4 Key Ingredients To Successful Music Ministry
Posted by Letron Brantley at 4/8/2010 6:51 AM 
Categories: Discussion, Training-Education
Tags: Music Ministry Keys to Success Training Minister of Music Choir Director
Categories: Discussion, Training-Education
Tags: Music Ministry Keys to Success Training Minister of Music Choir Director
Being a musician myself I have come to realize that there are some key elements that I feel the church does not consider when putting together the music ministry. Often times you see much turnover in the music department because there have been no standards set for operation. Below are some of what I call "Essential Elements" that are needed to build and grow a strong music ministry.
- The Minister Of Music - One of the most important aspects of the music department is the leader AKA the Minister of Music. This person must have some special qualities like what the bible calls “The Fruit Of The Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23 (New International Version). But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.) It has been my experience that these qualities are hard to come by in the church, not only by the music leadership, but also the very leadership of the church itself. We all know that the head sets the tone for what the body will do and how the body will function. If the head is missing any of these qualities then the communication to the body will not be effective and will affect worship (1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.)
- Equality - For the most part there is a difference in the way a piano player is treated in the church verses the way a horn player is treated. There are major differences of course in pay $$$$ and depending on the way the ministry is structured there is also a lack of communication. Many of the churches that I have been members of have great respect for the piano player and or organist, but when it comes to the drums or a horn player some churches don’t feel that they are as important as the other instruments. If we are the church we are one body and we need all of our parts to serve God from the piano to the drums, the bass, and the horns. All are needed to give God the glory and as that church we need to respect the Anointing on the lives of the people that serve in the ministry regardless of what instrument they play!
- The Choir Director - Many times the position of the choir director has often been lacking in communication, direction, and examples of what the choir is suppose to be doing in and out of the church building. God requires us to give him our very best, but we don’t give him that. We show up late or not at all, we eat candy and snacks in church, we text in the choir stand while the sermon is being preached, and we talk constantly. We show God total disrespect in his house and then ask him to come in and heal our loved ones, fill us, and bless us. It flows from the top down so the director has to set the right example for those that are his flock. If we have the “The Fruit Of The Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23), then we will be praising God like the Levites and in turn will begin to see God move like never before!
- Rehearsals - Some people think that practice makes perfect but I think perfect practice makes perfect. When you are dealing with musicians that have not played together or singers that haven’t sang together, practice is the one thing that can make the worship service soar to another place where that pastor might not get a chance to preach because worship was so high. If we can allow God to show up in rehearsal then we know he will show up on Sunday morning or any other time. When was the last time your music department got together and did a fast or instead of general rehearsal got in the word and had bible study? To me it’s things like these that take your spiritual gift to another level as well as the worship service!
- Equality - For the most part there is a difference in the way a piano player is treated in the church verses the way a horn player is treated. There are major differences of course in pay $$$$ and depending on the way the ministry is structured there is also a lack of communication. Many of the churches that I have been members of have great respect for the piano player and or organist, but when it comes to the drums or a horn player some churches don’t feel that they are as important as the other instruments. If we are the church we are one body and we need all of our parts to serve God from the piano to the drums, the bass, and the horns. All are needed to give God the glory and as that church we need to respect the Anointing on the lives of the people that serve in the ministry regardless of what instrument they play!
I'd like to hear what you think about these ingredients. Is there anything else that should be considered when thinking about a strategy to grow a successful music ministry?
by Larry Miles
GospelSkillz.com
The entire article was right on target, truthful and edifying. There is so much wisdom and truth in the article that I can't imagine any child of the KING disagreeing with any of it. Keep on telling it like it is. The Holy Spirit manifests itself, most importantly, in the power of the truth. That we should always give God our best, is I think, the central issue. One point I'd like to insert is that we, as musicians, can often encourage inequality of treatment. As we are often observed several times during worship by children and adults as well, we must be diligent in conducting ourselves as the Lord would want us to. Often our brothers and sisters in Christ will follow our lead whether in criticism, praise and must importantly in prayer. I'm speaking from personal experience.
May God keep us excited about all the plans he has for us.
God Bless,
Keith
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Spot on! I cannot overestimate the importance of rehearsals. Some musicians feel that if you are that gifted then you should be able to just play along with other musicians since this will show your level of competence. How so wrong! Excellency before God and the things that pertain to Him is of vital import. Giftedness without annointing is a dangerous place to find oneself. The annointing will enable one to see the need for order in the things of God - unity in the body of Christ. We should also be mindful of the difference between practice and rehearsal. One should be done in the continuing desire to hone one's skill (in private - shedding) while the other is when the musicians come together for the purpose of blending their skills in ministry for the benefit of the body of Christ. Keep up the good work.
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This article was head on! I have been trying to implement each and every key ingredient among my church. I am so glad that I received this article. It's just confirmation of the message I have been trying to deliver to my team.
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I agree with your assessment of music ministry in the Church wholeheartedly. Issues such as basic equality among musicians, rehearsal technique, and having a "top-down" mentality are fundamental to functioning in the Church and operating in the Spirit. We all would do well to examine ourselves and endeavor to walk each of these higher principles out in our lives.
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i'd like to find out how to get your dvd's..i'm in Cape Town(south africa)please help..
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I thought this article was just great, we had this discussion last night at our choir practice as to why we were not attracting new members, and this article gave me some new insight. I pray that we can allow God to use us more for His Glory and that we can starting practicing these observations. Thank you for your wisdom!
Sincerely,
V. Moody, Lubbock, Tx.
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Wow Larry! This article is such an accurate description of the Body of Christ. But I believe one thing lies at the base of these four critical issues. RELATIONSHIP! We in the Body of Christ have a tendency to have people in posistion because of gifting or talent and NOT because their relationship is in order. Now don't get me wrong, gifting and talent is fine, but w/o the purity of RELATIONSHIP, we are just spinning our wheels. Those within the ministry of music have to understand, what is on you will flow to the people in worship. I wouldn't dare stand in position to lead His people, not be in right position and have blood on my hands. We in this area are responsible for what God releases during that service. Because we are the levites and are responsible to carry the Glory of God (that's another sermon). So, we cannot carry the Glory until our relationship in in order to carry. Be Blessed!
~Jo'el
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Great Job Man....
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I Thank God for this powerful message and the good works his using you guys out there. GOD BLESS U.
These are the real facts we used way back on University of Cape Coast Campus in our Choir -Echoes of Calvary. It really made a very BIG difference in our ministry. Now I'm out of campus and its still the same ingredients I using at Home Choir too. My best part of this message is "If we can allow God to show up in rehearsal then we know he will show up on Sunday morning or any other time." God Bless us all...Amen
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Thanks everyone for your feedback. One of the comments I received mentioned that having a spiritual relationship with God was also a key ingredient. I would have to agree with this statement whole-heartedly. As musicians we are truly ministers even though in my experience we kind of try and shy away from that title. I know I have. The truth of the matter is that we are indeed ministers of the word through song! I have found plenty of scriptures that support this. (Chronicles 15:16) And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries, and harps, and cymbals sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. So, since we have confirmed that musicians and singers are ministers we have to have a relationship with God so that when we minister the word through song we can first usher in the presence of god, and the people can see the example of what praise and worship can do for them in their personal lives. Also I noticed that people look to the choir guidance on how to praise. Let’s face it, everyone can’t praise like we do but, we have to set the right example!
Another subject I want to bring up is that we, as the church, need to understand that we are all human and we are flesh even though we strive for perfection through Christ. I have noticed that we have expectations for all of our leaders that are in some ways unrealistic. We expect our pastors and all of our leaders to NEVER and I mean NEVER fall to any type of temptation. Understand that I am not saying the leaders should just go out and do whatever the devil temps them to do but, what I am saying that as a church have to love and forgive like God forgave us. We should put our trust in Jesus Christ and not in people who we idolize so that when they fall, then we fall and feel like there is no hope. Man will let you down EVERY TIME because of his nature. Understand that your foundation is in Jesus Christ and if you keep him as such, then you faith can never be shaken!
By Larry C. Miles Jr.
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Why are you not mentioning inspiration? Playing music in church is not the same as playing music in jazz club. It have to go from heart. It's not only what people should do for a living, but the favourite hobby. If music is not inspired, not played sincerely, people feel it. The effect is different completely.
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You also need Choir Members who are saved with a servant's Heart!!! U need people to run with the vision who love God just as much as leadership.
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in my opinion music ministry is the main vein of the church because the praize teams-chiors-dance teams all set the tone for the church and the mind set each team places in the atmospere will be in the sanctuary thats why it is essential for constant communication with first and foremost our lord and saviou Jesus Christ and then those that are on the chior,praize team-dance team etc.if you dont have this you will surely not succeed in pleasing the lord,and not reaching that lost soul.music is by far the one thing in this world that can reach a lost soul besides the Lord Jesus himself to draw someone who would not normally be in a church service if you as a minister of music and the team inwhich your in charge of dont do the service right you will lose that soul,or have a hard time convincing them to come back to your church.music is universal so you become one in mind and universal in worship to reach anyone through true heartfelt worship. By Canotta Jones.
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These are all great points to consider in order to have a successful music ministry. I agree that people look to the choir for guidance and it is important for them to be on one accord. There is no better example of unity in praise.
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