy Spirit Fall
on Us |
Berhembuslah RohKudus
Robert & Lea |
This meditative song, usually used as preparation for worship
or ministry, fits comfortably in its 3/4 timing. Its words epitomize the
heartfelt desire of generations of Spirit-seeking Indonesian believers. |
| For Downloading; Includes Lyrics |
| Lord You're Beautiful / Holy Spirit
Fall on Us |
zip format |
Includes guitar chords, English translation, original Indonesian
words in text format as well as separate MIDI files. |
