It is a Sunday morning at the Hallelujah Church of New York in Bayside, Queens and churchgoers are preparing their hearts for a time of praise and worship. As the church service opens with a series of songs, people stand and sing in unison. Depending on the song, upbeat or slow, people clap, jump, shout, or close their eyes and lift their hands. This service is led by a new breed of church choir – the praise team.
“We’re really small but praise just really brings the church together. We all sing in one voice for one purpose and it’s really just to praise God,” said Emily Won, 17, praise leader and pianist for Hallelujah Church’s youth group. “Praise seems to bring joy to my church and I know God is happy when we sing too.”

Traditionally, church choirs with their blend of melodic and harmonic voices accompanied by an organ, provide the music at services. Although still widely used within the older generation, the younger generation has found another way to modernize worship and praise with what people would likely call, a rock band.
Even though it is not usually categorized in the genre of rock, a praise team is a religious band that consists of a lead vocalist – also called a praise leader, backup vocalists and other young, talented people who express sound not through voice but through various instruments. Acoustic, bass, electric guitars, keyboards and drums take over for the organ to create an environment in which people can comfortably fit in and sing along with the praise leader.
In New York, there is not one church without a time of praise. Praise teams and leaders bring members together through this sacred time.
Contemporary Christian music, as a genre, has become better known as it has become more worldwide. It has its own Billboard chart and a Christian radio station in every state of the country.
Popular Christian artists like Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, and Hillsong United are well known in the Christian world. Chris Tomlin, one of the writers of “How Great is Our God” – a popular song sung on most churches – is currently on tour and will be coming to Madison Square Garden in February 2013. Hillsong United also has a church in New York City. These praise leaders and their bands are role models to lesser known praise teams in local churches.
Praise teams in churches use the songs Christian artists write and change it to their own style and interpretation for worship.
Hallelujah Church describes their time of worship on Sunday mornings and how they prepare.

Praise Teams Modernize Church Choirs from C.Han on Vimeo.

“We usually meet Saturday nights to practice for Sunday morning,” said Won. “I like to do around three songs so we need time to organize and determine which instruments come in what specific parts in the all the songs.”
What really sets these modern church choirs apart from most aspiring singers is that they are not doing it for fame, money, or even for the sake of following their dreams.
As a small, growing church, Hallelujah Church has a total of 30 members. Hallelujah Church’s youth group makes up half of the congregation. Out of the 15 people in the youth group, four people make up the praise team.

Won plays the keyboard as she leads, Rei Kim, 25, plays the bass, Esther Han, 20, plays the drums, and Dongyean Kim, 15, plays the guitar for Hallelujah Church’s youth group. Unlike full praise teams that are most likely found in bigger churches, this praise team does not have an electric guitarist and extra vocals.
“Who needs all those instruments when the true worship is in the lyrics of these songs?” said Rei Kim.
Hallelujah Church’s youth group is grateful for the team for leading them in time of worship.
“My church’s praise team really helps me connect with God,” said Jason Hwang, 17, a member of the youth group. “I really thank God for this praise team.”
According to this church, the music and the way the instruments sound are not important.
“I’m a girl drummer,” said Han. “Most praise teams have male drummers, so when they see me play, they’re either really fascinated or they just look down on our praise team. But who cares? I’m just going to keep playing because I love the reason I’m playing.”
These amateur “rock bands” may lack the skill or stage presence that draws the audience in, but they enjoy what they do. Although the style is very modern, the meaning of why the praise teams do what they do and the church choirs do what they is the same.
Praise teams have a huge responsibility as they stand as leaders of the church. They are practically teachers because through the songs they sing, they have to lead people to the real meaning of praise.
“Being in the praise team is hard because you need to stand by what you sing. You’re leaders of the church and being hypocritical is the last thing you want to do,” said David Park, 21, praise leader and guitarist in New Millennium Church in Queens. “Praise teams have to pray before they stand in front of the youth group on Sundays. Let God lead you as you lead everyone else.”