mainly music turns 25!

This year, mainly music celebrates 25 years of ministry.  From its humble beginnings right here in New Zealand, mainly music is now taking on the world with over 1000 groups operating in eleven different countries.  33 of these are in Christchurch.

mainly music is a pre-school music programme, involving half an hour of music, movement and fun, followed by a social time where the children can play and the adults can socialise.  The music sessions are designed for fun interaction between the adult and child; to develop educational building blocks and to introduce the concepts of God’s love and creation in a non-confrontational way.  The play time afterwards then provides the mainly music team with the opportunity to develop relationships with the families in their community and to demonstrate God’s love.

mainly music is done in partnership with churches of all denominations and sizes, offering a ministry platform for the families in their communities.  It is run by one of the original founders Jo Hood, who is now based in Melbourne as the International Director of the ministry.  “It’s a ministry about connection,” says Jo, “Connecting families to their local church, and ultimately to Christ”.  Groups are now found throughout New Zealand and Australia, as well as in England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the USA, South Africa, Hong Kong, Japan and even Lebanon. 

Every week over 7,500 parents and caregivers in NZ bring their pre-schoolers to mainly music.  Most of these families do not attend church, and yet they come willingly into one each week to attend mainly music.

Over the last 25 years mainly music has seen many lives – and many families become Christ-followers.  Additional programmes such as mainly mums encourages families to take the next step and explore faith in a non-threatening environment.  Jo’s life has also been transformed by mainly music.   “When it began I’d have never dreamed we’d be here 25 years later as an international ministry.  Our 25th celebration is about us giving God all the thanks and the glory for what He has done”.

Please pray for our 33 Christchurch mainly music teams that:

·       they will feel confident and skilled to build relationships with the community families

·       they will fully grasp the vision of mainly music to be 'Jesus with skin on' to the families they connect with

·       their churches will develop a culture where they can invite mainly music families to relevant and comfortable church events

For more information about mainly music, visit www.mainlymusic.org for community parents’ info, and https://mainlyministries.org.nz/ for church info.