The purpose of this ministry to provide readily accessible support, resources, and instruction for musicians and worship leaders, with a special emphasis on providing affordable help for the small membership church. Consultation and workshops are available for worship, music, and audio-visual systems, as is leadership for special services and other events.

Voices Raising! is based in Plano, Texas. The primary service area is North and Central Texas and Southern Oklahoma. Churches outside the area are welcome and encouraged to call or email.

Discussions about worship often begin and end with music. Unfortunately, volunteer and part-time musicians serving smaller congregations seldom have access to the support and resources available to their counterparts in larger churches. Also, many of the resources available don't address the special problems and possibilities faced by the small membership church, for whom it is easy to get caught up in "what we can't do", rather than "what we can do". Churches of all sizes have difficulty in bridging the gap between potential and reality in their use of audio-visual systems—in finding ways to think theologically and liturgically about technology, and in putting those insights to work.

"I believe that worship is still the central and defining act of the church! Recognizing and rejoicing in God's great gift of music in our worship, the goal of this ministry is to encourage and empower those who lead worship and music in small membership churches, that we might better share the good news of Christ's love through the miracle and mystery of art."
--Terry Heislen

Voices Raising! is an approved extension ministry of the North Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.