LIVING IN THE TRANSITION
In this session we will deal with building the right worship team for your church's
context, choosing the right keys and instrumentation, weathering the storms of
criticism, and updating the church's media and technology in the context of your
church's budget. We will look for ways that worship can be a catalyst for unity, rather
than a battleground. We will also discuss selecting contemporary music for
congregational singing appropriate for your church.
BUILDING A TEAM
One of our most important roles as worship leaders is leading other musicians and
artists to become worship leaders. Our job doesn’t end at noon each Sunday. We are
called to raise up the worship leaders of tomorrow.
1. THERE ARE NO RULES.
Your band doesn’t have to have EG, AG, Keys, Drums, and Bass.
2. USE YOUR CONGREGANTS’ GIFTS.
3. LOOK FOR CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE INSTRUMENTATION.
4. DETERMINE STANDARDS WITH YOUR PASTOR AND LEADERSHIP.
Do band members have to be church members? Believers?
5. DETERMINE A BUDGET FOR HIRING PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS.
6. CONSIDER HOLDING AUDITIONS.
One prepared song chosen by the worship leader in advance; one
surprise song.
7. INTERVIEW PROSPECTIVE TEAM MEMBERS.
Do they have the right motive? Are they growing in their walk with
Christ as a worshiper in personal life?
8. PREPARE THE TEAM WITH REHEARSAL BEFORE PUTTING THEM ON STAGE.
Sunday morning is a difficult time to learn new music.
9. BE HONEST.
With yourself. With your team.
10. BE ENCOURAGING.
11. COMMUNICATE CLEAR AND REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS.
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Learning songs before rehearsal; scheduling frequency; notifying
worship leader about scheduling conflicts.
12. DEVELOP AND INVEST IN STUDENT MINISTRY WORSHIP TEAMS.
Some of my best adult worship team members grew up in student
worship teams. Teach yourself out of a job.
KEYS/INSTRUMENTATION
A lot of criticism comes when people are caught off guard, or made uncomfortable.
Try and alleviate some of this by choosing keys, and instrumentation that feel and
sound soothing to the most sensitive church member.
1. PAY ATTENTION TO THE CHORUS MELODY.
Does it linger in a comfortable range? When in doubt, ask someone of
the opposite gender if it sings comfortably.
2. CAN YOUR MUSICIANS PLAY IN THE KEY YOU’VE CHOSEN?
3. NOT EVERY SONG NEEDS EVERY INSTRUMENT.
Creativity must be balanced with good taste.
4. PRIORITIZE YOUR INSTRUMENTS.
Find a good drummer, bass, and acoustic guitar player first; electric
guitar will come later. Use keyboard pads/strings/organs to fill aural
space.
CRITICISM
Criticism is hard to take. You have likely experienced criticism in ministry already. Be
encouraged and know that you are not alone as a worship leader if you have been
criticized in any way.
1. LISTEN HUMBLY AND RESPECTFULLY.
2. DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY.
Sometimes it will actually be personal, but remember that people get
emotional over music and you cannot please everyone.
3. DON’T PASS BLAME.
Even if the drummer actually did play too loud, let the buck stop with
you. That is what leaders do.
4. KEEP MENTORS AND OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE THAT ENCOURAGE YOU.
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5. BUILD A NETWORK OF OTHER WORSHIP LEADERS IN YOUR AREA.
6. RESPOND GENTLY WITHOUT BECOMING DEFENSIVE.
7. STAY IN THE WORD OF GOD.
8. STAY IN PRAYER.
9. ASK PEOPLE YOU TRUST TO EVALUATE YOU.
Pastor, spouse, friends.
10. HONOR GOD IN WORD AND DEED.
TECHNOLOGY
The medium is the message. The technology we use becomes part of the message we
tell. This impacts how we choose, prioritize, and implement technologies into our
worship services. One of my mottos is, it doesn’t have to be loud to be offensive, and it
doesn’t have to be offensive to be loud.
1. PRAGMATIC TECHNOLOGY COMES FIRST.
A. Can the congregation hear the music and worship leaders?
B. Can they hear themselves?
C. Can they see the song lyrics?
2. AESTHETIC TECHNOLOGY COMES NEXT.
A. How do we make it beautiful?
B. How do we make it meaningful?
C. How do we reduce distractions?
TECH CHECK LIST
1. MIXING CONSOLE.
Functional. User friendly. Enough channels.
2. MICROPHONES. Clarity.
3. AMPS AND LOUDSPEAKERS.
You’d rather have too much power, than not enough.
4. MONITORS.
In-ears. Wedges. The smaller the room, the greater the need for in-ear
monitors.
5. PROJECTION AND SCREENS.
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Placement, lumens, software. www.songselect.com
6. ACOUSTIC OR ELECTRIC DRUMS.
Drum enclosures and mics.
7. KEYBOARD AND PIANO.
Try to use your faithful accompanists regardless of age or “style.” Invest
in a quality keyboard because so much of modern worship is dependent
on sonic atmosphere.
8. GUITAR AMP LOCATION.
Try to mic them off stage.
9. CLICK AND LOOPS.
Is this needed for your situation? Can your tech team and worship team
manage it? www.multitracks.com
10. SCHEDULING AND REHEARSAL.
www.planningcenteronline.com
11. LIGHTING.
Once everything sounds good and the words are clearly visible, lighting
becomes the most important thing.
UNITY
1. Choose familiar songs with deep lyrics.
2. Give your congregation time to learn new songs.
3. Sing a lot of hymns.
4. Use a choir to lead in worship regularly.
5. Choose songs that focus on God, the saving work of Christ, and the power of
the Holy Spirit. These songs can be sung, whatever the theme/topic and
therefore may be sung a lot and become very familiar.
6. Keep musical stylings as eclectic as possible.
7. Avoid controversial elements.
8. Set your own parameters: song rotation; hymn/chorus ratio; songs of
repetitive nature/songs with too many lyrics ratio.
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9. Agree with your pastor.
10. Listen to song suggestions and seriously consider them. I'm not saying you
have to, but if you can, it is a way to build bridges.
Joel Winters
Music & Worship Associate
Tallowood Baptist Church
Houston, Texas
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