Here is a summary of our
vision and calling - for a fuller version of each section see further down
this page:
Special
conferences: e.g. Spring Harvest etc. these
generally involve worship leading - but can involve special presentations
and classical concerts. Our diary
page lists
the events we are planning in the next few months.
Wellspring
Ensemble: This involves anything from small group (1-8 players) to small
chamber orchestra size (12-18 players). The concerts we put on are mainly classical/light
classical and tend to be evangelistic in some form. This work is
expanding both at home and abroad. See our Wellspring
Ensemble page
for more details.
Wellspring
jazz: Wellspring jazz
has undertaken several very successful concerts since its inception.
The group is led by
Andrew Whettam and they have released their first album. See our recordings
page for more
details. More information about Wellspring jazz
can be found here.
Recordings: See our recordings
page for
more details about all of our recordings.
Broadcast work: Wellspring have often been involved in BBC TV and Radio broadcasts.
Further involvement will be listed on our
diary page
as and when opportunities arise.
Wellspring's Ministry & calling - background
and fuller explanation
Wellspring began several years ago as a collaboration of friends, mainly from the professional classical music world, who were called to work together to bring new ideas to worship. The fact that the group contained several talented professional instrumentalists gave us the opportunity to minister in parts of the church who were in some cases closed to contemporary worship or who in other cases rejected anything more than 10 years old! We felt God had called us to teach what He had given to us as a group - and also to model worship that was acceptable to a wide cross-section of the church. It has been a privilege over the years to be able to minister in a variety of situations from charismatic house-churches right through to formal Cathedrals.
Although the outworking of our ministry has changed over the years the group has been together, our basic calling has remained the same. Using the gifts that God has given us, we've been able to be bridge-builders between those of different churchmanship (e.g. charismatic, evangelical, high church etc.) - also between the different generations in the church.
Our desire has also been to broaden people's understanding of worship so that it isn't just a narrow spectrum of likes and dislikes. We have sought to help people to see the value of different forms of worship - from contemporary choruses to traditional hymns, classical music, jazz, improvised music - and often linking prayer and worship together. We have also desired to release gifts that are often left unused in many churches (gifted instrumentalists and singers often sit in church with no outlet for their God-given skills).
One of God's main giftings to the group has been the use of the instruments in ministry situations. We will often improvise with our instruments within the context of worship - but also in situations where prayer or ministry is being offered. We have found that as we offer our instruments to the Lord, he often speaks very deeply to people and ministers His love, healing, hope, faith etc. in ways that words would be unable to do.
Here is an outline of some of the aspects of our work at present:
Special conferences: These generally involve worship leading - but sometimes involves special presentations, classical and jazz concerts. We have had many opportunities to minister at big conferences put on by Spring Harvest, Anglican Renewal Ministries and others - and have found that new vision for worship and a new love for the Lord has been given to many who have come to these conferences. We have sought to bring worship in many forms to these events (working within certain restrictions inevitably!) - and we know of many who have gone from these events with a new vision for worship that has been taken into local church situations across the country. We have also had several opportunities to travel abroad - ministering in places as diverse as the USA and Pakistan, Bulgaria and Singapore, Hungary and Germany!
Wellspring Ensemble: The classical music section of the group involves anything from small group (1-6 players) to small chamber orchestra size. The concerts we put on are mainly classical/light classical and tend to be evangelistic in some form. The involvement is often in cultural pursuits (such as arts festivals). Again we often seen many people touched by these events. We always end our concerts with an improvisation where the musicians walk amongst the audience and play 'in the Spirit'. This has often moved people deeply - including many non-Christians who have been in tears which has inevitably led to questions being asked afterwards. This part of the work has expanded quite a bit over the last few years as we have put on concerts in many parts of the country and sometimes abroad.
Wellspring jazz: Wellspring jazz, led by Andrew Whettam, is another form of outreach ministry. Besides offering a very enjoyable relaxed evening to those who come, it also gives opportunity to talk to people in a relaxed environment - and like our classical events, it clearly displays the fact that to be Christian doesn't have to mean 2nd best in terms of quality - or lacking in the enjoyment of life!
Recordings: Our recordings have been a major source of ministry for the group. They are a means of taking what we do in ministry into people's homes. We have many testimonies of how God has helped, healed, envisioned people etc. as they have listened to the recordings that the group has produced over the years. Our desire with these recordings has been to produce worship of the highest quality which carry God's anointing.
Broadcast work: For several years we played live on BBC's Daily Service programme on Radio 4 - providing an alternative to the traditional choir that normally takes part in these services. We have also taken part in BBC TV programmes such as Songs of Praise and Sunday Morning Worship. We plan to keep taking occasional opportunities to be involved in broadcast work as and when we feel it is appropriate.
Other ministries:
Alongside our existing ministries, we hope to make greater use of complementary expressions of worship including dance, drama and new technologies such as multi-media (Video, PowerPoint, Images etc.). We have worked with many gifted people in these areas over the last few years and we feel it would be good to make greater use of their skills.
Special
conferences: e.g. Spring Harvest etc. these
generally involve worship leading - but can involve special presentations
and classical concerts. Our diary
page lists
the events we are planning in the next few months.
Information
about our recordings
