The music minister and church support. Part 1

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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?

Do's and don'ts in recruiting praise team and choir members.

Being effective in a job or duty has everything to do with having the needed qualification to perform. In Churches, a great deal of what happens during worship in regards to the praise team or choir basically starts from the recruiting process. In building of the temple in the Book of Chronicles, much emphasis was given on skill and a history of musical tradition, which shows the ability of the musicians to perform or carry out the duty.(2 Chron 34:12, 1 Chron 25:7, 26:8).

I know, some of us have heard of the saying “God does not call the qualified but qualifies the called”. There are professions that would not permit half-baked individuals to be at the helm of affairs. Like piloting a plane or performing a surgery just to mention a few.

What makes the music ministry require much scrutiny in recruiting membership is the physical and spiritual role it plays in people’s lives.

In as much opportunity should be provided for training the basic requirements that fulfills qualification should not be ignored.

Amazing worship services are usually those that have the manifest presence of God’s Spirit. 

Having a wonderful praise team or choir to usher in the congregation to worship should definitely be the desire of any worship meeting.

5 questions never to ask while recruiting praise team or choir members

1.     Have you ever sinned before? – Some have gone to ask when the individual did what and with whom? We all have sinned and were sinners saved by grace. It should not be about the person’s past but where the person is and steps taken to live the life God have called us.

2.     Do you have an album or performed in a major concert? - Albums are not good measurement of a person’s ability. There are many songwriters that don’t have an album.

3.     Do you obey authority or your leader? The answer would always be a yes because they want to join the group.

4.     Can you play or sing and get people shouting, jumping, clapping and screaming?- A genuine desire to want to be a blessing should be looked for instead.

5.     We make monthly donations of $50 hope you can pay that?  For reasons best known to conscience, that’s not a good welcome note. It makes the new comer feel his/her money is needed first.

6 questions to ask-

1.     Do you have other commitments elsewhere? Most issues come from commitments because most musicians get themselves involved with more than one group.

2.     Are you single or married?- This helps in knowing how to handle issues involving relationships.

3.     What do you plan to achieve or contribute?- The individual must come in with a goal In mind either that of wanting to improve or contribute.

4.     Have you participated in any praise team or choir prior to desiring to join us?-This would help in determining the experience level of the individual.

5.      Do you have an understanding of what it means to minister through music?- The whole concept of music in the church is ministering the gospel of Christ.

6.      Are you born again?

These are some questions in addition to many that I believe would help in acquiring and preparing worshipers for the task ahead of them.

Training for Worshipers: Is it Necessary?

Worship as a lifestyle and worship as an obligation (duty) are two distinct but closely related attributes. Music in the church is an act of worship unto God in which the worshiper lifts up his/her heart, voice and body as a sacrifice (Rom 12:1).

A worshiper is naturally expected to live a life driven by worship. A worshiper that leads people into worship is also expected to understand the dynamics of worship, now I am not making reference to the art form, but the life (Spirit) in it.

I have been to various churches where the praise team has individuals that really want to serve God through worship by being in the praise team of choir, but those individuals are really having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that singing or playing might not just be their gifting and calling.

This has created a situation where there are two kinds of music ministers or worshipers.

1- Those that have a heart for worship and want to serve God through singing and playing instruments, but cannot due to a poor sound interpretation skill and a poor rhythmic feel.

2-Those that are gifted and interested in performing (singing and playing), but careless about the lifestyle that worship demands.

In both situation hope cannot and should not be lost.

I believe that training is necessary for worshipers because it introduces them to the concept of worship in understanding that excellence is required, commitment cannot be overlooked, and living the worship lifestyle makes the worship experience worthwhile. 

What should be done to encourage proper and effective training for worshipers?

1.Genuine interest in the life of those involved with worship from the church or leaders of the praise team or choir- They should not be seen as hirelings or the church’s property.

2. A proper evaluation system which examines the effectiveness of the ministration of the praise team or choir: Song effectiveness can be known through testimonies.

3. Musical training should be taken seriously by inviting musical professionals: Bad music during worship waters down the effectiveness of any ministration. 

What has been your experience with training for worship team or choir members?

Eight things prayers and fasting would do and not do for a praise team or choir.

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It's easy to sometimes alternate functions by thinking, prayers would cover up for what rehearsing is supposed to handle and also believe rehearsals would give the anointing a team or choir needs for worship without praying.

A praise team or choir is as anointed to the level in which it prays and fasts and vice versa.

Four things prayers and fasting would do for a praise team of choir

1- It will bring unity (Eph 4:3)- There is a bond that is developed when praying and fasting is practiced in a group. People begin to learn about, and understand each other more.

2- It will build up the Spiritual lives of Individuals (Jud 1:20) - Maturity as believers also includes Spiritual maturity. This is essential because helps the individual grow in the things of God.

3- Knowing the mind of God for each moment- In certain situations the Spirit of God can decide to change the order of songs or arrangement already planned. It takes sensitive individuals to know what God is saying at that moment.

4- Confidence- There is a Joy that comes from knowing “this ministration is for God’s glory” and “He is here in our midst as we minister”(Phi 1:6, Acts 28:31, Prov 14:26).

Four things prayers and fasting would not do for a praise team or choir.

1-It would not make the Praise team or choir perform well.- Performance is always a product of hard work. There would always be the need to learn a song well before singing or playing or else there would be so many mistakes.

2- It would not feed the needy amongst them (Jam 2:16)- The needy would always require food and financial support to take care of their needs.

3- Prayers would not substitute for a good music director (1 Chron 15:22)- A music director needs to be skillful ad trained in aspects of music for efficiency and effectiveness.

4- Prayers would not take the place of studying the word of God (2 Tim 2:15)- This helps in writing scriptural accurate songs and also knowing how to pray the word of God (promises and peace) into our lives.

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How much emphases have you applied to prayers and fasting where you are? 

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Worship leaders- Levites or Superstars?

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Leading people into the presence of God through worship is, and would continue to be, a sensitive part of the whole worship service in which individuals that perform such duties are themselves qualified by Grace. It should not be about the vessel, but all praise and glory should be to God (Ish 42:8).

What then should the attitude of the church towards its worship leaders be? Should they be seen as ministers chosen by God’s election (Ish 61:6)? Or should they be regarded as worship celebrities that need to be acknowledged each time after leading God’s people into his presence (2 Cor 4:7)?

There is a sad story of a very anointed and vibrant worship leader that was excellent in taking the people into God’s presence in worship, everyone always got overwhelmed by the grace and gifting of God on his life, he was so much celebrated and talked about that he subsequently decided to expand the scope of his ministry and or gifting. A few years later, he became involved in drugs and started singing at nightclubs.

I believe this may sound familiar to some. There is so much effect that people’s influence can have on a person’s mind, especially if it’s outside the will of God.

Has the church celebrated its worship leaders to the point of worshiping them (Rom 1:25)?

The issue of having the best worship song listed by a Christian magazine or award ceremony usually tends to present a narrow understanding the purpose and scope of worship. Sometimes it appears as if God has approved those singers as the ones he loves the most (Rom 11:34).

Don’t get me wrong.  Recognition of a worship leader’s contribution needs to be acknowledged but when it gets to a situation where it leads to them having so much “power” that they cannot be corrected because the church is afraid of losing them, then that begins to set a negative pattern that can destroy the individual’s life.

 Could it be that most worship leaders that strayed far away from the church were actually encouraged by the church to do so unknowingly? What has your experience been?

Church songs-Should they just be good songs or God’s songs?

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Last weekend I was travelling from Boston to Connecticut with a friend of mine and he played a CD in which a Bishop was singing an Alicia keys song during his sermon. He said that was the song he was inspired to sing and changed the word “baby” to “Jesus”. He said it does not matter what you sing, but whom you are singing it to. The congregation sang with him. 

What songs really qualify for worship, praise and adoration to God?

Songs are vehicles through which we access the heart of God. They connect with our Spirit when offered as a sacrifice of thanksgiving and reverence to God from a true heart.

 It becomes vital to understand that Songs move God, that’s why he is involved with giving out songs (Job35:10, Deut 31:18) It matters what we sing to God as he loves to hear his children praise him. God delights in the worship of his saints.

Good songs do not necessarily mean they are Gods. Songs containing biblical terms as Jesus, Joy, God, Bless, Heaven, hope, peace etc., are easily thought to come from God because to the believer, it sounds Church-like.

There is no instruction as to what styles of song God prefers. It can be the traditional hymn, a contemporary song or a Spontaneous Spiritual song, but it matters where the song comes from.

Singing to God has always and will continue to be a sacred part of our worship because God should be our song (Exd 15:2). He inhabits it.

 God demands that we sing a new song to him (Pslm 96:1, 98:1, 144:9, Rev 5:9) not because he gets tired of listening to old songs, but because he expects us to see different revelations of his glory and majesty whenever we sincerely offer Songs in worship that captures the whole entity of who he is.

Maybe the reason we do not have an experience of the move and manifest presence of God in our lives and ministry is because we have been offering him songs he cannot relate to.

What have been the songs you are singing back to God lately? What inspires and edifies your Spirit?

Effective and blissful worship experience

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The worship experience is one in which so much is expected due to it’s sacredness and meaning. Knowing what to do when it comes to preparing for worship usually prevents lots of undesirable occurrences during worship services: whether it is the worship leader not singing in the correct key to the instrumentalists not playing along with the singers.

It really does not take much to turn off the congregation from worshiping, and when that happens, the whole essence of the worship is lost. A vibrant and heartfelt worship experience is still possible if the right singer and the right songs are deployed.

The right singer- The right singer represents a collection of several characteristics, which include

a-    Maturity- (Both Spiritual and Musical) this will be needful because worship is a spiritual activity that requires a good sense of musical understanding.

b-    Knowledgeable- In the word and mysteries of God.

c-     Good communication- Be able to teach new songs and communicate appropriately with the congregation.

 The right song- There is always everything good and okay in singing the right songs that are relevant and understandable. Knowing where the congregation is and what it requires in terms of song choice makes worship memorable. Spiritual songs being released spontaneously make the worship experience great.

Dealing with Undisciplined music ministers

“Brethren if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself lest thou also be tempted” Gal 6:1

 Issues involving church music ministers would always arise. This is because people face battles and they are humans just like everyone: but knowing how to go about the issues, usually gives victory both to the individual concerned and the church or music ministry.

What not to do.

Openly disgrace or confront- Making individuals feel worthless about themselves in front of a congregation or fellow music ministers does not build the individual’s spirit and confidence. #Condemnation.

Ignore the individual’s sin- Issues of sin must be treated as sin, in accordance to God’s word and most importantly in Love.

Showing preferential treatment- Some music ministers should not be treated in preference to others. It creates insincerity and lack of trust in the judgment of the leadership of the team or church.

What would be helpful.

Draw them closer- keeping away from a broken or wounded heart often brings the feeling of being neglected.

Message of Hope- In times of despair messages of hope, repentance and forgiveness would heal and restore faster than judgment and condemnation.

Point out warning signs- It’s so easy to be caught up in the glamour and glory of the music ministry and forget there is an enemy out there. Music ministers need to be reminded of the vulnerability of their calling through effective bible studies and prayer meetings.

Thanksgiving to Thanks-living: A praiseful heart.

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Being thankful is an expression of a heartfelt gratitude. A thankful heart is a better praiseful heart.

A victorious life, is one that finds reasons to live in constant gratitude for promises, prayers, dreams, hope and visions that are yet to come true.   

Thanks living continue when thanksgiving is over.

What reasons do you have to be thankful for?

Be praiseful for the miracles unseen.

       

Happy thanksgiving!

Healthy Relationships.

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There are basically three health patterns that need to be in constant check in order to enjoy full productivity within a church music team. These patterns are results of healthy relationships among music ministers.

They are:

 Spiritual health- How well and how often the issues regarding sin and forgiveness, prayers and sensitivity to the spirit, are employed.

Physical health- How we feel in our bodies is a direct result of what happens in our minds. A healthy atmosphere affects the mind.

Musical Health- People love to sing and play with those they feel comfortable with and are also open to learn new things when there is Love.

Relationships could be a blessing, and at the same time a curse if not properly instructed upon or handled.

Most music teams in some churches have been able to achieve a good level of success because of healthy lifestyles and choices of the music ministers. On the other end, bad decisions and lifestyles have brought about the downfall and ineffectiveness of others.

Advantages of healthy relationships among music ministers

1.      It increases productivity both individually and as a group.

2.      Music ministers would be happy to come for meetings and rehearsals.

3.     The people of God are always edified and God is glorified.

Disadvantages of unhealthy relationships among music ministers

1.      The Music minister, praise team and/or choir, lose credibility.

2.      A draw-back from participation or attendance by music ministers because someone is really hurt.

3.      God is not happy and the gospel is being ridiculed.

What to do-

-       Mentoring is needed, as a greater percentage of music ministers are young people.

-       Music directors and leaders must be people of proven character because “like Music Director Like choir”.

-       Proper understanding of the Bible should be taught. photo credit: lumaxart via photopin cc

Should church music ministers “be volunteers” or “be hired”? (Mat 20:1)

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The understanding of the status of music ministers in relation to their service to God is vital to their commitment. In some thoughts, sacrificial service to God involves one giving himself or herself voluntarily; I believe this should not be misunderstood as being willingly.

The kingdom of God indeed has no problem with persons been hired, as the parable in Mathew 20 shows us. Why then do some churches see it as inappropriate to hire music ministers? Maybe they don’t see the music ministers as persons that need to make a living through their gifting or could it be that they are simply taking off the responsibility from their part?

Most churches that are in need of music ministers are those that often times, need them as volunteers.  They put up advertisements looking for music ministers that would give their time and effort. This is one of the reasons they don’t find them. 

Hiring music ministers is a kingdom principle that would not only benefit the church but help the music minister realize he is needed and appreciated.

The music minister works with a sense of responsibility when they know much is required from them.

Though there are instances where the music minister would like to work from a willing perspective. It is good to understand those individuals while considering those that could and should be recruited as hired workers in the church.

Dealing with commitment issues among music ministers in the church.

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The issue of commitment among music ministers has been one that has effected the effectiveness and productivity of worship services and personal ministries. Irresponsibility is usually a product of poor commitment to a cause.  Many music ministries have to deal with music ministers that have lukewarm attitudes, some just seem not to be willing to serve.

Reasons for poor commitment may include.

1 Too much engagements- Most music ministers sometimes find it difficult to turn down invitations that interfere with their present place of assignment.

2 A feeling of being despised- When a person's potential is not fully utilized, they feel they are not needed.

3 Inadequate understanding of one’s calling- God’s calling often comes with clarity. A poor understanding of what God desires from us often makes people feel they are being disturbed.

How to handle poor commitments among music ministers.

1 Engaging in personal discussions often help to  know individuals..

2 Musical exercises should be organized to know the strength of individual music ministers in a team or choir.

3 A good working environment should be created by making sure the musicians have all the necessary tools they need.

4 Workshops and seminars can be organized to teach stewardship. Some ministers might just not know what to do.

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