Darcy L. Watkins – July 5, 2024 (original May 9, 2012)
These are matters I value while leading worship and leading a worship ministry team.
God Centered
To be effective, worship ministry must be focused on God and be operated towards the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not a talent show no matter how excellent the participants are.
A worship ministry team is a part of the local church ministry which must operate in harmony with the whole of the local church’s ministries.
The time of praise and worship during a service is of paramount importance. Herein is the ultimate paradox. Though it is often preliminary to the preaching of the word, it must never be regarded to only be so. Once relegated to just a preliminary and warm-up to the preaching of the word, it is ineffective in fulfilling that mandate. When mandated to bring people into God’s presence without regard towards what phases of ministry happen afterwards, praise and worship becomes one of the most effective ways to prepare the people (and the preacher too) for the preaching of the word.
Mentor
I believe that developing the ministry of others is a very important part of my own ministry. I have always made a point of helping to equip others to develop and move out in ministry. This has included getting youth involved in worship teams and working with those who are enthusiastic about worship ministry.
Part of my leadership philosophy has been that for me to have the “right” to make demands for commitment from the team (who are people there on a volunteer basis) I have to be prepared to give them value in terms of mentoring, training and other aids in their ministry development.
Mentoring is not limited to how the leader develops a team. I have been privileged in many cases as a musician to work with developing worship leaders where I have been able to assist with their development to the next level of worship leading. In some cases, it has been getting someone started and to an initial point of confidence leading worship.
The joy of mentoring others is that now when I attend a ministry function, it is not unusual to see someone involved whose life and ministry I had the privilege of helping develop. It is so cool to see them serving the Lord.
Worship Leadership Style
This is not about musical genre, stage presence or what style of clothes we wear. Leading worship is about engaging and encouraging people to lift their eyes to Jesus, to focus on Him and find rest in His presence. For this we must be comfortable in our own relationship with God. It’s not who we are that is important, but whose we are.
When someone asks with a demanding tone, “Just who do you think you are?!” The answer is to rephrase the question, “It’s not who I am that matters, but WHOOSE I am!” None of us are perfect. But we all grow together. We are set apart, not aside!
It is important to establish a leadership style that reflects both you and Christ in you. As such, those who you lead must see you as much as a fellow disciple as one they can look to as a mentor to follow.
The leader focuses on developing the team and then you all minister together. Together, you strive for excellence in ministry in a manner appropriate for your setting, and within your means. An honorable goal is to point people towards Christ and then get out of the way.
In all this, the style that matters the most is the genre of how you relate to others in the love of Jesus.
I led worship ministries for over fifteen years using such an approach. The truth is, I am just as comfortable in the back directing the technical matters and supporting the service as being up front playing an instrument or leading worship. It has now been years since I have led a worship ministry at a department level. For the last few years, it has been more important to me to see other worship leaders develop as leaders.