First of all, let me say that I have a fabulous worship team. We are not perfect, but we have come a long way & God is doing great things among us at Allison Park Church where I lead worship.
These are just some of my reflections from a worship leader’s perspective of(in my opinion) of the top 10 things that make a phenomenal worship team member:
1. Have a humble, teachable, positive attitude. You will be a joy to all you work with.
2. Be prompt & prepared. Show up 5 minutes early with everything you need & know your music & parts ahead of time.
3. Defer to the leader. Be a good follower. Don’t sabotage the monitors or draw attention to yourself & how awesome you are.
4. Be sensitive to others & aware of yourself. Don’t get lost in your own world. Don’t close your eyes the entire worship service. Step back, look up & do your best to support whatever is happening at that moment (during a rehearsal or service). Don’t be a distraction or draw attention to yourself.
5. Know your role & fill it (Be a team player). Don’t solo on your instrument or ad lib every second of every song. Mature musicians know their place & sync with the rest of the band & vocalists. Be aware of the overall mix & arrangement & wait to be asked to sing out or play a solo – don’t just make assumptions & do it on your own.
6. Be a passionate lover of Jesus & let it show. Worship visually. Show energy, emotion & intensity with your face & body movements. Loosen up, don’t be a statue. Sing out loud. Smile. Clap. Lift up your hands & be an active participant in worship. Have fun! It’s contagious!
7. Be a person of integrity & prayer. Worship & pray more aggressively in your living room on Friday morning than you do under the lights on a platform in front of people. Be a good husband, wife, father, mother, sister, brother, employee & friend. Be a Christian every day of your life, not just on Sunday for the opening worship set. Read your Bible, give generously to others, open the door for strangers & be true to your word Monday-Saturday. Don’t just sing about loving God, live it by your actions & lifestyle.
8. Be an encourager. Don’t complain about how bad the monitor mix is, how the tone or EQ on your instrument is out of balance or how song #2 isn’t your personal favorite. Only let wholesome talk come out of your mouth – that which is useful for building others up – strengthening & encouraging them. A timely encouraging word is like a drink of fresh, cold water to a dry & parched person. It is so effective & refreshing, even to your leader.
9. Continue to steward your gift. Fight complacency & mediocrity. Never stop practicing, listening & perfecting your craft. Be a life-long learner of your instrument. Give yourself new musical challenges & goals. Try new styles. Ask God to help you stay innovative, creative & fresh.
10. Be disciplined. Work hard. Don’t make excuses. Take care of the details. Respond to your emails & phone calls. Listen to your rehearsal CD’s. Keep in step with your leaders vision. Be where you need to be when you need to be there. Release your personal agenda & submit to whoever is in charge. Dress nicely. Go the extra mile. Do these things with joy & a smile on your face.
Do you agree? What would you add to the list?
Excellent admonishment Kate.
Thanks for sharing