Light the Fire Again: A Worship leader in Malaysia asks how to restore the fire of a tired worship team
Dear Pastor Phil,
Our small churches' worship team is young, between the ages of 20-27, with some still in college. A few members have had to play every week for over a year. Some are losing the fire to serve, and stepping down from the team. New musicians come unprepared, and existing members are beginning to feel physical exhaustion. How can we stir up the fire again? Jenny in Malaysia
Dear Jenny,
Thanks for your faithful Kingdom dedication to declaring the Glory of God in Malaysia. The Lord knows your work and your commitment to Him.
If getting fresh wind into the sails of a stalled team was easy, we'd all be clipping along, sipping iced tea. I'll guess that 95 out of 100 worship leaders have shared your experience at some point. Further, you may have a bonus challenge: George Barna has discovered that reaching and keeping Twenty-somethings is a daunting task even for ministries with great resources. There's a lot of competition for their attention.
Scripture doesn't specifically address how to pump up the volume of a flagging worship ministry, but it does teach us that people perish when they have no vision. It tells us that when our hopes have been deferred, our hearts get sick (Pr. 13:12, Pr. 29:18 KJV). A worship team that's heartsick - even perishing - has probably lost its vision and its hope.
The prognosis is good, though! We have a vision that's forever astonishing (Rev 5:11-12), and a hope (I Tm. 1:1) that should probably have a capital "H." No ministry of a local church basks in light more glorious than those who gather up the praises of God's people. Our leaders, though, must often direct us back to that Light; the heart of a musician is dry tinder awaiting the fiery vision of a Psalmist.
Worship leaders need to wrap their arms around the beautiful truth of what it is to be a worshiping church and then cast that vision with relentless passion. It takes a true Psalmist to boldly declare this intention: we will glorify God with abandon, and we will invite Him to be enthroned upon our praises! This is the call that quickens the pulse of Godly musicians and singers.
Casting that vision can take a thousand shapes, but by every means available, lift the gaze of those around you away from business-as-usual and upon the glorious face of Jesus Himself (2 Co. 3:18). Let people hear your prayers for Him to reveal Himself right here, to reign mightily in this place. Gather the team and study Scriptures that explore the Lord's manifest presence (1 Kg. 8, Mt. 18:20, Hb. 2:11-12, etc.). Help your vocalists discover the Biblical sources of your song-lyrics. If those words are unclear or sub-biblical, discuss - and solve - the matter together.
Deliberately build the vocabulary of a "Presence-Driven ministry" into the way you communicate. You might, for example, substitute the words "singing" and "playing" with words like, "declaring God's glory." Instead of asking a bassist to come and play on your team, you might invite him to come worship God on his instrument.
On rehearsal nights, you can ask people to report God-sightings (things He's done that week). Pray for growth by conversion and then - as a team - celebrate when a soul is saved. Brainstorm as a group how the Lord might enable you to reach the community around you, or maybe even touch the entire planet! (Hillsongs did it.) Remind skeptical folks that with Christ anything is possible.
Perhaps it goes without saying, but I hope you're praying for your team members by name. "Prayer," wrote Spurgeon, "is the slender nerve that moves the muscle of omnipotence."
Given a bit more time, we'd discuss intercession, the importance of short term goals, the elegance of simplicity, team covenants, compassionate shepherding and reasonable commitment-levels, but I honestly believe such things flow intrinsically from a ministry blown away by the presence of God. Jesus said if we seek God's kingdom first, all these other thingsĀ
Jenny, what I say to you, I say to myself: Take a deep breath and tear open the curtains. Reveal His Majesty. May His fresh wind and fresh fire descend upon us all.
Because He's worthy,
Pastor Phil
