FredMcKinnon.Com

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.

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…

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!

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.

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.

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.