With just four members, the Blood and Fire worship band in Smith Falls, Ont., is a modest group. But the impact of their music ministry is being felt across their community.
Though the Smiths Falls – Mississippi-Rideau Lakes Corps is the band's home, over the past seven years Blood and Fire has expanded its ministry, which now includes a monthly worship night at the local Pentecostal church, a summer music series in the park and, most recently, a monthly Sunday morning service at Valley Christian Alliance Church.
Blood and Fire started serving at the Alliance church in January after the church's worship leader moved away due to a job reassignment. The pastor of the Alliance approached Major Malcolm Cameron, corps officer, and asked if the corps' worship band could lend a hand. Scott Harland, who leads the Blood and Fire team, says they were happy to help, seeing it as an opportunity to “get out into the community and preach the Word through song.”
Harland says the band feels very welcomed by the Alliance congregation: “The people often thank us and say, 'We're so glad you're here.'”
And he notes that the ministry has been beneficial for the worship band as well.
“It's one thing to always play for your congregation—you get used to their style and you get into a routine,” Harland says. “This ministry has broadened us and stretched us.”
The arrangement is temporary—the Alliance church expects their worship leader to return in 2013—but Harland says he would like Blood and Fire to maintain ties with the church.
“The churches in Smiths Falls cooperate on a number of things, and I believe that that's the way God wants us to go,” he adds. “It's everybody coming together and serving God as one.”
Though the Smiths Falls – Mississippi-Rideau Lakes Corps is the band's home, over the past seven years Blood and Fire has expanded its ministry, which now includes a monthly worship night at the local Pentecostal church, a summer music series in the park and, most recently, a monthly Sunday morning service at Valley Christian Alliance Church.
Blood and Fire started serving at the Alliance church in January after the church's worship leader moved away due to a job reassignment. The pastor of the Alliance approached Major Malcolm Cameron, corps officer, and asked if the corps' worship band could lend a hand. Scott Harland, who leads the Blood and Fire team, says they were happy to help, seeing it as an opportunity to “get out into the community and preach the Word through song.”
Harland says the band feels very welcomed by the Alliance congregation: “The people often thank us and say, 'We're so glad you're here.'”
And he notes that the ministry has been beneficial for the worship band as well.
“It's one thing to always play for your congregation—you get used to their style and you get into a routine,” Harland says. “This ministry has broadened us and stretched us.”
The arrangement is temporary—the Alliance church expects their worship leader to return in 2013—but Harland says he would like Blood and Fire to maintain ties with the church.
“The churches in Smiths Falls cooperate on a number of things, and I believe that that's the way God wants us to go,” he adds. “It's everybody coming together and serving God as one.”
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