Leaders, Ministry Leadership, Worship Planning
5 Tips to Solving the Details Dilemma
#PrioritiesRNTheDetails As a worship leader, what is your favorite time of the week? Is it on Sunday morning when you’re leading the team and congregation in worship? Or is it the time spent planning the worship service during the week? As worship leaders the administrative side of worship planning is unavoidable. The service doesn’t plan itself! How do you deal with the details and still remain an artist?
The biggest advice here is that administration is all about priorities. One does not get more organized by having a clean desk. We are successful when the right things are performed at the right time.
Here are 5 tips to help you solve the dilemma of details for the worship leader.
TEAM: Who is on your team and how are they doing? One of the most important things is to be in contact with your team on a regular basis. With busy schedules, this might mean a quick coffee every quarter, or a monthly phone call.
“Your ministry goes way beyond you; it goes into the heart of your people.” @BranonDempsey
Social media can work well to keep in touch on a more systematic basis. Are you praying for your team? Do they enjoy access to you? If there are major life issues going on, it should be of no surprise to you. Good administration means you plan and schedule the priority relational contact. TOOLS: In order to manage details, why reinvent the wheel? Use online worship planning tools that aid in keeping order of services, schedules, and your resources organized. In one sense, this is delegating responsibility to the program to do some of the work for you, which be a big help. Developing a system is beyond a software package, however.What meetings are in place that decide the particulars? Do you stand in the hallway with the pastor or is there an intentional time to plan?
The tool of meetings and decision points is often undervalued and we all pay the price for it when neglected. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” (Proverbs 16:3)
TECH: What technology do you need to run a worship team? And, what gear is due to be replaced or repaired? You have slides, videos, music files, recording gear and who knows what. The key here is to establish a strategy with your tech. Is it just a cool thing to get a new guitar pedal, or is there an intentionality in the sound you are attempting to get out of your worship team?
Technology forces us to say this: [tweetthis]Just because you can, does not mean you should.[/tweetthis]
TIME: How will I manage time? Time management, like all administrative tasks is simply about priorities being lifted to their proper place. In a given week, there will be demands on your time. You have the team, the tools, the tech in your mind and now you are paralyzed by seeing the weekly worship freight train come 52 weekends a year. Do not fret. This is where you draw out the priorities, with your leaders and team in mind, and simply do the important things first.
I know, this sounds too simple. It is. Distraction is not a problem when you already have the most important things in motion. “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17)
TRAINING: What have you read lately about leading worship? Yes, training yourself is the work of becoming a leader. You cannot take others where you have not been willing to go yourself. Your team and your church and your pastor are blessed by having a leader in their midst who can bring the newest information, the freshest materials, and the best thinking about worship to them.
You cannot take others where you have not been willing to go yourself.
Why not go beyond this reading to venture into one of our programs at Worship Team Training to benefit the leading of your worship?
@rkweblog@BranonDempsey @WorshipTT
