-->
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?
