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Worship Leadership – Building Community
Posted on October 13th, 2008 in Church Life, Faith, Worship Leadership, Worship Q&A by Fred McKinnon
Hey Everybody -
A while back I got a great “Q&A” email from Barry Trowbridge. I’d like to use it as a post today and ask everyone to rally and get some responses for Barry.
Fred – I really am enjoying your blog. Since you are a worship leader, I’d like to get your opinion/thoughts on something. We have about 25 people who are involved in leading worship at our church – several instrumentalists and vocalists, and we serve on a rotating basis, and don’t always serve with the same people, so there are very few times during the year when we’re all in the same place at the same time. As a result, we’re having trouble figuring out how to build great community in such a setting. I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you and your team builds community.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts you might have on this topic.
(Barry Trowbridge – www.weightuponthelord.com)
My Response:
Barry, this is a great question that shows your pastor’s heart in leading this team. I believe that the stronger our relationships can be “off” the platform the better. This intimacy and fellowship that we develop “off stage” will most certainly translate into greater flow, unity, and purpose “on” the platform.
Your question is also a stinging reminder that I’ve not done a good job in this very area. I’ve got around 70+ according to PlanningCenter in the Main Auditorium rotation alone and it’s a daunting task to keep everyone in community.
A few thoughts:
1. Food. Nothing builds community like food and fellowship. There is something about “breaking bread” together. Have a BBQ, a big pizza party, etc.
2. Ministry. Consider having a time when you bring everyone together, and then have an outsider come in and just minister to your group. Lead them in worship, or teach and train them.
3. Experience Other Ministry. If a worship artist is having a concert nearby, have a road trip. We took a handful of our musicians to see Hillsong United in Jacksonville and it was a great time of team building. The drive down was probably the best part of it. Also, consider purchasing some DVDs of live worship and playing them. It’s a great way to eat, fellowship, and then explore some purpose.
4. Reach In. Beyond just their participation on the worship team, make sure that as many volunteers as possible are “reaching in” on a different level – through a small group of sorts. In our church, that could be a home group, Men’s Fraternity, Women’s Bible Study, etc.
What I’m learning is that if you don’t proactively plan these and get them on the calendar, they simply won’t happen. Shoot for at least 3-4 times per year.
How about everyone else that reads this blog? What would you suggest?
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12 Responses to “Worship Leadership – Building Community”
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I like to spend some one on one time with them. Whether it’s playing music with them or having breakfast.
The greatest thing we do to build community is a yearly team retreat. Yes, it costs. Yes, people have to take off work. When they do it once, they never miss another one. We eat, play silly games, worship, cry and pray and learn and do crazy contests all hopped up on no sleep and Mt. Dew. We’ve karaoked and been quite silly at times. One guy – only been saved a few years – said “This is the most fun i’ve ever had sober and with my clothes on.” I took that to be a high compliment!
One of my leaders is here with me and her comment was that we constantly teach on the value of community to raise awareness of the importance of it. If you are relational, you will model that as a priority for your team. I think taking time even in rehearsals for this is important as well – letting people know what’s going on, etc. Sharing life. I organize help from within the team to help them minister to one another if there’s a need and we do karaoke parties and a big Christmas party. I echo Fred’s comment that worshiping and learning together is helpful – and praying for one another.
It must be a priority and kept in the forefront….a core value if you will.
Here’s our mission statement.
Worship.Obey.Grow.Together.
oh, we also learn about 6 new songs too on the retreat – it sets the foundation for the year with teaching, etc.
Thanks Fred. Great advice.
i am one of the many musicians in our worship theme. i just joined this ministry about a year and its always tough to kinda know everybody besides what instrument they play. one of the things that helped us connect is when we attended a christian conference as a team. by attending some events at church together and just sitting down, chatting over coffee/lunch, i got to know people more and more as a person.
Fred wants to know……
How do you build community within the members of your worship team, especially if you’re on a rotation?……
jan, that sounds incredible – I’d love to hear more about where you go, what you do, etc.
rhoy, agreed – conferences, concerts, etc … these can be incredible team-building trips!
patrick @lifeway – thanks for sending your traffic here, my friend!
good insight Fred!
Seans last blog post..What if…. Technology was taken away
Several day ago, I forwarded this to the worship team that I’m on. It has sparked some really good conversation.
shoot me your questions – i’d be happy to answer.
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Hey everyone! Thanks so much for the great answers. It’s definitely a process, and these will give me some ideas to help us progress along the path of growing together as a team. Any other ideas you have would be appreciated, too. Thanks again.
Barrys last blog post..You satisfy