For there to be any successful programme, there must be adequate preparations. And because music is involved anytime you talk about praise nights, it may require long-term planning. Praise night is different from prayer night vigil. You do not rehearse prayers but it takes a lot of rehearsals and sacrifice of time to put many things in place for any praise night to be successful. This is especially true for the organizers who sometimes happen to be the hosts.
Introduction
Once the vision is born, you need to prayerfully choose some ‘experienced’ brethren to constitute an organizing experience backed up by the Holy Spirit, they would have to contact the authority of the church (where the vision is from the music, youth or any other department) for a tentative date.
This is usually done to avoid any clash and or divided interest which may occur where two or more church programmes are running concurrently in the same church.
The committee will also make selections of choirs/groups to be invited and it is responsible for screening them. The master list would quickly be submitted and letters of invitation will be rolled out early enough for early preparation of those invited and quick response from them.
The Publicity
The publicity should not be done carelessly. Ensure your handbills and posters are properly designed. For a strong and positive awareness to be created, the posters must be strategically distributed well before the day. Try to invade your vicinity first and very well before any other area. For instance, it is awkward to paste all your posters at say, the Island environs when your church is at a corner Manage all the resources given by the church prudently.
The Ushers must be on their duty – directing and putting things in order. Instruments must be well-tested to avoid disorderliness or distraction. The engineers should do their sound checks early enough to avoid a last-minute rush or trial and error.
The Wisdom
It is a known fact that power, a source of electricity is not very reliable in Nigerian states. Wisdom demands therefore that there must be a good stand-by generating plant, suitable and adequate for both equipment and lighting.
I have witnessed a lot of embarrassing moments during praise nights where the programme would be interrupted for about 30 minutes and sometimes more because the generator used was not in good order. All these can be avoided if there is adequate preparation and all these factors are taken into consideration.
Music
Music is tasking, costly and sacrificing. That is why money is always needed to run it. Do not shy away from paying for or putting in place what you know would be of benefit to the programme. If you know that bringing a good sound engineer would give God the glory through the programme; why not go ahead? If you know that you need to rent some equipment to complement what you own; don’t hesitate to do so at night. It is for all.
“If you are in tune with praise, you will always talk about God instead of the devil. Be involved. Never stay aloof or stay off anytime there is a call to praise night. It is for all.”
Prayer Impact
As the committee proceeds with plans, let there be a prayer squad backing up the planning from the set to the day of the event. This is because the devil hates anything done to honour God or to bring joy and blessings to His people. The prayers should also touch the equipment to be used, the vessels to be used and the entire audience expected. Baptize the day with the blood of Jesus to avoid any tragedy throughout the programme.
Tips for Organising Successful Praise Nights
For anything to be successful in life and ministry, there must be thorough planning and handing over to God who makes things happen with good results. It should be re-emphasized that there is a part that we must play before God plays His part. Below are some helpful tips that can enhance our success on praise nights:
1. The motive for conducting a praise night should first be clarified and settled. Do not just organize any programme in the name of God without a good motive because if the motive is wrong then God will not be committed to such an event.
2. There must be a focus for any praise night. As we begin to plan, the questions to ask should include; “Why are we doing it”?, “What do we expect?’ What do we intend to achieve? etc.
3. Ensure that those nominated to constitute the committees for this programme are people who have the relevant experience as well as people with high spiritual sensitivity with a good understanding of the scriptural aspect of the praise of God.
4. A prayer squad should be set up to stand in the gap interceding as the plans progress.
5. The selection and invitation of choirs and musicians should be guided by the set motive and focus.
Section 1
6. The objective or theme of the programme should be properly communicated to the invited choirs and musicians.
7. Launch a full-scale publicity campaign.
“There is no perfect praise music here until we get to heaven – the city of unadulterated praise music. We are just learning one or two things from one another until the perfect day, at the feet of Jesus-our perfect example. It takes humility to praise and pass.”
8. The programme should have a planned duration and this should be adhered to by all. Time management can be enhanced if it has already been communicated to everyone concerned before the programme. This should all be done but most importantly, the Holy Spirit should not be left out or not allowed to take His place/course.
9. Try to put in place good gadgets and equipment of praise in place.
10. People especially the young ones should be allowed to enjoy themselves in God’s presence as the praise melodies go on in the programme. There may be the need to check the excesses but people should always be allowed to express themselves in a dance like David. It is scriptural.
Section 2
11. The Book of 2 Samuel says that David danced before the Lord with all his might…and the entire house of Israel …with shouts and the sound of trumpets. (2Samuel 6:14-15 (NIV)
12. Ensure that you guard the integrity of the church by not allowing just anybody, especially those with questionable characters to mount the altar of praise. As much as it is possible, identify and run checks on all the guest singers and anyone who will be expected to mount the praise altar.
13. Choose a guest speaker who can deliver the Word, especially in line with the theme of the programme.
14. Give room for varieties such as choreography, dance drama, praise chant, playlet, miming etc. These should however be within the focus of the praise night.
15. Introduce general thanksgiving and praise time at different intervals during the programme which involves everyone in the house. This will allow everyone to participate rather than remain spectators throughout the programmes while sitting for hours.
“We need to always thank God for the gift and skill being bestowed by God (II Corinthians 9:15). It is a privilege to be gifted and skilful in music. For the organizers to locate and find you is yet another privilege.”
Section 3
16. The message and or exhortation time should come up early enough to prepare everyone for the service.
17. Prayer sessions should be slotted in to be held at different intervals during the programme especially when the leaders sense the atmosphere for such moves. The urge may also come through any of the renditions from the choirs or groups.
18. Arrange for both photograph and video coverage for the programme.
This will enable you to appreciate the programme thereby helping you to correct lapses which would lead to improvements at subsequent events/editions.
Photographs are for memories; therefore, a proper package of the programme in a photo album may also be made available. The host of praise nights must be fantastic and bless people.
