Jo Hood is the Visionary of mainly Ministries, an organisation that resources and supports local churches, church plants, missional communities, and Christian schools to connect with whānau in the community.
No, it didn’t really start with a kiss! Mainly music started with an experience of something similar, that was about to change, and with whānau/families and Jesus in mind, began as ‘The Jack and Jill Club’ (think, nursery rhymes).
February 1990. Hillsborough Baptist Church (now Hills Church). Thirty-five years of connecting with whānau and their young tamariki/children in the community.
Today, around 700 groups throughout the world. Lebanon even (Beirut Baptist runs one for expats living in the country!).
But I’m running ahead of myself.
What whānau experience today is very similar and yet very different to 1990.
You probably know us for the modality – the programme. Songs, rhymes, laughter, fun, learning, experiences of attachment, community, the Lycra panel, shakers, scarves, puppets. Kai/food, coffee, more laughter, friendship, care, prayer, support, free play.
But mainly music is much more than this. It’s about mission.
It was a shock when Felicia experienced a seizure one night. Anticipating the birth of a sibling for their child who attends sessions with grandma, the anticipation didn’t include a situation like this. The baby was delivered successfully, but Felicia was found to have brain cancer.
The mainly music team swung into action, supplying meals regularly as Felicia had treatment. Nicky, the Team Leader, visited while dropping off meals.The prognosis isn’t great. The church is praying and is behind their care, ensuring Felicia’s little family know they are not on their own.
Mission is something Jesus left us with and is the intersection between two passages of scripture. One is about our internal and external motivation (‘love the LORD your God and love your neighbour’); the other is external action (‘go and make disciples’).
Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Mark 12:29-31
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
The outcome for using mainly music as a mission in your local community is to see whānau flourishing. As the basic unit of society, when whānau flourish, so do all. This is the flourishing of their emotions (heart), their soul (faith), mind (learning), strength (physical), and neighbour (community).
To only see mainly music for its modality is to miss the very essence of its purpose, to miss the gift it can be to whānau and their tamariki and pēpi/babies.
Her faith was different to mine. I serve a living Saviour; she is focused on a philosophy of peace and calm.
So, when I heard Dewi was having pregnancy problems, I offered to pray.
My offer was greeted with a conditional yes. ‘Please pray for me – but not while I’m here.’
I have, and I’ll be checking in on how her pregnancy is progressing. I want Dewi to realise that I meant what I offered to do.
To only see mainly music for its modality is to miss the opportunity for the team’s growth, the confidence it provides, the increase of faith, the delight of blessing others because God has first blessed.
These days, mainly music, mainly play, and mainly babies are resourced and supported by mainly Ministries (I know … call this the ‘mainly’ group if you want! Watch out for news of mainly Mentoring!!!). This is all about mission. This is all about a desire encapsulated in the Vision of mainly Ministries – We seek to reveal Jesus.
Let’s finish with a totally intended, shameless promotion!
If your church, church plant, or even Christian early learning centre wants to engage in mission with whānau and their young tamariki – check out mainly Ministries. Maybe your church ran mainly music years ago (after all, 35 years of history is a long time). Maybe it ‘didn’t work’ for you (which is an interesting statement and one I’d personally love to kōrero/discuss with anyone who has that as their comeback).
We’d love to find out what your dream is to see whānau flourish in your community and for the connections to be taonga/so precious, you could not have dreamed that God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, could have accomplished infinitely more than you asked or dreamed of.
Photo: Jo Hood celebrates 35 years of mainly music on stage at the Baptist National Hui 2024 with Grace Doak and Baptist National Leader Charles Hewlett.
