What it Takes to Lead a Worship Ministry

By Pastor Ben

Most people at our church know that I served as the Director of Worship Ministries for the first six years of our church’s history. It was a position I loved and honestly saw myself doing for the rest of my life in some capacity, but the Lord had other plans for me. Even still I love worship ministry and believe it should get the attention it needs. Should the next budget pass in June, we are looking to hire a Director of Worship and Discipleship Ministries. As the (flexible) title suggests, this full-time position will be split between worship ministry and another area of oversight and equipping that will depend on the person’s gifting. When Laura asked me to write a blog article about our worship ministry, I thought it would be a great opportunity to give you insight into the type of person we hope to hire and what it takes to lead a worship ministry.

Worship ministry leadership requires a unique blend of shepherding/disciple-making, organization, creativity, and technical understanding. Let’s look at each of those capabilities and learn how they function in a worship ministry.

A Director of Worship is a Shepherd/Disciple-maker

While some might first want to talk about musical ability and style, we are looking for someone who makes disciples through music. They love people more than songs and styles. They prioritize care for their team members and the congregation alike. They model godly character and a love for Jesus on and off stage.

Our congregational singing teaches just as much if not more than other forms of instruction. You surely do not remember the third point of my sermon three weeks ago, but if I start singing a song that we sang three weeks ago, it is likely you could jump in and sing along. Thank you to our worship ministry who continues to lead us in rich songs that connect the truth of God’s word to our hearts.

A Director of Worship Organizes the Team

On any given Sunday, we have 3-4 instrumentalists, 2-3 vocalists, and three tech team servants. Our team members at Oak Hill work hard to practice and prepare ahead of time (thank you worship team!!!). The worship director’s job is to equip them with chord charts, recordings, song sequences, and other tools and instructions to help them get ready for Sunday. He helps prepare them spiritually, too, at monthly All-Band Rehearsals, prepared pre-rehearsal and pre-service prayer times, and through other encouragements throughout the week. He makes sure that the team members who are available and scheduled will form the right blend to lead congregational worship on any given Sunday. On Sunday mornings, he is the one who guides the team through rehearsal and then the congregation through the service. There is much prayerful and careful planning that goes into each and every service.

Right now, these responsibilities are split between myself, John Cheek, Laura Cheek, and Monica Bowman. I do the planning, song management, and other prep work for the team. John handles the Sunday rehearsal and service leading. Laura handles ProPresenter lyrics and things that fall through the cracks, and Monica handles scheduling. I am SO grateful for this team who have stepped up during this season.  

A Director of Worship Develops our Technical Knowledge

Where did that feedback come from last week? How can we improve the flow of the worship service? What is the correct setting and volume for the keyboard on certain songs or behind prayer times? What part should the violin play when the piano is doing that other part? Are the chord charts correct? Why is ProPresenter glitching again? 

Most of these questions come up in some form every week. The worship director is the one to track down the answer (or delegate someone else to) and share information to develop the rest of the team and make Sunday mornings as distraction-free as possible.

Finally...

A Director of Worship is a Creative

As a musical artist, they help the congregation engage with prayer, singing, and the word in ways that reflect the truth, beauty, and goodness of God. They are charged to select songs that are theologically grounded, engaging, and beautiful. They lead us in other forms of interactive worship so that we are not passive observers but engaged participants. They play their instrument with skill and understand the other instruments on the team well enough to direct them to play with skill as well (Psalm 33:3). 

To summarize, we are looking for a creative, knowledgeable, organized shepherd-disciple-maker to give direction to this important part of our weekly gatherings. That is not all he will do – we hope to find another area of gifting where he can give oversight and coaching that will help the church, equip the saints, and mobilize the body. Do you know anyone who might fit? Share our employment page with them (right now it is listed as part-time, we will increase this to full-time if the budget passes). Would you pray with us that we find the right person for the job?