- Volunteer for Duty
Churches call for volunteers all the time – a need for host homes for the DiscipleNow, or more adults to chaperone the Kid’s ministry event, or just someone to serve potatoes in the Church Supper line. It goes on and on. But, often worship ministry leaders take the position that we are doing enough. “We’re the musicians and can’t be bothered with that other stuff,” is the way we can easily come across if we never step up as a volunteer for other ministries.
You will expand your influence if you will get shoulder to shoulder with other volunteers in your church in a ministry outside of the one you lead.
- Teach a Bible Study Class
More than likely, by the time you are leading a worship ministry in a church, you are one the most trained Bible students in the whole fellowship. Why not put it to use? It could be that your Sunday schedule makes teaching in the Bible Study hour impossible for you, but there are other times you could lead a small group. If you are like me, you will find great joy in leading the music and then teaching a class or vice versa. We ask our choir members to do that all the time. Why can’t we do it?
As one of the teachers in our Discipleship ministry in churches I served, I grew relationships with other leaders and supported that ministry with service. In turn, I found those individuals more supportive of what we were doing in the Worship ministry and relationships that went beyond the ministry I was leading.
- Be the Chief Listener to Your pastor’s Sermons
This is so simple yet can make a big difference. When the music part of the service is over, move to a nearby seat and become the most active listener in the room to your pastor’s message. And, do it every service you can even if it means hearing the same message more than once.
When a musician leaves the room before the sermon, he or she is sending to at least some of the congregation an unintended message. “My part is over. I’m not that interested in the rest of it.” But, when the leader becomes a listener, you send a much healthier signal. “I’m a learner too. This part is vitally important. I’m supporting my pastor.”
Develop active listening skills to the preaching ministry and model for others how to listen and respond. When you do, you will encourage your pastor and demonstrate genuine interest in the whole church, not just your part.
Anyone can do these. I would encourage every Worship ministry leader to use these ways and find others to engage with the rest of the church outside of the worship ministry. If you do, you will find your influence growing and your relationships deepening beyond your small circle.
We have no right to influence anyone we are not willing to serve.
