OCTOBER 13, 2023 – An ensemble from the NYSB along with Unbound had the opportunity to minister through music at the combined Welcome of the Cadets (Friday night) and Candidate’s Seminar (Saturday/Sunday) event. It was a blessing for both groups to participate in worship at the respective events.
For Unbound, preparation for this event began on Friday morning, when we began our rehearsal in the CFOT band room. From the first moment it was evident how each member of the group was committed and encouraged to make this event a good experience for everyone. We were able to rehearse most of the songs without major challenges. After this, we proceeded to the Watson Gym for our setup. Felipe Concha had already advanced a large part of the setup of the monitoring equipment and other aspects of the audio. This process flowed quite well, so we were able to get everything setup before lunch time. Following a quick lunch, we were able to soundcheck/rehearse on stage. Using our own monitoring equipment makes this soundcheck step much easier. We therefore used the two hours that we had available to polish matters of the tracks and other details. It was crucial to have the entire morning and part of the afternoon to rehearse the songs for the event well. The NYSB ensemble joined later in the evening to provide meaningful preliminary music, accompany a congregational song and joyfully march in the new cadets in addition to a special item in the program, Above All by Andrew Mackereth.
Before delving into the description of Unbound’s performance, I would like to point out that I really appreciated the flexibility that the group showed throughout this event. Our first participation was a collaboration with the Cadets’ Choir singing the song For Your Mission by David LaBossiere. Christian Riesebieter commented after the meeting that he was very pleased with how the song turned out. Following other items in the program, Unbound led a short time of worship singing the songs Who You Say I Am and Living Hope. Having Olivia Renkel to vocally lead these songs is truly one of the privileges we have at Unbound. The congregation’s response to this time of worship was very positive. It would have seemed like people were left wanting more. After the message, the group supported the response time with the songs This Is My Desire and The Power of Your Love sung by Eli Morgan and Olivia Renkel respectively. I really appreciated that we were able to provide a varied repertoire. I think many people were able to feel included in the moments of worship.
For Saturday night’s gathering, Unbound participated before and after Rich Swingle’s Beyond The Chariots performance. Before his performance we sang What He’s Done and Honey In The Rock. Both songs were sung for the first time at this event. However, the people there responded very well to both of them. After the Rich Swingles performance, we sang Way Maker and My Testimony. During Way Maker Felipe led a time of prayer which brought a very special atmosphere in the room.
Finally, at Sunday’s service Unbound was able to collaborate again with MOVE in the prelude time with the song Praise. It’s actually the second event in which we’ve included this song, and you can already see how it is becoming a favorite with worshippers in the East. MOVE enlivened the place in a spectacular way and was topped off by having Stewart Dalrymple, Kathleen Steele and Keith Maynor as our horn section. Unbound then accompanied Commissioner Lorraine Bamford in To God Be The Glory. We had to make several adjustments to the style of this song during the last soundcheck in order to make it more suitable, but the final result was good. Thanks to Carol Jaudes for her input and suggestion for that song. After that, Unbound provided the moment of worship with the songs Mourning to Dancing and Living in the Overflow. The style of these songs was more groovy, and evoked a different style of worship. After the meeting Rohan Gage commented how he loved this style, and that it had brought back good memories of the worship styles from when he was young. After this, Unbound collaborated with MOVE again, this time with the song Send Me. The message of this song was very in tune with the occasion, making it a very appropriate item in the program. Towards the end, Unbound helped with the Time of Commitment alongside Commissioner William Bamford. The songs the commissioner requested were God Will Make a Way (which Gavin Whitehouse gracefully sang), I Surrender and He Is Able. It was a pleasure to serve the Lord and territory in this way once again and consider it a privilege to be worship leaders at these important events.
‘Unbound was a God-send for us. The Territorial Candidates Seminar is a mission-critical critical event, not just for the CFOT but also for the health of the Territory. In years past, the CFOT would assume the responsibility of providing worship for each meeting. This essential role is an opportunity for the cadets, but it is also incredibly taxing on their time and attention. By having UnBound provide this ministry, it frees the CFOT to concentrate on other elements – such as our attention to the Cadets’ testimony, ministry engagement, and hospitality needs.
Having UnBound lead worship for these events is a unique strength for the territory, and it is a spiritual gift to the CFOT and every delegate.’
Dr. Major Keith Maynor – Assistant Training Principal for Administration
