História do Ministério de Louvor com Greta Lira e Marcio Miguel - SOMOS VINEYARD Podcast Ep. 03

Introduction to the Podcast

Overview of the Episode

• The host, Milton Lucas, introduces the podcast "Somos Viner," focusing on discussions about Viner's DNA and community.

• Special guests Greta Lira and Márcio Miguel from the Viner team in Brazil are welcomed for a conversation about Viner music and its history in worship within Brazil.

Personal Stories: Greta Lira

Background and Journey into Ministry

• Greta shares her background, mentioning she is married with a daughter named Micaela and has been living in Brazil for nearly 20 years. Her family is originally from the United States.

• She grew up in church from age eight, developing a strong affinity for music, leading worship at her local church by age fifteen due to necessity when no one else was available.

• At twenty, she experienced a personal encounter with Jesus during youth ministry that significantly impacted her faith journey and involvement in worship ministry.

Personal Stories: Márcio Miguel

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

• Márcio recounts his upbringing in Piratininga, where he attended church with his mother while his father was not yet converted; often they would go secretly.

• He describes being curious as a child about music, particularly fascinated by playing drums during church services despite initially just wanting to play around.

• His first experience playing in church came unexpectedly when he was called to perform after intruding on a rehearsal; this led him to become the main drummer as others left or were unavailable.

Musical Development and Training

Growth Through Experience

• Márcio reflects on how training became an essential part of their worship team’s development under Pastor Anton's guidance, who emphasized learning through resources like cassette tapes on worship practices.

• He notes that this period was rich for him personally as it laid foundational knowledge about praise and worship that would influence his future involvement with Viner music ministry.

The Journey of Worship and Music in Church

Early Experiences with Music

• The speaker recalls their early days as a drummer in a church, highlighting the low-quality equipment they used, which included a basic aluminum drum set.

• They reflect on their role as a worship leader who paved the way for others, acknowledging that they were not particularly skilled at either drumming or leading worship.

Introduction to Vineyard Movement

• The speaker shares their personal connection to the Vineyard movement, having grown up in the U.S. where it originated, singing its songs without knowing their origins.

• Upon moving to Brazil, they discovered that their church had adopted the Vineyard movement and began building relationships with people from Atlanta involved in training.

Impact of Avenir Music

• The arrival of Avenir Music in Brazil in 2001 was significant for the speaker; it provided essential resources and tools for translating music for new churches being planted.

• This transition marked an important phase in both personal growth and broader movement development within Brazilian churches.

Encountering Vineyard's Influence

• Another participant reflects on how their worship team existed before connecting with Vineyard around 1997 through an exchange program with Atlanta.

• Their first experience involved participating in worship moments during a stay at a church property, which left a lasting impact due to its simplicity and depth compared to previous experiences.

Transformative Worship Experiences

• The participant describes feeling shocked by the informal yet profound nature of worship sessions where musicians played simple chords together without an audience.

• They emphasize how this approach fostered intimacy with God through lyrics focused on direct communication rather than performance.

Learning from International Exposure

• The speaker recounts attending services at Vineyard while staying with church members during language studies, recognizing familiar songs translated into Portuguese.

• Observations about high-quality musical performances contrasted sharply with informal practices back home, leading them to question traditional methods of worship preparation.

Vineyard Music: A Journey of Faith and Music

The Impactful Beginning

• The speaker reflects on a profound experience with God's presence during a guitar session with beginners, highlighting the emotional impact of this moment.

Origins of Vineyard Music

• Vineyard Music originated from a church planting in California, where John Wimber later became a leader. His background as a professional musician emphasized the importance of music in worship.

Role of Music in Worship

• Wimber's influence led to the creation of intimate songs directed towards God rather than about Him, which played a significant role in the spread of Vineyard's music globally.

Global Spread and Revival

• The movement expanded worldwide due to Wimber’s ministry and music, with stories illustrating how songs were sung across continents even before modern technology made sharing easier.

Key Figures and Contributions

• Early leaders like Carl Tuttle and Ed Espinosa contributed significantly to the development of worship music within Vineyard, leading to popular songs that are still sung today.

Notable Revivals and Albums

• The 1990s saw significant revivals such as the Toronto Blessing, where live recordings captured raw worship experiences that further propelled Vineyard's music into churches globally.

Transition to International Leadership

• Jeremy Cook was called by John Wimber to lead Vineyard Music internationally, emphasizing inclusivity across cultures with his motto "every tongue, tribe, and nation."

Establishment in Brazil

• The establishment of Vineyard Music Brazil was seen as an answer to prayer for those involved. It marked an important step in connecting Brazilian churches with the international movement.

Personal Reflections on Transition

• Greta shares her personal journey transitioning from the U.S. to Brazil amidst cultural challenges. Her prayers led her to embrace this new chapter through involvement with Vineyard Music Brasil.

The Role of Faith and Community in Personal Growth

The Impact of Music and Training on Spiritual Journey

• The speaker reflects on the significance of creating roots in their faith journey, emphasizing that the arrival of Vineyard music in 2001 was a personal answer to prayer for guidance and mentorship.

• They describe feeling both honored and inadequate as an American participating in God's work abroad, highlighting a unique moment of divine provision in their life.

• A biblical reference is made about God using the foolish to demonstrate His grace, illustrating how the speaker feels chosen to serve within a national movement despite personal insecurities.

• The speaker recounts their experience growing up in a small town with limited church attendance, noting how God's influence transformed their community over time.

• They express gratitude for direct answers to prayers from God, recognizing this as solely due to His grace and mercy while also acknowledging the personal nature of their relationship with Him.

Timing and Convergence of Events

• The discussion shifts to the concept of divine timing, where various movements within the church converged without prior knowledge among participants, indicating God's orchestration.

• An anecdote is shared about Bob Fulton’s long-held desire to come to Brazil, which finally materialized through unexpected connections after decades.

• The conversation transitions into local church dynamics where Marcio received opportunities for training under leadership focused on developing talent within the congregation.

Transformation Through Collaboration

• The narrative includes experiences from retreats that fostered strong bonds among team members while emphasizing training's importance within worship ministry.

• A humorous incident is recounted involving misunderstandings during musical practice with Joe Bellin, showcasing cultural differences yet leading to valuable learning moments about worship dynamics.

• As they reflect on changes brought by external influences like Joe Bellin's leadership style, they note a shift towards simplicity in worship music aimed at inclusivity and participation.

Learning Values Through Experience

• Initial resistance is described when adapting to new musical styles introduced by visiting leaders; however, this led to deeper understanding over time regarding worship values at Vineyard.

• Recognition grows around Joe Bellin's authority as a musician after learning more about his background and contributions within Christian music circles.

• Over years of collaboration with U.S. leaders, key values surrounding worship have been assimilated into local practices—highlighting an ongoing process rather than immediate acceptance.

This structured summary captures essential insights from the transcript while providing timestamps for easy navigation back to specific discussions.

Vinner Music: A Journey of Worship and Recording

The Impact of Values in Worship Teams

• The values upheld by the team are current and beneficial, impacting worship teams not only at Vard but across various locations where seminars are conducted.

• Transitioning styles of worship does not imply superiority; it reflects the unique identity (DNA) of Vard's worship teams, which they passionately defend and believe in.

Principles of Worship

• The mantra "less is more" serves as a guiding principle for their approach to worship, emphasizing that the focus should be on God's presence rather than just music.

• The speaker recalls experiences from other churches that shaped their understanding of worship dynamics, highlighting a chronological journey since 1997.

Establishing Vinner Music in Brazil

• In a meeting with Jeremy Cook in England, plans were made to initiate Vinner Music in Brazil, aiming to record songs in Portuguese.

• A list was created for songs to be recorded, leading to the acquisition of original tracks necessary for production.

Challenges and Collaborations During Recording

• Upon returning to Brazil with recording materials, there was uncertainty about how to proceed due to lack of experience; collaboration with Amauri became crucial.

• The first CD production involved significant planning despite limited experience among team members; notable songs included "Senhor Te Quero" and "Meu Respirar."

Memorable Experiences from the Recording Process

• Despite challenges, the presence of experienced individuals like Manga provided reassurance during recording sessions.

• Greta shares her intense experience during recordings marked by emotional moments and divine presence, emphasizing teamwork and shared joy.

Technical Aspects of Production

• The process involved using playback formats for music tracks while adding vocal overdubs; this method facilitated smoother production across different countries.

• Márcio reflects on his logistical role during recording sessions while appreciating the opportunity to witness the creative process firsthand.

Recording Experiences and Challenges

The Emotional Impact of Recording

• The recording session was described as a "great scare," particularly due to the emotional reactions from the technical team, who were seen crying after Andreia finished recording "Meu Respirar."

Divine Presence in Music Creation

• There was a significant technical challenge in creating music that had never been attempted before, coupled with a strong sense of God's presence during the recording process.

Marketing and Planning Insights

• Questions arose about the marketing strategy for the CD, but the creators admitted they were unsure how it all came together; their primary goal was simply to record music for new churches.

Objectives for Church Engagement

• The initial aim was to produce a Portuguese CD for early Vinner churches in Brazil, which included locations like Bauru and Curitiba. They wanted these churches to start singing Vinner songs.

Distribution Plans and Initial Sales

• They planned to press 1,000 copies of the CD, intending to distribute around 300-400 copies per church. However, they ended up selling 900 copies on launch night in October 2001.

Unexpected Success and Repercussions

Inexperience in Production Decisions

• The team lacked experience regarding production numbers; they initially debated how many copies to make without knowing what would be successful.

Launch Day Surprises

• On launch day, an incorrect version of the CD arrived featuring an unexpected popular song. This led to last-minute corrections before successfully selling out most copies at launch.

Title Changes and Design Issues

• Originally titled "Seja o Centro," there were design miscommunications regarding cover art that did not align with the song's message. Adjustments were made to ensure it reflected its true intent towards Jesus.

Impact on Churches and Training Opportunities

Significant Sales Milestones

• Over time, the album sold over 400,000 copies and received gold and platinum certifications—an unexpected success that highlighted their impact on Christian music.

Invitations from Churches Nationwide

• Following their success, they received numerous invitations from churches across Brazil for worship leadership and training sessions based on their newfound popularity.

Accessibility of Worship Concepts

• Their approach resonated with local congregations because they presented themselves as a local worship team offering practical tools for worship rather than high-profile artists.

Leadership and Ministry Journey

Balancing Leadership in Worship

• The discussion emphasizes the importance of balanced leadership within worship, highlighting how it involves various aspects including sound and ministry.

• The group gradually accepted invitations to lead worship in both smaller and larger churches across Brazil, integrating moments of teaching into their sessions.

Commitment to Local Church

• Despite opportunities, they prioritized returning to their local church on Sundays, which was uncommon for many artists at the time.

• Members of the group maintained regular jobs outside of music, showcasing a commitment to simplicity and humility in their ministry approach.

Memorable Experiences

• A humorous anecdote is shared about a misunderstanding regarding one member's identity at an event in Fortaleza, illustrating the group's down-to-earth nature.

• The impact of their music is noted as it gained popularity throughout Brazil, becoming significant within church repertoires.

Reflections on Success and Challenges

• They reflect on how they often said "no" more than "yes" to invitations due to their motivations and limitations.

• A pastor questioned them years later about what went wrong with their success; they admitted uncertainty about any mistakes made during their journey.

Understanding Divine Plans

• They express that much of what happened was beyond their control and attributed it to divine intervention rather than strategic planning.

• The conversation touches on questions they hope to ask God regarding the unexpected paths taken by Viner Music.

Maintaining Focus on Local Ministry

• Throughout early 2000s, despite numerous invitations, they remained committed to serving in local churches rather than pursuing fame or commercial success.

• Their dedication led some churches to feel disappointed when they couldn't fulfill certain expectations but reinforced their belief in prioritizing local service over celebrity status.

Discussion on Worship Values

The Role of Worship in Connection with God

• The speaker emphasizes that everything is centered around God, and humans are merely instruments in His plan. They acknowledge the need for further exploration of this topic.

• A call to focus on the unique values of worship within their community, inviting participants to share personal insights about what makes their worship experience special.

Personal Insights on Worship

• Participants are encouraged to reflect on which aspects of worship resonate most personally with them, highlighting the importance of individual contributions to collective experiences.

• One participant shares that the combination of intimacy and expectation in worship is crucial, as it allows for a deeper connection with God's desires during communal gatherings.

Simplicity in Worship

• Another participant identifies simplicity as a key value in their worship practice, noting how easy-to-understand music and lyrics can transcend mere performance and influence lifestyle choices.

• The discussion touches upon how modern life often complicates simplicity, with technology pushing people towards faster-paced living. This complexity contrasts sharply with the value placed on simple worship practices.

Accessibility and Impact

• Feedback from training sessions reveals that many find simpler approaches more effective than complex ones, indicating a widespread struggle to grasp why simplicity works better in worship settings.

• The speaker reflects on their 27 years as a pastor, emphasizing the importance of making worship accessible across different church sizes and contexts while celebrating diverse expressions of faith.

Future Conversations and Favorite Songs

• Acknowledgment that there are many more principles related to their community's approach to worship yet to discuss; plans for future podcasts are mentioned.

• Participants share favorite songs from their repertoire, illustrating personal connections through music. One song highlighted speaks profoundly about resilience amidst challenges faced by individuals regarding faith responses.

Conclusion and Call to Action

• The podcast wraps up with gratitude expressed towards participants while encouraging listeners to follow along for future discussions about their community's journey with God.