I’m not going to lie… I may lose friends over this post, and may even gain a few enemies. Believe me when I say that disunity is not the point of this post. As I write this out, I’m just recently back from a mission trip to Vermont…a mission trip that opened my eyes to the conversations that I have not have been paying attention to. As you probably have discovered, I am a Bible-believing evangelical Christian based in the deep South who tries to do his best to exemplify Christ is every facet of my life. I am by no means perfect, but I am faithfully trying to serve and honor God while I have breath. So when I write this, know that I am writing from my heart and trying to honor God through my words.
During the course of this election, I have seen more discouragement, more hatred, and more division than I ever have seen in my 44 years on this earth. I recently finished reading a book, “Following Jesus In A Digital Age” by Jason Thacker that really sparked this line of thinking. Some days, I find it hard to fathom how low we have sunk in our inability to love others and respect differing viewpoints. No longer can we have cordial conversations where there are differing views. Instead we have discussions where both sides interrupt each other or talk over one another (see the example that has been set by our two presidential candidates). I’ve been shocked by the vitriol Christians are spitting through social media. Pastor Jonathan Leeman elaborates, “The political Left and Right used to talk and reason with each other. Now they just shout” (Thacker, 105). Whether we choose to believe it or not, we can easily be shaped by what is happening around us rather than seeking the wisdom that only comes from God. Thacker writes, “…we are increasingly being shaped by a society that sees truth not as something provable or reliable or objective but rather a custom-made, personally assembled crutch to support one’s already-decided desires, opinions, and preferences” (Thacker, 42).
The reality is this: while Facebook and other platforms like it are a phenomenal resources, they are also distinctly creating division with people who may be exposed to your postings. While you are playing “keyboard warrior,” you have no clue what is going on beyond the screen of the individual with whom you are conversing with. Instead, you rage on social media. “My way is right and yours is wrong,” you say. Thacker reminds us that “the faces on the other side of all those devices matter to God” (Thacker, 66). He continues, “They are not your virtual enemy to treat as you wish; they are HIS image-bearers (emphasis mine), and you will answer for how you treat them, even if they were in the wrong” (Thacker, 66). We desperately need to develop some sense of decorum, meeting people where they are, and loving them like Christ does His church. However, it becomes easier for us to seek wisdom outside of the Gospel, instead turning on the news and becoming more intrenched in our own viewpoints, furthering the divisions among us.
Like I said previously, we are being shaped by the culture around us and as Christians, it is up to us to demonstrate how to live, and love, like Christ. Thacker explains, “Where worldly wisdom says to pass the blame, biblical wisdom says to take personal responsibility for our actions online.” (Thacker, 88). Oh how I wish I could go back and remove some of the things that I posted in my younger days! How I wish that someone was there to tell me, “have you prayed through this” before making my latest post. My pastor said it best one Sunday, “Your Facebook page is not a journal, it’s a billboard” (Pastor Chris Johnson). What exactly are we promoting through our social media content? Are we demonstrating a Christ-like love in how we are engaging with those online? Is our main focus to promote the type of content that would honor and glorify Christ? And, how many more of those will we gladly walk over just to make an argumentative point? Also, this isn’t just about politics. There are plenty of conversations throughout social media that are causing division like pro or anti-vaccination posts, pro or anti-gun reform posts, gay rights, immigration, and the list goes on and on.
Christians, hear me out: we MUST do better!
Technology is and has been a tool for us to use, but sadly at times it seems to be using us. Thacker explains, “While it is right to say we use technology for good (or bad) purposes each day, it is probably more accurate to say technology is discipling us each day, forming us and shaping us in a very distinct way” (Thacker, 12). Now here’s the hard truth: I am deeply burdened and sad by how my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ have used technology to bring about their braggadocios and hateful attitude. The main posts have been saying how good God is or how this was God’s will. Friend, if Kamala Harris had gained the presidency and we had woken up to a different reality, God would still be on His throne and His will would still be done. How quickly we forget about the rulers and kings (some good and some bad), and yet God’s will was still accomplished. God is forever sovereign. So friend, remember that when you post, there is someone on the other side of that screen that may have a differing view than your’s. Be discerning and approach them in love, especially if they are a non-believer.
Be better. Do better. The Kingdom of God is at stake.
Let me preface this post: I am not an expert Worship Planner. There are, however, a few tricks and patterns I have implemented over the past 20+ years. Some of the hints may help a Worship Leader just starting out in ministry. Some may not. Take it all with a grain of salt and find what works for you!
The A, B, Cs of Worship Planning:
Appeal
I know what some of you are thinking, “Why is it important for worship to be appealing? Who are we appealing to?” Maybe that particular word is a bit of a stretch, but for the purpose of this article, I don’t think it is. You see, it’s all about your church’s context. First off, we must always plan vertical worship that is appealing to our Heavenly Father. His opinion is ultimately the only one that matters. Next, we must look at what type of worship is our congregation attracted to, ie-horizontal worship. In other words, what is going to appeal to vast majority of people in your church? Our main goal is always to glorify God in worship, but if our secondary directive is to maximize worship for the betterment of our congregations (promoting horizontal worship), then it stands to reason that we need to be looking for songs that fit our church’s worship context. I bet you can look around your geographic area and discover the different worship contexts that exist in your own area. Some churches are more “high church” with organs and robes. Some are more open and free, incorporating Beatles songs barefoot before the Lord. Neither is better than the other, but they each appeal to a different groups of worshipers.
Biblical
This would seems self-explanatory, but you would be surprised. I’ve been very discouraged at what passes as solid, biblical worship in today’s generation. There is this mentality in some churches that if it’s on the Christian radio stations it must be good. Folks, we must be more discerning than that. There are even some hymns that I would never put in a congregational setting. Take “Bringing in the Sheaves”… What are sheaves? Why are we singing about fortunes, not souls? Does it mention Jesus specifically or just an ambiguous God figure? When in doubt, throw it out…The Gospel, and your role in sharing it, is too important to sing questionable songs. If you are unsure where to turn for biblical truth in worship songs, I recommend checking out the Berean Test. By no means are they a perfect resource (only the Bible takes that spot). However, they do a very good job of utilizing scripture to verify their points of emphasis.
Congregational
After you have established what is appealing to your congregation and what it biblically sound, it is important to make sure that the worship is congregationally sound. In other words, is it singable? Not everyone in your congregation has the vocal range of Brandon Lake or Chris Tomlin, so maybe, just maybe, you need to adjust the singing to where the maximum amount of people can participate. I once had a professor that offered a suggestion to finding that sweet spot in congregational singing. He referred back to the 1991 Baptist Hymnal and informed the class that no music goes past the ‘F’ above the Middle C. That should be your guide.
In Conclusion
Finally, please bathe your whole process in prayer. Stay in the scriptures daily. Spend time listening to the Lord and learning from other believers. I find that my head and my heart have an easier time discerning what is good and true when I am focusing on my walk with the Lord. We were never meant to do this alone.
A few years ago, as part of my Masters work, I interviewed my Dad, David. Forgive me for using this space for personal nostalgia, but since that time, my Dad has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and we have lost much of him. I treasure the words and advice he gave to me that day in this interview. I am posting it here as an encouragement to others that I, too, can look back on in the future.
As a minister and son, I have always looked at the example my father set in ministry, especially as a leader. Growing up, others in our congregation have always characterized him as passionate and caring. While these characteristics did not always play out in the best light at home, as a leader, my father, David, is an excellent example of a pastor and mentor.
Dad attended the University of Mobile as a History major. He never intended to become a full-time minister, although he served part-time while getting his degree. This led to a call to ministry. In 1995, David felt the call to leave his position as Minister of Music at Hillwood Baptist Church in Huntsville to plant a church in an obscure section of Huntsville. He met with his pastor and staff and informed them of this idea, seeking prayer and council. The summer of 1996, Dad left Hillwood to plant Farley Community Church. Many thought this was an odd decision and location, as Farley Community was not the most desirable place to serve. However, through the past 15 years, God has shown His plan for Dad and Farley Community Church by changing many lives and families.
For the sake of the interview, I divided the 16 questions up into 3 categories- ministry development, church and staff relations and the theology of ministry. The first category, ministry development deals with the personal and professional development of Dad’s ministry. The second category, church and staff relations, deals with the roles, personalities, and delegation that comes with ministry. The third category, the theology of ministry, deals with David’s views on ministry and serving in a church.
Ministry Development
1. Who were leadership examples for you?
I had many leadership models and some were excellent. Quite possibly I learned as much from the poor examples as the good examples. My Dad, JR, was the biggest influence in my life. Not only was he a godly father, he was also the Minister of Music and Education in all the churches I attended as I was growing up. I watched him work with choirs and deal with the disappointments that came as members of the church failed to carry out the tasks they had accepted to do. I watched as he encouraged the youth and young adults, and I was influenced heavily by the respect he showed the senior adults and the elected leadership in the church, even when they were in disagreement and even when they were disagreeable. Other examples that heavily influenced me were: Mr. Westbrook, my band teacher, who, although I was a lousy player, treated me with respect and gave me proper discipline when it was needed; Rev. Al Finch who was my pastor during high school; and (second only to my Father) my Mother who encouraged me to read.
2. How did you first realize you were a leader?
At the age of seventeen, I was called as the Interim Minister of Music at the Riverside Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama, which, at the time, averaged over three hundred in attendance. I learned how to lead a choir when over half of those choir members were three times my age. Leadership of the choir was more than selecting music and working to make it suitable for a worship service. I had to learn how to deal with egos, opinions, personalities, and I found out that I liked doing it.
3. Characterize your leadership style in three terms.
4. How has your vision of ministry changed over the course of your ministry?
For the first thirty years in the local church, I was a staff member who served as support for my Pastor. I learned how to be positive about a direction and how to emphasize strong points even when I did not totally agree with that direction or method. Every Pastor and staff member with whom I’ve had the privilege to work has contributed either positively or negatively to how I now lead as the Senior Pastor. I don’t really see a tremendous change in how I see ministry now versus how I had thirty years ago. I have always been a “people person” seeking to develop relationships with the lost in order to lead them to Christ and developing relationships with those who are saved to lead them to spiritual maturity.
Dad was heavily influenced by members of his family and church in developing of his own personal ministry. Not so many are blessed to be raised in a godly home and in church like Dad was (and I was). This was instrumental in the development of his personal talents, leadership style and ministry aspirations.
Mid-career, Dad chose to change titles and positions from Minister of Education to Pastor/Church Planter. With this transition came new tasks and responsibilities. However, his past ministry, as a part of a ministry team, became useful when required to lead others in vision and ministry.
Church and Staff Relations
1. As a leader, how do you deal with conflict in your congregation?
I will not compromise on principles or on Biblical truth, but I don’t feel that my opinion is necessarily the best on every issue, nor do I feel I should get my way every time. If someone is upset with a situation or me, I will sit down with him or her, hear him or her out, seeking reconciliation and healing. If an issue is divisive, then I will take a demonstrative stand without concern for how that stand will affect me. I am more concerned with healing, reconciliation, and redemption than with how I am affected. If it does not compromise principles or Biblical truth or does not damage the ongoing ministries of the church, I seek common ground.
2. What role does delegation of responsibility play in your ministry?
We have clearly defined roles, in writing, for each one of our ministerial and administrative staff. When issues arrive that are not covered in these written role descriptions, we meet together for clarification. We have a chart that clearly shows who is responsible to whom. Our church is staff-led and committee-driven with ultimate authority resting with the congregation in areas of disagreement.
3. How do you instill your vision for ministry in your staff?
This is a weakness, at least in the implementation of the process of accountability. I am highly motivated, and I do become frustrated when individual staff members do not share my passion, whether that be to win the lost, minister to the needy, or disciple Christians. I’m not much on setting numerical goals, but I do want my staff to be passionate about their calling.
4. How do you effectively train your staff to lead?
Again, this is an area of great weakness for me. I seek to present a good example of stewardship of time, but I have never established any ongoing training for our staff. This probably leads to a rebellion against accountability that plagues us.
5. How do you relate to other leaders and ministers in your community?
I do not have much contact with any ministers in this Association, nor do I spend a great effort in cultivating relationships outside this church. Instead I maintain contact with those outside our church whom I feel need salvation, or those being cultivated for leadership within the local body. I have participated actively with an interdenominational Concert of Prayer that meets bi-monthly in our city. That gathering has been encouraging, and praying together with pastors across denominational lines has strengthened me immensely.
Through these answers, we can see that Dad is passionate about his calling and ministry. However, he has a weakness in passing that vision and passion on to those on his staff. It is important for every ministry team member to know their role and responsibilities, but also to understand why and how these roles were created and are to be fulfilled. Dad admitting this is an area of struggle is interesting to me, as I am fully aware of what his vision for ministry is. He has instilled that vision in me and I am working in my own congregation and family with the same vision, to be out in the community, loving the lost and hurting of the world.
It is also important for Dad, as with other ministry team members and leaders, to be held accountable. Dad admitted that this was an area that “plagued” his ministry. Without accountability, a ministry cannot be maintained through trust and good relations. This is an area that, through my own personal studying, I have been working on with my own ministry team, personal and professional accountability. Not out of fear of moral or otherwise failure, but out of personal and professional growth. In this, my staff and myself, stay above reproach.
The Theology of Ministry
1. As a leader, how do you determine God’s will for your ministry?
I assume we all get caught up in the day-to-day grind and often lose sight of direction or goals. We can all become bogged down and sacrifice what needs to be done for what must be done. Sermons must be written, Bible studies prepared, newsletters and mail outs, ministry needs and witnessing to the lost. Soon the task is overwhelming. There are some tasks that must be done: crises counseling, committee meetings, and worship preparations, family time. Soon the personal time for prayer, personal study, and exercise suffers. How all this fits together must be in keeping with God’s will for the ministry to which He has called me. Is it God’s will that I met with the three young adult men for fellowship and devotion early this morning when I could have been spending that time in prayer and study? What about lunch today with the two ninth grade students who are lost? Will that allow me the time necessary for follow-up with the unmarried couple living together that was here for Bible study last week? Sometimes it is an insurmountable task to differentiate between what is God’s will for each day. Directing a staff and a church to accomplish His will is so much a greater task.
2. What role does holiness play in your leadership style?
My personal Bible study for the last two weeks has been from James 4:1-10. Pursuing holiness is an everyday growing relationship: putting off that which encumbers and putting on that which frees us. Within the confines of a crowded schedule, it is a necessary work to “Draw near to God. . .” I cannot function without a constant infilling of His Spirit. This is also a good place to mention the necessity of “rest” (physical and spiritual).
3. What role does servant hood play in your leadership style?
Does my staff see me as the leader who directs from an unapproachable office or do I experience ministry with them in visits to the hospitals and retirement homes, benevolence ministries, the seeking of the lost? If I am not a servant, how can I expect them to be servants?
4. What are some of the qualities of an effective leader?
An effective leader knows who he/she is and where they are going. An effective leader demands more of themselves than their co-workers. An effective Christian leader cares first for the One we truly serve and then serves others in humility. An effective leader leads rather than pushes, encourages rather than condemns, knows where they are going and clearly communicates that to those whom he is called to lead.
5. How do you balance ministry and your personal life?
Again, this is an area of personal struggle. As much as possible, I’ve sought to intertwine the two. My children have visited hospitals, nursing homes, senior shut-ins, and prospects with me. We worked on music together, and they helped me decide which music would work best with which choir or ensemble. As a family, we sang through cantatas before the choir saw them. Today, if I need ministerial advice, I am most likely to call my son or one of my sons-in-law who are ministers. One daughter keeps me informed on the books I need to be reading to be current with ministry styles. I do not split the sacred from the secular with my family. All of life, for us, is sacred and we share of what God is doing in and through each of us.
6. What advice would you give a young minister learning to lead?
Never expect others to do what you are unwilling to do yourself! Set goals and chart progress, not for your church’s growth but in your personal ministerial life. Who are you helping to mature in the faith? Who are you cultivating a relationship with in order to share the Gospel? Who will you share the Gospel with today, this week, this month? When was the last time you shared the Gospel, one on one, with someone who was lost and they came to know Christ as Savior OUTSIDE THE PHYSICAL WALLS OF THE CHURCH? Love your staff and be their servant! Love your people and be their servant. Never expect from your staff or congregation the work, respect, love. . .that you do not give them.
7. Where do you see your ministry in 5 years?
I pray God will open the door for me to work in a small rural church where I can be one-on-one with my people. I love my church and am blessed to be here, but I don’t want to burden this church with a slowing, ineffective administrator. The ministries here are explosive; the staff size is increasing; and the opportunities are overwhelming. This church deserves a more effective, more energetic pastor, and I need a place more in keeping with my abilities and my energy level.
Balance is important in the life of everyone, but especially leaders in ministry. Like Dad said, the difference between personal study time and ministry is often indiscernible. However, time with family and physical and spiritual rest are required for a vibrant and Spirit-led ministry.
Dad keeps with our texts in the importance he places on personal holiness and servanthood. Making time for personal devotion and prayer is vital to the maintenance of personal holiness. As Dad said, “pursuing holiness is an everyday growing relationship.” We cannot expect to grow a life of holiness without taking the time to spend in personal devotion and prayer.
If I have noticed one thing about watching my Dad minister, it is that he is a servant. Every Sunday, you can find him making coffee, setting up chairs, vacuuming, etc. He sets an example for his staff (and family) in service, and thereby inspiring them to do the same. Dad leaves us parting words about servant hood and effectiveness. Spending time outside of the church with the lost and hurting of the community is vital to the success of any ministry. Time with the lonely, outcast and downtrodden will provide the leader the means to share the gospel, cultivate relationships and set example for others on their staff and in their congregation. This is what ministry is all about, loving the lost and hurting of the world.
My wife recently shared with me a video she found on social media. It was a pastor talking about counterfeit currency. He said that when government experts are learning to distinguish between the authentic bills and counterfeit bills, they study the real bills hot off the presses. These experts make sure they know how the paper feels, how much a bill weighs, how it reflects light and the subtle shades of ink printed on each side. This way, they know when they are NOT holding the real deal. When a counterfeit bill comes across their path, they may not know why it is wrong, but they can tell you it’s counterfeit every time.
The same is true for us with theology. I don’t have to understand why some theologies are false, I just have to know the Truth-the Word of God. I must be grounded in it. When developing a theology of Worship, it is imperative that the Worship Leader dig into Scripture to form their own personal theology of worship.
Let’s start out with some definitions. First, Merriam-Webster defines theology as “the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially: the study of God and of God’s relation to the world.”[1] It also defines worship as, “To honor or reverence as a divine being or supernatural power” or “to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion.”[2] Therefore, to develop a theology of worship would mean that we understand the study of our faith, practice and experience as to why we regard our Almighty God with great respect, honor, and devotion. In summary, it is why and how we choose to relate to the Almighty God.
For the follower of Jesus, sound theology of worship begins with biblical knowledge. Matt Boswell writes, “For the worship leader, our beliefs and convictions about God are what serve as the foundation for worship. A love for the Word of God is a primary requirement. Without a vivid belief in the inerrancy and sufficiency of the Word of God, our services (and our lives) will never find the rhythm of worship. The rhythm of worship is revelation and response.”[3] Theology matters for the sole purpose of propelling our doxology, and the remainder of our lives, to the Father. But how does our theology propel our doxology? As worship leaders, our responsibility is to have a deep theological basis for why we do what we do, why we serve who we serve. Our theology can come from many sources, but it should be completely grounded in the Word of God. First and foremost, the Bible should be the only vessel that we filter all of our theology through. Matt Boswell explains that there are three ways in which our theology propels our doxology.
First, our theology propels us to ascribe all of the greatness to God. Psalm 96:7-8 says, “Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name.”[4] When we gather each Sunday, we must remember that our sole purpose is to glorify God. As worship leaders, we must make this truth a priority in the songs we choose and how we display them to our congregations. We must take full advantage of the platform God has given us and ascribe glory unto his name. We must live a life worthy of our calling.
Second, our theology propels us to bring worshipful offerings to God. The second part of Psalm 96:8 says, “…bring an offering, and come into his courts!”[5] Paul Baloche has a song that proclaims this truth:
I bring an offering of worship to my King
No one on earth deserves the praises that I sing
Jesus, may you receive the honor that You’re due
O Lord, I bring and offering to You
As worship leaders, we must echo what Baloche is saying here. The reason we gather is to bring offerings of worship to our King. We must shy away from feeling satisfied with simply being accepted because of our offerings. God is worthy of so much more.
Third, our theology propels us to tremble. Psalm 96:9 says, “Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!”[6] This is where we fall short as the body of Christ. Boswell explains, “One of the greatest weaknesses of the evangelical church is our disinclination to tremble. We do well in asserting the transcendence and sovereignty of God, but we must allow these truths to move us to an awe-filled doxology.”[7] We have lost our fear before the Awesome Lord of Hosts. Worship should never be taken lightly or flippantly. We should aspire to come with our best, for fear of arriving at the feet of our Lord with anything less.
Back to our definition above, as we study how we relate to the Lord, this relationship goes both ways, from man to God and God to man. David Peterson writes, “A theology of worship must consider key themes such as revelation, redemption, God’s covenant with Israel and the call for his people to live as a distinct and separate nation.”[8] We worship because He has already done mighty and wonderful things for us. We praise through the triumphs and lament through the tragedies because He has always been faithful. When developing our theology of worship, we must never forget that worship is our response to the faithfulness of God.
We all have our own preferences. For instance, I prefer BBQ sauce over Ranch on my chicken. I prefer the mountains to the beach. I prefer Pepsi Zero to Coke Zero, and that’s a hill I will die on.
I also have my own personal preferences in worship. I prefer a good blend of the old classics and new hits. I prefer low lighting as it helps me to focus. I prefer live instruments over canned tracks. And, I have plenty more.
However, seldom do my preferences matters when it comes to planning worship. When planning a service, I often have to fight the urge to impose my preferences on to the worship service.
Robbie Castleman writes, “Now, worship planners and church leaders might verbalize a dependence on God’s Spirit to lead, guide, move and bless the congregation in a service of worship. But if a believer’s experience or congregational need shapes the service, the actual walk doesn’t give evidence for such talk.”[1]
I meet with a group of area Worship Leaders every Thursday morning at 8:00 AM. It really is a special time for me, personally. We all do life together, and share with each other our joys and our burdens of worship ministry. I recall one of the discussions we had discussing the flow of the worship service, particularly the planning of worship. It goes without saying that each of our desires is for the Lord to have His way in the worship service. Although we are responsible for the our congregations each and every Sunday, it is God who is the Lead Worshipper. We ultimately want to be discerning in listening to Him as we carefully plan each worship service. This is not easy. Sometimes that voice we long for and crave goes silent. What do we do then? What do we do when the direction and calling grows stale?
Oftentimes, when I feel stuck or stale, I tend to fall back in to the same patterns of behavior. I often find myself looking back over previous worship services, hoping for a spark of inspiration. I also spend time looking through the Scripture that’s being spoken on that particular Sunday…if I am fortunate enough to receive it before Saturday evening. But, for some of us, we rely often on our own agenda or our personal preferences to mold and shape the worship service. It’s easy to fall back onto our old standards or favorites. Worship Leader… THIS IS DANGEROUS!
Francis Chan famously shared an interaction he had with a church goer after a service one day where the church goer criticized the worship saying, “I didn’t really enjoy worship today.” To which Chan responded, “That’s OK. We weren’t worshipping you.”
Our preferences do not hold any weight on the worship service: It’s God’s service, therefore it’s God’s plan. And sometimes our careful planning can be interrupted by the Holy Spirit. I grown to appreciate and love those interruptions. It makes for a much better worship service.
[1] Robbie Castleman, Story-Shaped Worship: Following Patterns from the Bible and History (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2013), 194.
Let me expand on my previous post a little further:
I believe that one of the most significant issues today impacting worship services across the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is the lack of support and training offered to co-vocational or part-time worship leadership. Due to the steady decline in financial giving and the plateaued growth in many congregations, this phenomenon will most likely only continue to grow as congregations are having to cut costs across the board. This is especially true of mid-size churches that can afford a full-time Senior Pastor but cannot afford full-time secondary staff, such as the Worship Pastor. Although this phenomenon is a reality for churches of all sizes. LaRochelle reports in Part-Time Pastor, Full-Time Church, “The reality is that congregations generally have limited resources and, because of the limitations within which they have to live, are forced to make decisions about how best to formulate a staff so as to meet the real needs of the local church.”
My own research suggests that many part-time or co-vocational Worship Pastors feel overlooked or underserved by the SBC. There is an attitude among many in the Christian post-secondary institutions (especially the institutions supported by the SBC) that co-vocational employment is somehow less than. Even when I went through seminary and into my doctorate, it was expected that we would all land full-time positions as soon as we graduated seminary. The reality is very different for many ministers.
The phenomenon of co-vocational church leadership needs to be reassessed by many in leadership, both in the SBC and in parachurch organizations. Christopher Hagen writes, “Forecasts of total membership, amount of giving, worship attendance, and so on are that of decline for mainline Protestant churches.” This decline is not expected to change any time soon, so the church must adapt. Rudy Gray writes, “Even though accurate data is unavailable, it is still obvious to many Southern Baptist leaders that co-vocational ministry makes up 50 percent or more of our total profile — and it is growing.” The Church, as a whole, needs to reassess how we treat and support co-vocational Worship Pastors.
Unfortunately, through my research I have discovered that many co-vocational or part-time worship pastors feel alone and abandoned by the denomination that is known by its cooperation to support so many. The few part-time worship leaders that are fortunate to be educated or trained in their calling are often outnumbered by the nurses, teachers, mechanics, college students and retirees that are called upon by their congregation to help out on Sundays in the worship team. Many of these congregations cannot afford to send these servants back to be trained in worship leadership. There are very few affordable post-secondary programs available to them. Even the music conferences or training events often require these co-vocational servants to miss their “day job” to attend.
So, what is the answer? Mentoring. There are so many larger congregations in the Southern Baptist Convention that employ trained and educated worship leaders. We need to stop viewing other congregations as competition. We need to understand that cooperation is the key to the gospel. Those that are fortunate enough to have the training and education need to share their resources. This could be easily facilitated by an organized, denominationally-driven mentor program.
There are precedents set by other denominations that foster the building of mentoring relationships within and outside the denominational lines. The Leadership Program for Musicians is one such program established by the Episcopal Church’s General Convention. Rideout explains in the American Organist,
The LPM program was designed for those who (1) had not yet had the opportunity to develop their musical skills through long-term education or continuing education, (2) might have studied music in a college environment but did not study how to plan and lead worship or how to select hymns and service music, (3) were members of other denominations yet served in Episcopal congregations and needed to know more specific information, (4) were young musicians with potential for church-music leadership, and (5) desired positive
professional relationships with other musicians and clergy.
Building such a program within the Southern Baptist Convention would be an easy means of providing many underserved worship leaders with the cost-effective and timely tools they need to be better prepared for their ministry. However, as mentioned at the beginning of this dissertation, that idea is simply not on the radar of the Southern Baptist Convention, other denominations have already put mentoring strategies into place. In order to see a lasting monumental change, the denomination must make mentoring and training the part-time worship leader a priority.
Relationships are one of the most critical parts of the human existence, both our relationship with God and with others. Relationships can make or break you worship.
Relationships matter.
For the Worship Leader, building and developing lasting relationships is essential for any future success in ministry. Relationships are the meter which determines if your ministry fails or flourishes. 1 Corinthians 1:10 tells us, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” Solid biblical relationships are even more crucial as a Church Leader. Being a relational leader takes hard work, but the results are so worth it.
Unity is key to relationships of any type, especially within a multigenerational church. Bob Kauflin says, “The scattered church throughout the week is still the church. But gathering together is a physical demonstration and reminder of our distinctness from the world and our unity in the gospel. We show that we’ve been drawn apart from the world and drawn together to God.”[1]
Worship is primarily a relationship. When we worship, we commune with God. This is our time spent in His presence, whether we worship corporately or privately. When we enter His presence, we bring Him our cares and concerns, we listen for His voice and we praise Him. As worship leaders, we are relationship leaders. We lead others to the throne of grace. However, this is not where our responsibility with our relationships end.
In religion, the primary indicator of a meaningful relationship is discipleship. Jesus told us in one of His last directives to go and make disciples.[2] Today’s generation of church-goers has far more outside influences than any of the generations that came before. It is because of this that the church, needs to redirect its focus on building the body of Christ as a whole and complete unit.
One church. One mission. One calling.
More and more churches are emphasizing small groups. Small groups allow people to open up their lives to each other in a more intimate setting than a larger corporate service. My wife and I are blessed with an incredible small group. We call ourselves the “Young Adults,” but we’re not so young anymore. But, let me tell you, when I know I have a group of likeminded believers in my corner that love and support me, that is worship.
As a worship leader, I try to be as involved with as many people as I can. I want to get to know them, their family, and how I can better serve them. Blackaby says, “Those in prominent positions must always remember that without followers, they are not leaders.”[3] At the church we serve, my wife and I are involved in one of the healthiest small groups I’ve ever encountered. We are literally “doing life” together. We know we are being prayed for. We can call any of these men and women at a moment’s notice. We are literally fighting our spiritual battles with some of the finest soldiers in the Lord’s army. What a blessing!
Where our strengths lie is usually where we are most successful. I consider myself a good worship planner, and I can execute a worship service well. Beyond the task of planning and leading worship services, I also invest in relationships with other people, inside and outside our small group. I do this by meeting with individuals for lunch or just having a cup of coffee together. Through this intentionally relational time I learn more about how each individual can contribute to the mission of the church, whether in worship or not. I learn how the church can serve them. I learn their stories and what God is doing in their lives. Not only am I making a commitment to getting to know the person, but I am also providing them an opportunity to serve and be served.
Developing a plan for building and maintaining relationships is key. As with any career, relationships are an essential part of the work. However, there are elements of these relationships that can be difficult to maintain or even troublesome for even the most experienced worship leaders. Navigating relationships through a biblical plan established early in your career can only serve to protect your ministry and family. No matter what relationship you may encounter, you must approach it with the love and grace of Jesus Christ. In his book The Pastor’s Handbook John Bisagno says, “The shepherd is always in front of the sheep, and he is out there alone. He is the leader and enjoys the privilege of leadership. But he is always the first to lay down his life for his sheep, to fight and even die in their defense.”[4] As the Worship Leader, you must be willing to go beyond the normality of leading worship, you must invest in the lives of others.
Relationships are important . . . really important. For some, building lasting relationships with others will come easy, but for others it will take work. Nevertheless, each of us should follow the example Jesus set before us. “This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”[5] Jesus built lasting relationships with His disciples, but more importantly He demonstrated a relational lifestyle with those whom He encountered throughout His ministry. He intentionally sought out those relationships. If we are to make a greater impact in our personal ministry for the cause of Jesus Christ, we have to invest in relationships that matter.
[1] Bob Kauflin, True Worshipers: Seeking What Matters to God (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2015), 77.
[3] Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby, Spiritual Leadership: Moving People On to God’s Agenda (Nashville, Tenn.: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001), 218.
[4] John R. Bisagno, Pastor’s Handbook, [rev.]. ed. (Nashville, Tenn.: B & H Books, 2011), 97.
So many of us are walking around wounded. Whether from childhood trauma, past relationships or the consequences of our own sin, those wounds are real and deep.
Brother and Sister, Jesus sees your wounds. He had some too.
For too many of us, some of that hurt comes from experiences we’ve had within the Church. If the Church is made up of the imperfect people of God and not a physical building, then that same Church will be held accountable for the hurts inflicted on the wounded. Unfortunately, much damage has already been done to so many of us. Let me tell you, Church Hurt is one of the worst kinds of hurt. We come to church expecting kindness and grace, so when you are hurt by the church, it can be truly devastating.
Those traumas caused by the Church are real. Remember, hurt people hurt people. Oftentimes, those hurts cause us to walk away from our faith because we associate our experiences with the people of God to our encounter with the Almighty God. Please do not make the mistake of confusing those two. Do not let your wounds inflicted by others dissuade you from your faith. The Church is full of imperfect people attempting to imperfectly do the perfect will of a perfect God.
Remember, Brother and Sister, Jesus calls us to walk through trials, because He too walked those trials. He is not a distant Savior unable to commensurate with us in our hurt. Jesus was hurt by the Church too. The religious leaders of the time led the crowds in crucifying Him. He knows your hurt. He sees your heart. He forgave and is asking you to do the same.
My church hurt isn’t tied to one particular experience but years of service to a community of believers that abused their power and authority over me and my family. From power-hungry pastors to gossiping choir members to sheer financial neglect, my family has seen it all. At one point in our marriage, it led us to not only leave the ministry, but church altogether. I could make your toes curl by telling you some of the experiences my wife and I have faced in ministry. Unfortunately, way too many church staff members have similar stories.
But God.
God has led us to serve alongside a body of believers that not only love and cherish my family and I, but that have helped heal traumas they didn’t cause. They have allowed my wife and I to serve in all of our frail humanness. They have given us room to make mistakes, grow and learn, all the while supporting us with prayer and encouragement.
Much of our growth and healing has come through the power of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a requirement for the follower of Jesus. Colossians 3:13 says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Jesus tells us to tough it out through forgiveness. We are to bear with one another, with the all of the hurt and pain through forgiveness. I know it isn’t easy, but it is worth it.
Let me tell you, if you haven’t found a church to do that, Brother or Sister, I implore you to keep looking. There are so many faithful, loving bodies of believers ready to come alongside you and help you heal your hurts. Don’t give up on God because of the imperfect people of God. After all, you and I are just as imperfect.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
Those of you that know me in person can see the red (and grey) in my beard. My whole body is one giant freckle. Just trust me on that. I’ve very clearly got some Irish blood in me. A few years ago my wife and I gifted each other DNA tests for Christmas. Romantic, right? That test confirmed my family’s oral history of our ancestors coming over from Ireland. I guess that’s why I’ve always found Saint Patrick’s day so interesting. It’s a small tie to my distant past.
As much fun as the dressing up, pinching people, and dying bodies of water green are, there are lessons to be learned from the historical figure of Saint Patrick, a man who sacrificed everything and dedicated his life to telling others about His Savior, Jesus.
A little backstory from the man himself, “My name is Patrick. I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all believers. I am looked down upon by many. My father was Calpornius. He was a deacon; his father was Potitus, a priest, who lived at Bannavem Taburniae (Wales). His home was near there, and that is where I was taken prisoner. I was about sixteen at the time.” (Patrick’s Confession) He kind of glances over much of his background, but none of that is very important when you’ve been captured and kidnapped by pirates.
Then the pagan pirates take Patrick inland where he worked as a farm laborer and slave. As God often does in cool stories, Patrick then had a dream. God showed him a way out. A ship would be waiting for him at the coast. So, after 6 years as a slave, Patrick escaped. He walked the 200 or so miles back to find the exact ship waiting for him and he sailed to freedom.
Emboldened by the enormous provision of God, Patrick didn’t stay home long. In true fashion, God gave Patrick another dream. He heard the Irish calling him back. He knew they were pagan and lost, dying without the knowledge of God. He became a priest on a mission. He had a burdened to see the people of Ireland turn to God. Remember, Patrick was Scottish. Ireland was the place of his 6 years of slavery. Patrick was going back into the Lion’s Den.
Once word got out, King Leoghaire, the pagan king of Ireland, was less excited about Patrick coming and sharing the Good News of the Cross. As soon as Patrick landed in Ireland, he lit a fire. At this time of year, it was pagan practice to put out all fires before a new one was lit. The pagan Irish saw Patrick’s fire and told the king, who summoned Patrick and his small band of followers.
As they traveled to the castle to see King Leoghaire and most certain death, Patrick and his followers chanted the hymn known as The Lorica:
“Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.”
King Leoghaire spared Patrick’s life. The king was not persuaded to adopt Patrick’s religious views, but he was so impressed by the man and his courage that he allowed Patrick to go on his way and continue his mission in Ireland, making converts and building churches.
Patrick spent the rest of his days working and teaching in Ireland. He is credited with building many churches around the country and establishing the Celtic church in Ireland, turning an entire country from Druid paganism to belief in the One True God.
Patrick took to writing in the latter years of his life, leaving behind two remaining works, his Confession and A Letter to Coroticus. There are many tales of his dedication and service to the Lord, including driving the snakes out of Ireland, the legend of the four leaf clover, and even one about demon blackbirds surrounding him during a Lenten prayer time. Who knows how much is myth and how much is truth, but the moral of the story remains the same. Saint Patrick was a man willing to die for his faith who gave up everything to see his oppressors come to Jesus.
When it comes to Saint Patrick and the day dedicated to his memory, the true story is so much more interesting than any of the myths.
Some in my congregation enjoy coming to me with songs that they want to suggest for our corporate worship services. The songs they suggest may be new songs they’ve found on the radio, songs they’ve discovered in their private worship time, or timeless favorites from their past. Each time one of these interactions takes places, I am left in awe of those who choose to take an interest in worship planning.
Discussing worship with each of them is truly one of the many joys of my calling. I love hearing what God is using to move and change those who are seeking Him. The only setback to these encounters is the lack of available space in each worship set to plug in their requests. I wish I could utilize each song suggested to me, but, unfortunately, time does not allow for that.
Worship leaders are one of the top theologians of their congregation. The messages delivered in song can encourage or hinder the personal theologies of hundreds each week. What a huge responsibility! As worship leaders, we will one day be held accountable for the messages we present in each worship set. What are your songs telling your congregation? Are they lifting up the King of Kings or merely sending out a sweet, but meaningless, positive message?
I choose to utilize the BEST POSSIBLE songs each time I step on stage, that means they must sing of King Jesus and His love for us.
A little background for those that are less familiar, a lot of thought and prayer goes into selecting songs for a corporate worship set. Many different attributes of each song are considered when organizing a corporate worship service, including: theme, key signatures, flow, personnel available, etc. More than that, each song must hold up to the standards set in Scripture. Above all, if the song is not biblical, I will not utilize it in worship. Period.
While there are thousands of songs that fit the above criteria, I can further narrow those down to the songs that are the best fit for our worship context. Those will include songs that are vertical in their worship (their main subject is God and not man) and those that fit the theme for our specific Bible passage for the day.
On the contrary, many songs fit the above criteria, but not every song translates well to the corporate worship setting. For instance, take “You Will Be Found” by Cory Asbury & Natalie Grant. I saw “Dear Even Hansen.” It’s a great story. The song is powerful in the context of a secular musical. It’s uplifting and positive…it also does not mention the name of Jesus. Or, on the other end of the spectrum, take “In the Garden” by C. Austin Miles. It’s a beautiful, timeless song. However, it speaks to one’s individual walk with God. With lyrics like, “I come to the garden alone,” or “None other can ever know,” it’s hard to integrate that into a corporate message. As a worship leader, it’s my job to utilize the BEST songs for each individual worship service context. It’s not a responsibility I take lightly.
Why do I write all of this? My point is, KEEP IT UP! Please share with your worship leader what God is revealing to you through a particular song. Don’t be discouraged when they don’t include a particular song that you suggest. They are up against pressures and standards that many will never understand. Your worship pastor genuinely wants to know how God is working through you. I know I do.
Earnest Worship 
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