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How to Build a Worship Team That Never Stops Growing

How would you like it if you had more musicians than you could handle?

What if your team was filled with passionate, skilled players who were invested in the vision of your church?

Not only is it possible, it’s where you should invest your best energy.

I’m at a place with my worship team where a transition is about to happen. The fall is almost here and you know what that means – college! A few of my best team members are leaving for school and I’m left with some gaps.

I’m sure you’re facing the same situation.

Since this is a normality when it comes to leading a worship team, you need to build a system where there is a constant influx of musicians.

I am going to show you how (because I’m working on it myself).

2 Questions

You need to answer these two questions:

1. How am I capturing and developing the young musicians in my church?

2. How am I capturing and developing the older musicians in my church?

You need a separate strategy for both.

Here’s the truth: Young musicians are transient. While they provide great energy to your team, they’ll only be with you for a while. Older musicians are more grounded – they’ll stay longer.

That’s why it’s smart to invest energy in both the old and the young.

But how, you might ask? Great question!

The 4 Stages Of Your Worship Team Growth Track

I know, processes can be agonizing. But once you’ve defined it, it never stops working for you.

1. Beginning – You need a place for people to enter. How does the gifted worship leader who just moved to your area get plugged in at your church? How does the ambitious 12 year old with his Digitech pedal board start the process?

It’s up to you to define. Maybe it’s quarterly auditions? A weekend touch point in the fellowship area? Get crystal clear on how people begin in your ministry.

2. Preparation – After people have entered your worship team pipeline, you need to determine what to do with them. You’ll have two camps: those who are ready and those who are not. You need a strategic plan for both.

• Ready – If a musician is ready, how do they get scheduled? Is it instantaneous? Do they need to become a member? Do they need to attend a couple rehearsals? It would be good to have a conversation with your senior pastor to help clarify this process.

• Not Ready – You may disagree, but I like to create space for those who aren’t ready. I’ve had musicians in the past who weren’t ready but through the training they received on the worship team, they improved dramatically. Once you audition a “not ready” musician, you need to be prepared with a place to send them for training.

3. Launch – When you begin to schedule someone, make sure they are aware of your expectations. You set the tone for your worship team culture. You’ve worked hard to define it. Now you need to work even harder to communicate it.

Otherwise, your team members will define it for you. And everyone has a different idea of what’s important. Before you schedule players make sure they understand your vision, dress code, arrival times, personal practice expectation, etc.

4. Review – It’s more than common for worship leaders and worship musicians to get burned out. Services are constant and leaders can be hard task masters. But not you. You will treat your volunteers with respect and make it a priority to not burn them out.

Set up a process of review for each of your musicians. Offer them an “out” if they need it. Oftentimes there are team members who need a break but won’t speak up for fear of disappointing you. Set up times throughout the year where you do worship team evaluations. Sit down one on one and evaluate the spiritual, physical, and emotional health of your team members.

At all times, you’ll have people at different stages of your process. Not only will they be discipled, they’ll discover their ministry – a place for their unique gifting to be released.

I know it’s easier to hide from this type of work, but you can’t afford to. You are called to make disciples. You are called to release people into ministry.

World changers are waiting for your call.

Question: What does your worship team process look like? Take a minute and share what has or hasn’t worked well for you. You can leave a comment by clicking here. You may have just what we need to hear.