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My friend Mike just released his new worship CD and wanted
to have a free worship event. He got in touch with his pastor and told him
about it and the pastor told him the church should be able to support him both
financially and otherwise. Two weeks to the event he got a message that the
church was not in a position to support him because they don’t have funds for
such endeavors. He was left to his fate and quite devastated. The event still
held.
This may be a familiar experience or scenario to what
somebody or you may have gone through. It seems, the support the music minister
needs is not readily available from the church coupled with the fact, that’s
where his primary place of assignment is.
What would have been
the appropriate response the church should have offered? Are churches turning
away from lending a helping hand to their music ministers?
The music ministry is a calling that is part of the great
commission and not just a time in a worship service where songs of adoration to
God are sung.
The church has to come to realization that the music
minister has a ministry that is of a larger dimension to the four corners of
the church walls.
The need to support the music minister now becomes worth considering.
What the music minister can do to effectively live in
his/her calling.
1.
Study to
show him or herself approved- By understanding what God’s calling (ministry)
on his/her life is all about. (2 Tim 2:15).
2.
Pray, plan
and organize worship meetings if possible outside the normal Sunday
services. With the supervision of a pastoral head if need be.
3.
Work on
their art and craft by releasing worship albums, which glorifies God and
edifies the people. This would get them invited as guest ministers and can also
be a good leverage. Invest in your spirit, soul and body.
4.
Make good
effort to network with other credible worshipers. Iron would definitely sharpen
another iron.
What the music minister should watch out for.
1.
The
temptation of praising himself through self glorifying songs that often come
in the form of testimonies- Some people usually fall into the temptation of
talking about the material possessions they have through their songs in the
name of thanking God but we all know it’s not always so. (1 Jhn 2:16)
2.
Church
leaders that usually put restriction on their music ministers in terms of
where they can go to minister and how they should use their ministry. This is
often because they want to keep them stuck in one place.(Gal 5:1)
3.
Open doors
that are traps in disguise. Some opportunities are not what they seem. God’s direction and leading saves the
day. Don’t be too quick to rush out and be heard or seen.(Exd 5:9)
4.
Feeling of
unworthiness, which robs the music minister of the boldness and
strength they need to minister effectively.
What really defines the limit to which a music minister can
operate or aspire to?
Are music ministers designed to function in a particular
denomination alone? And how would a music minister prepare for the calling of
God on his/her life? What are your opinions?
Gospel music THATS COOOOOOOL
ReplyDeleteI am a little confused on what transpired. You said that this was a free worship event, so I am not understanding what the financial need was or why he was devastated. The pastor probably meant well wanting to support your friend's music ministry outside the church, but within the church there is always a church board and all things financial get put to a vote and they obviously said no. Not knowing all the specifics I can only speculate what happened, but if this was a free concert then I am still in the dark as to what your friend's needs were other than supplying the venue to present the worship event.
ReplyDeleteThis is becoming a trend among music ministers that also want to be solo artists. Laura Story, Chris Tomlin, Israel Houghton, etc...all have churches that they act as worship leader at and have found a congregation that is willing to allow them to be almost an absentee worship leader for several weeks during the year to pursue their solo careers. I do not know the size or the makeup of this particular church, but maybe they are not so willing to be as generous and prefer that he decides to choose one or the other. It is almost like someone who wants to be an actor but works at a restaurant to pay the bills but is constantly asking for time off to go on auditions or if fortunate to take a role on a show. Sometimes the music minister must decide whether they want to be a performer or a worship leader.
Again this is purely speculation and that is about all I can do given limited information.
This is one of the reasons you here such stories as "I was once a church choir member but they said I didn't have a good voice... they didn't believe I could do it... I was discouraged..." from some of the secular musicians. Jesus said, "Go ye therefore, and teach ALL NATIONS..." Matt. 28: 19. Based on this verse, A music minister, just like ministers in other areas of God's vineyard is limitless in his ministry. He is not called only to a few people or within the confines of his church alone. Except for other understandable reasons, which might not have been stated here, I see no reason the church should not give her support. Although, the church might be afraid of either losing her member whose ministry is now expanding or even afraid of losing the minister to worldly affairs or music, it is still not enough reasons to draw a boundary for him/her. Jesus also told his disciples, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8 This he himself practically demonstrated by not stopping in Jerusalem. So what justification has the church got to restrict their ministers' expansion? I know of a music minister for instance, who had no other choice than to change his place of worship because he realized the body was not helping matters. Yes, some choices forbid you attending programs organized by other denominations? Is this right? Where then is the place of the CHURCH THE BODY OF CHRIST?
ReplyDeleteTo prepare for the ministry, a music minister, aside being born again, must first identify his place and purpose in the body of Christ; he must submit completely to the direction of the Holy Spirit; he or she must be a man or woman of the word and of prayers; he must know that not everybody, including members of the church will understand, appreciate or believe in his calling; he must live his life as one who is accountable to God; he must watch out for the little foxes that destroy the vine -watch out for vision killers... the list is inexhaustible. Bless you, sir.