Weekends Are For....Serving

I recently realized that I haven't explained one of the coolest parts about our experience here in Australia, serving at Hillsong GWS.  Serving in the church has been the most impacting experience I have had here and I thought it would be cool to share with you all.

One of the reasons Dane chose to study at Hillsong was it offered a hands on continuing education opportunity.  Along with classroom study students also receive credit by serving in various capacities throughout Hillsong church life.

Hillsong has two main campus's in Sydney, the Hills and the City.  It also has 12 extension services spread throughout the community.  We were allocated to serve at the Greater Western Sydney campus, also lovingly known as GWS.

Here is what is unique about GWS compared to most churches.  It doesn't have its own building.  Every week we rent out a college lecture hall/building and transform it into our church which includes kids rooms, mother's room, youth areas, young adults space, a welcome lounge, new people's lounge, city care stations, BBQ/food, bookstore, next steps lounge and of course the worship space.  Yes, each week we bump in church, hold two church services and then bump out church.  What amazes me even more is the entire stash of supplies needed to pull this off is stored in the back of a truck the size of a regular U-Haul trailer.  With that said, we are the biggest extension service by about 200 people and we are praying and believing for our own building. Dane and I believe we will have one before we leave and we will continue to pray relentlessly for it!

One of the ways Dane and I serve is through production bump in, meaning we set up the sound equipment.  There are other teams that set up lights, media, kids rooms, the list goes on and on really.  I am new to the bump in team, but I had a really good teacher in Dane and now know how to run cords, set up monitors and mains.  It makes me feel pretty cool in a nerdy sort of way.  I have been blown away at the knowledge Dane has about it all.  Seriously, I wish you could all see him serve and help direct teams.  You would be so proud.

We also serve in other areas a well.  Dane has had the joy of  serving as Musical Director, Monitor Engineer, Guitarist, Technical Director, and Front of House Sound.  I have served in the areas of Background Vocals, Worship Leader, Hillsong Kids, and Creative Set Design.  It has been so cool to see how we can use the gifts God has put on our lives to help serve in the church in ways we never really imagined.

What I love most about Hillsong GWS is the people.  They have become a part of our Aussie family.  As I am sure you can imagine, it takes a team to pull of church each week, and I love how people are always stepping up and ready to serve.  We are so blessed to have Pastor Jay Jury leading the way along with another amazing team of key leaders.

The biggest lesson I have learned is that serving in a church isn't about personal glory.  It is all about Jesus and people.  Trust me, there is nothing glorious about giving up your Saturday afternoon to bump in, or rucking up at 5:00am to make sure things are ready to go for church.  But when hands go up during alter call on Sunday morning, and I know that people are meeting Jesus for the first time, that people are finding healing, restoration, freedom, joy, true peace in their lives well that's what makes it worth it.