Worship leaders, you know more than anyone that a worship band made up of solid, collaborative, and professional musicians is worth its weight in gold. However, there may be some things you don’t realize about your worship team and how you are or aren’t leading them. Here are 5 things your worship band needs you to know:
1. We’re here for more than a paycheck.
Yes, you pay us for the services we render. Yes, we are professional musicians. However, we are also people. And people don’t invest their valuable time in things they don’t care about or believe in. Just like for you, this extends beyond the boundary of simply a paycheck—our spiritual lives are involved as well. Please, remember that. Disciple us. Teach us. Cast vision for what we’re doing. Because without vision, this is just a job, and your worship experience will become nothing more than a group of talented musicians putting on a concert for a crowded room of people.
2. The songs you pick are cheesy.
A collaborative team is a winning team. Let’s work together to create set lists that are engaging, current, and musically enjoyable. Allow our input, and actually listen to what we’re saying, even when it challenges you. More than likely, more than one demographic is represented within your band, and everyone has something valuable to say. This could be the key you’ve been looking for to upgrade your worship experience.
3. Please respect our time.
We know you have a full plate. We know some things need to be practiced more than others, and we even know that occasionally we aren’t punctual and that creates problems for you. We get it. But please, come into practice with a plan. Get the set list to us more than a day in advance. Knowing that you are prepared encourages us to be prepared. It also gives us more time to be creative during practices, which is a desire that’s just a dream to some of us. No one enjoys playing songs the exact same way week after week.
4. This isn’t all about you.
I know this seems obvious, but it needs to be said. You are not the star of this show. Leading from a place of humility is a big deal. The best worship experiences are ones in which it is difficult to determine who is actually leading the set. This act of humility resonates past us into the realm of the spiritual. It moves mountains. It sets people free. It sets you free. It will rally people to your cause and to Jesus. And isn’t that the ultimate goal? The act of putting yourself second—your agenda, your hopes for the set, the desire you sometimes have to be recognized for your perfectly planned and executed song list—is a game changer. It creates an incredible team spirit among us all that makes everything better.
5. Good job.
We don’t say it enough (or maybe ever), but you’re doing great. You have a ton going on, and you handle it well. We are grateful for all you do and the way you lead us. Really. Keep up the great work; we’re right behind you!
Being a Worship Leader or a musician on a church band is both incredibly challenging and rewarding. What are some of the other challenges or blessings you have received serving as one of these roles?
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