Jonathan Dirrim

Worship & Administrative Pastor
jonathan@heritageokc.org

I am forever indebted to the Triune God for His staggering work of salvation, transforming a sin-idolizing enemy awaiting His wrath into a blood-bought child encapsulated by His grace. The sole commendable facet of my life is the perfect righteousness of Christ which prevails in measureless beauty before God’s holy sight. I love my Savior and rejoice to make Him known!  “Posterity shall serve Him; it shall be told of the LORD to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn, that He has done it.” (Psalm 22:30-31)

I am husband to my wonderful wife, Chriselda, and father to my beautiful little girl, Eliana. It is my distinct joy to spend time with these sweet ladies!  The Lord blessed Chriselda and me by placing us in pastors’ families. Watching our parents sacrificially give of themselves to serve the local body of Christ has spurred us on to love in the same fashion. We have had the privilege to serve great churches in Texas, Oklahoma, and Hawaii.  It is a great honor to call Heritage our home today.

As a part of worship, God has given us the gift of music, to serve as a powerful tool in glorifying Him. Throughout the history of God’s people, you will find music present. We see the entire book of Psalms in Scripture that was sung by the Israelites. We see David appointing Levites to assist in the praise of God, both instrumentally and vocally (1 Chronicles 15:6, 22; 16:4-7, 25:1). We have an account of our Lord Jesus singing a hymn with His disciples (Matthew 26:30). We have the account of Paul and Silas singing hymns amidst persecution, undoubtedly recalling these lyrics and melodies from previous gatherings for worship (Acts 16:25). We have New Testament commands to sing to one another, making melody in our hearts to the Lord (Ephesians 5:18-21). The weekly gathering of the redeemed must include singing together.

David wrote: “I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as You know, O LORD. I have not hidden Your deliverance within my heart; I have not concealed Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness from the great congregation” (Psalm 40:9-10).  The most important musical entity in the church is the congregation. The instrumentalists, the choir, the praise team, and the worship leader all work toward the goal of supporting and assisting the local body of Christ in their singing to the Savior. As David illustrates, the glories of the Gospel cannot remain hidden away.  Rather, they must be declared for the benefit of the whole church! The truths of Scripture are gladly proclaimed through music to teach and admonish one another and to encourage thankfulness to God (Colossians 3:16-17). Our primary aim in the music ministry is to facilitate congregational singing to the glory of God.