Harp Hunters The Person, Purpose, and Position of the Minister of Music

Harp Hunters is a church musician leadership resource. To assume that a church musician is equipped for leadership having been trained in the art of music making only is to misunderstand the entire premise of ministry. Music is not an autonomous ministry within the church of Jesus Christ. It must be presented by men and women who have developed a musical/theological presupposition based on a personal relationship with God. That relationship must become the foundation on which to build an effective music ministry. Harp Hunters challenges the Minister of Music to grow beyond teaching a song. The people God has given us the privilege to serve will never grow beyond the level of our leadership. The book uses the example of King David to highlight some of the attributes church music leaders should try to emulate. David was a skilled musician with a shepherd's heart. He was teachable with excellent people skills. Most of all, David was a true worshipper. The church musician is more than a song leader. He or she is one who is well acquainted with the power and influence of music on the human instrument. He is a minister having been given the gift of music to undergird and reinforce the message, mission, and work of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Eli Wilson, Jr., is a native of New Orleans. He is an ordained Minister of Music with 35 years of full-time experience. He is the founder of Eli Wilson Ministries – A Church Music Educational Leadership Resource Ministry. Eli is an independent solo artist with 10 recordings to his credit. His compositions have been published in 6 hymnbooks, and recorded by Keith Pringle, Babbie Mason, Trinity United Church of Christ, and Ben Hill United Methodist Church. Minister Wilson is the author of "Equipping the Church Choir for Ministry: A Church Music Resource for Musicians and Choir Members.

Eli is a Certified Life Coach with 10 years of experience. He has held the position of Music Director for the Children's Defense Fund's Annual Proctor Institute at Haley Farm for 18 years. He has been the worship leader and a workshop presenter at the Hampton Minister' Conference. He has held music ministry positions at St. Community Baptist Church (East New York Brooklyn), Emmanuel Baptist Church (Clinton Hill/Fort Green Brooklyn), and the New Covenant Baptist Church of Orlando. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Minister Wilson did his undergraduate work at Dillard University - New Orleans - in Vocal Music Education and his post-graduate work at Colgate-Rochester Divinity School and the Eastman School of Music - Rochester, NY - in a combined master's program in Christian Education and Sacred Music. He also holds an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Virginia Seminary and College.

Minister Eli Wilson is committed to the work of Jesus Christ and has dedicated himself to developing church music leaders to work toward developing their full potential for the future of the church music ministry. His mission statement is "Keeping the Word of God Alive through theologically sound, biblically based music."