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A Profound Truth
Posted on February 1st, 2010 in Church Life, Faith, Worship Leadership by Fred McKinnon
I’m 39 years old. I will hit 40 in November.
I’ve been involved in church music since I was a kid.
I’ve been on a praise team since I was in High School.
I’ve been a worship leader (either as a volunteer or as paid staff) since the early 90′s.
I’ve been on church staff since 1995. Yep, that’s 15 years.
I am discovering a profound truth about Worship/Music Ministry.
Picking songs and leading music is a very small part of what this job is really about. This job … this ministry … it’s really about:
* leading people
* bridging gaps
* listening and learning
* being a peacemaker
* navigating through personalities and expectations
* managing volunteers
* building relationships
Playing the music and leading the singing on Sunday?
That is by far, the EASIEST PART of this job!
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33 Responses to “A Profound Truth”
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Fred,
You are absolutely right. I’ve been at it now for just about the same number of years, and I couldn’t agree more. If it was just about picking songs… it wouldn’t be nearly as interesting!
Looking forward to meeting you at the Worship Retreat in May.
Thanks for all you do.
Barry Westman
Barry,
Absolutely, I’m really excited about coming out!
You are absolutely correct.
Our stories and paths are similar:
I turned 40 last June.
I’ve been involved in church music since I was a kid.
I’ve been in a youth praise team/rock band/other praise team since high school.
I’ve been a worship leader since the early 90′s.
I have been on staff at churches since 1992.
I used to think the songs were the main thing, too. It’s much much more than that. You were spot on in your comments.
Don
Yep, welcome to the team! Good to know ya’ll are out there … walking in the same path!
I am young in the ministry (only 28), but learning that already in a big way! Even picking the songs can be challenging when you’re dealing with the fact that everyone is an “expert” when it comes to music ministry!
I love it, though! Working with God’s people is the greatest way to spend life!
Matt,
Yep, everyone is the expert. I guess that’s why it’s important to surround ourselves with a small team that can offer input … a trusted team who can represent the Body of Christ we’re responsible to lead.
exactly… happy birthday Fred!
Rick,
#1 – that’s a hilarious avatar
#2 – my birthday isn’t until Nov 6. Don’t wish 40 on me so soon!
See you in a week!
You hit it on the head, Fred! Looking forward to seeing you at Recreate!
Cynthia,
Thanks .. yeah, I can’t wait. I need that break!! I hope Todd is coming!?
Hmmm… at first, I agreed, but on further thought I had another idea. Might it be the Worship ministry tends to become about (this is in 2 parts):
1. whatever area we are weakest in…
2. …which we (in some cases the worship pastor, in some cases the church, ministry, or even the “elders”, or whoever is in charge of defining the “position) to become a driving factor in how we do worship ministry.
For instance, I was speaking about some problems with the issue of personality conflicts related around style preferences, etc, to one worship pastor friend and he was oblivious. They weren’t from a “seeker” model, and if someone brought up issues of preference, they ignored it – they teach on worship/teach on worship/and teach on worship some more, and if someone – after hearing all of that – just don’t get it and aren’t “on ship” and want to bring up such issues, they’re just encouraged to visit another church, because they’re simply not interested in making certain things debatable. And they’re a thriving mega-church.
I was also recently reading some of Andy Stanley’s leadership books about not doing tasks which you are not gifted in. The combo of those two led to my thoughts…
is that thriving mega church hiring? (just kidding!)
Philosophy of ministry has a ton to do with it. But even in the context of a ministry that is “all about worship” … you’d find these sme challenges. As soon as you take something as subjective as music … and start melting it down … you’ll find yourself engaged the above-mentioned things … daily. I’ve been in both environments (from a philosophy standpoint) and found it to be true again and again.
That being said, I agree w/ Andy Stanley. That’s why I think if someone is applying for a “Worship Pastor” type position, and they will be looked upon as a leader and/or pastor … they’d better have those skills mentioned above, or there could be some serious heartache.
Thankfully, those are skills that can be developed. It takes a lot of patience and grace, two things that the last 21-days of fasting has shown me totally lacking in!
Amen Fred, Amen.
Fred,
Great points, dude! and most of the things that we do in ministry are not taught in Bible College. It’s hard to “teach” leadership and how to work with people. You’ve got to “learn” it on your own.
JSK
A Profound Truth about Worship Ministry – check it out: http://bit.ly/bamG9H
A great word from a fellow music minister, Fred McKinnon. http://bit.ly/bamG9H
RT @theworshipcomm: A Profound Truth about Worship Ministry – check it out: http://bit.ly/bamG9H
Funny… I was just thinking about this today. It’s not entirely what I thought I was signing up for, and as a volunteer, I’m struggling to find time to do all the other hard stuff that needs to be done…
man, I have the highest level of respect for the volunteers who do this stuff!
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by fmckinnon: New blog post: A Profound Truth http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2010/02/01/a-profound-truth/...
A profound truth that I've discovered – http://bit.ly/bamG9H
There is always a sense of relief for me when we get to the weekend. All the preparation, meetings, problems, issues, etc, are done. And now, we get to play music, sing and do what we were created to do!
RT @fmckinnon: A profound truth that I've discovered – http://bit.ly/bamG9H // Yep
Great post! Profound.
Sometimes, not only is “playing music and leading the singing on Sunday” the easy part, it is often (unfortunately) the neglected part, due to all that other stuff.
I’m still trying to figure how to balance it all.
Thanks for this simple reminder, Fred. Like you I’ve been doing this for a looong time – I’m 45 this year, and have been leading worship in one way or another since I was 18!
Two things I would add to your list:
1. As worship leaders we are the “custodians” of the worship in our churches – making sure that on Sunday the worship doesn’t get over shadowed by all the other stuff that can fill a service. In some churches this has been a tough job!
2. We are really called to be theologians as well. Leading worship is more than picking songs. It’s facilitating an encounter with God – and this takes a lot of personal spiritual nurturing, and the ability to think and work from a sound theological foundation.
Thanks for the great you do, friend.
If you are in Music Ministry, I'd love your comments on my "Profound Truth" – http://bit.ly/bamG9H
RT @fmckinnon: If you are in Music Ministry, I'd love your comments on my "Profound Truth" – http://bit.ly/bamG9H
I couldn’t agree more. I am only 23 and still relatively fresh in this field. While I don’t have nearly as much experience with the Pastoral side of things, but I have long realized that Sunday mornings are easier because of that fact that music is probably where most of us feel most natural in our worship of God.
I have to also quickly agree with what John van de Laar, I think as a whole Worship Pastors need to solidify their Theology, partially for their interactions with members and spiritual nurturing, but as well to bring theology into the songs we sing on Sunday mornings. What are the songs we singing truly say about God? Sure, it may seem obvious at times, but I think there may be a larger disconnect than we would assume/like to believe.
Just my thoughts! Thanks for the blog, Fred. I enjoy reading it and seeing what sorts of things to expect as I continue to be molded as a younger leader.
Amen Fred. I looked over the team on Sunday night and remembered all the remarkable stories and testimonies. And decided, right then & there, that the Praise Team is a great way to get people in the door who would not otherwise enter. Of course, they come rough around the edges and needing lots of TLC, but those souls are worth it. Every one of ‘em.
How true, Fred, how true. The challenge in realizing these things is then helping the next generation realize that being a worship pastor (not a song leader) is about more than the latest songs and cool riffs.
@fmckinnon RT "Profound Truth" – http://bit.ly/bamG9H – I'd even add that I identify w/ this even serving in a volunteer/part-time capacity
Good post, Fred. I came to the party a bit late, as I didn’t get saved till I was in my 20′s, and it took a few more years to realize I was called to worship ministry. However, at 52 now, I take the calling to make disciples – to train others to take my place, loving them, praying for them and with them, leading them – as the highest, and sometimes most difficult, but always the most rewarding, aspect of ministry life.
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