[As I mentioned, the closing few days of 2011 will be reposts of the top posts of 2011. Regularly scheduled posting will resume on Monday, January 2. And, yes, you won’t want to miss it!]
Worship leader, I have an important question for you today.
How do you view your role?
Worship leading isn’t just for those with exceptional musical talent and the charisma to “work a room”.
It’s all about being a pastor.
When I started leading worship full time, I saw the ministry as a place to further MY goals, MY influence, MY agenda.
It was a platform to build my global worship enterprise to epic proportions.
More lessons in missing the point, wouldn’t you say?
Worship Ministry Is Pastoral
My lead pastor has taught me more about worship leading than I ever thought was possible. If there was such a thing as “Musician Quiz” (musician’s version of Bible Quiz), I could destroy him.
But having musical knowledge isn’t enough.
Having boatloads of talent isn’t enough.
Knowing all the worship songs isn’t enough.
Being charismatic isn’t enough.
Great Worship Leaders Are Pastors
I’m not just talking about credentials.
I’m talking about:
- How you care
- Who you are reproducing
- Loving the church
- Having a discipleship strategy
- Worshiping with your worship team
- Having patience with immature worshipers
- Loving Jesus
- Preparing your team for spontaneous worship
- Bearing each other’s burdens
- Teaching people to worship through trials
- Teaching people to worship through distraction
- Being sensitive to what people need
- Leading your team through change
- Praying for your congregation
- ______________________?
A pastor is a shepherd – sensitive, protecting, and caring. A pastor watches over his flock to see that they grow spiritually.
A worship pastor wants to see his congregation grow as worshipers.
Worship Leader vs. Worship Pastor
When someone asks me what I do, I say I’m a “worship pastor”. I prefer that over the term “worship leader”. You may think I’m getting a little nit-picky, and maybe I am. But I believe it’s important to emphasize what you value.
“Worship Leader” seems to emphasize leading a service. “Worship Pastor” is about leading people.
Do you lead “the worship” or do you lead “people”?
I believe we’re in need of worship leaders who see themselves as pastors.
It’s time to focus less on your talent and more on what your people need.
It’s less about executing flawless music as it is leading people to Jesus.
It’s less about singing well as it is guiding the church in declaring theological truth.
It’s less about 5 songs as it is about encountering the manifest presence of God.
Worship leader, pastor your people.
Question: What are other characteristics of a worship pastor? How can we better pastor our people?
For further reading:
- Is Being A Worship Leader Even Biblical? (my guest post on ChurchMag)
- The Difference Between A Lead Musician And A Worship Pastor
Hey there David. I am moved to tears with these words above. Sometimes, you lose sight of this very thing because we get so caught up in trying to move people from this place to that, and when it isn’t happening (seemingly) we (I) get frustrated. Lately, though, I find myself more frustrated with the other worship leaders on my team who lead the other Sundays, than I am the congregation at large. Their passion, their song choices, their commitment level…sigh. I am determined, though, to get us all on the right footing for 2012.
I’m praying for you Glenda! 2012 will be a great year. What church are you from?
Thank you! I am at Tabernacle Community Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We are a non-denom, very diverse multi-cultural church. Grand Rapids at large is steeped in traditionalism of the dominant denomination here, so sometimes fighting those demons is daunting.
Glenda, do you happen to have a choir at your church? We’ve been looking to connect with a multi-cultural church choir in our area. We are located in Hudsonville.
Hey Chris.
No we don’t have a choir, we just have a praise team for now. I do know a community choir that is very good and growing, they are called United Voices of Worship (UVOW) with Gerald Perry. Also, we have a very diverse group on facebook called the West Mi Worship Leaders and we hope to do some nights of worship together as well. A very diverse group of gifted anointed men and women.
Wow!! I stumbled upon your website and I’ve been reading blog after blog. And months later, I believe this one was for me! I am a Director of Worship& Arts and I lead worship as well. My job requires me to move beyond the music and shepherd the people in my area. But I realize that it doesn’t stop there. The responsibility of shepherding the congregation through worship is even greater. It is usually shunned to even look at yourself beyond ministering in song but there is so much more God calls us to do as we lead. And no, it doesn’t take the place of the Lead Pastor but it compliments what God uses them to do. Thank you for the impartation and I pray as I willingly embrace these things, the team and congregation I serve with and lead will grow even the more. God bless!
Candy, Welcome to the community! I love to connect with other worship leaders. Where do you lead?
Hey David! I lead at The Worship Center Christian Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Check us out http://www.theworshipcentercc.org 🙂