The Worship Leader Toolbox

Part of effective ministry onstage is having good relationships offstage. The worship leaders and worship team should be connected to one another and to the congregation. If you’re in a mega church, you won’t know everyone, but you should be visible and approachable when you can. But, like many of our listeners, if you’re in a medium sized church or smaller, you have the opportunity to increase your effective on stage leadership with personal connections before and after worship. 

worshipleadertoolbox.com

Reading the room is an essential part of leading the congregation in worship. We have to know when to push or encourage or when to change our plans.

Give the App Worship Freq a try! It helps you find the optimal key for a person's vocal range.

Thanks for joining us on the Worship Leader Toolbox, Kyle!

It was great to meet with Tim Batts to talk about everyday worship ministry and media in the local church.

In this very brief podcast episode, Tim shares two tricks you can try this week to make rehearsal more efficient and effective.

Sometimes, the spirit may prompt us to share, make a call, or verbally wrap up the message before the closing song—but if this happens every weekend, you may want to rethink your habits and rituals. Allow the call to action from the preacher to linger and allow space for people to respond to the Lord as you begin the closing song.

For the worship leader, the team and the congregation - don't get so caught up in the details that you miss God in worship!

worshipleadertoolbox.com

Part Two of the two-part interview with Samantha Marsh, Music Worship Minister at Christ Our Hope Anglican Church in Wilmington, NC. She's currently on staff at Coastal Christian High School where she teaches the music worship team. She also holds an MA in Christian Ministries at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.

Her new book, "The Equipped Music Worship Leader: A Practical Guide" is available at Amazon: https://a.co/d/ePZHdti

And you can find her music on Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms.

https://sammarshmusic.com

Songs sampled in this episode are "My Purpose" from her "Greentree Sessions" album, "Nachoonga" by "Sheldon Bangera", the original "Waymaker" by Sinach, and "Start Healing" from Samantha's "Home Anywhere" album.

Part One of a two part interview with Samantha Marsh, Music Worship Minister at Christ Our Hope Anglican Church in Wilmington, NC. She's currently on staff at Coastal Christian High School where she teaches the music worship team. She also holds an MA in Christian Ministries at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.

Her new book, "The Equipped Music Worship Leader: A Practical Guide" is available at Amazon: https://a.co/d/ePZHdti

And you can find her music on Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms.

https://sammarshmusic.com

The song sampled in this episode is "New Melody" from her "Home Anywhere" album.

In today’s episode, we talk about why we should arrive early:

1.    You're better prepared

2.    You're more focused

3.    You're in control

4.    Better connections with others as they arrive

5.    Shows respect and solid leadership

6.    Helps people count on you

7.    Gives you margin and space in your life and schedule

And ways to start this good habit: 

1.    Stop staying you're always late

2.    Set your clock earlier

3.    Give yourself time

4.    Arrive early and then do a couple last minute things

5.    Remember that being late signals how much you only care about yourself

In today's episode, we give some great tips on giving people what they really need this season: Jesus.

1. As a worship leader, say the name of Jesus.

2. Lead great music and have a great plan, but simple is great too!

3. Encourage your church to share the name of Jesus.

4. Add the element of Good News invitations into every program.

5. Share the good news of Christmas on your personal social media accounts.

6. Be joyful. Don't get political or polarized and unfocused.

Today we talk about some helpful ways to play background music during the service, and hear a bit of Tim's recordings that he uses for this purpose.

1. The whole band doesn’t have to go up

2. Have a copy of the message or outline

3. Use pad sounds from the sound board

4. Don’t play intentional melody lines from familiar songs

5. Use the key you’re going into for the next song

6. Rehearse those times

7. If it’s acoustic only – learn some picking patterns and new chords

8. Stay ambient – don’t get rhthmic

Today we sit down with guitarist and singer, Stephen Fox, who shares his story and special calling of being a "Hired Gun" worship leader. Stephen has a home church, but feels called to also serve the needs of struggling churches in his area.

My favorite quote from Stephen is "God makes the praise. We get to play the notes."

Christmas can get busy for worship leaders. And especially this year because Christmas is on a Monday. Which means a really full Sunday and Christmas Eve! Here are some fun ideas for celebrating the season with your worship team:

1. Solos

2. Open House

3. Christmas Carol

4. Ugly Sweater Day

5. Group Gift

6. Take a Break

7. Serve Together

Today we sit down with Judy Redlich, host of "Encounter" show at Tuesdays at 2:00pm on Bott Radio Network. Judy is the worship leader at her church, Trinity Assembly Of God in St. Louis, MO. But one thing really sets her apart from most worship leaders: Judy is visually impaired. But that doesn't stop her in the least.

Join us in our 100th Episode as we ask a few questions and hear from some previous members.

1. How did you get involved in worship leadership?

2. How did you get involved in music?

3. What is your typical rhythm for ministry roles?

4. Have you written any songs?

Join us again today in our interview with Hadassah Bell and Moriah Nepstad from FC Music. They are the worship leaders from Fellowship Church in Antioch, CA.

Today's featured songs are "What Does Heaven Look Like?" and "Oh My Heart" are from their Live album, "Abide" recorded last year. You can find their music on all the streaming platforms. The church website is: https://www.tfcpeople.com/

This is part one of a two-part interview with Hadassah Bell and Moriah Nepstad from FC Music. They are the worship leaders from Fellowship Church in Antioch, CA.

Today's featured songs "In The Valley" and "Worthy Of" are from their live album, "Abide" recorded last year. You can find their music on all the streaming platforms. The church website is: https://www.tfcpeople.com/

Today we'll discuss eight things you can do to help your worship team regroup after the summer:

1. Send Communication

2. Plan And Schedule

3. Schedule A Community-Building Event

4. Time Of Training

5. Vision For The Fall

6. Long Term Planning

7. Meeting With Pastor

8. Prayer

Today we visit with my cousin Anthony Barajas, worship leader at Dothan Messianic Fellowship in Dothan, Alabama.

A podcast recorded while leading worship at Summer Church Camp

Rehearsals are the contract for the weekend. You're setting up a plan that everyone agrees upon, a plan to execute this week, with the team for the church. Today we’re going to have a quick conversation about leading worship team rehearsals.

1. Prepare for rehearsal

2. Arrive early

3. Greet you team

4. Obvious beginning

5. Prayer

6. Let the sound team take control

7. Start the song rehearsal

8. Put people at ease

9. Critical "after rehearsal" time

10. Sunday morning sound check and double-check

Great interview today with worship director, Blake Goss, from NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC! NewSpring has a new album out called Alters EP, featuring Blake, who's been in ministry for 20 years serving the church through teaching, leading worship, and personal discipleship.

Find the album everywhere, including:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3LbMy9S2eix3r8agUkhYIJ?si=ob-mlQWoRemK-T3vUvYfVA

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/altars-ep/1680098338

Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_koWPqLdvOuBRxwb1QttJGxTizyamY6NRo

How does the habit of "scripture first" play into the life of a worship leader?

1. Scripture should be first in The Day

2. Scripture should be first in Planning

3. Scripture should be first in Response

Here are five aspects of the life of a worship leader on a day-to-day basis:

1. Discipleship – self, others, team, church, prayer, scripture

2. Communication – with pastors and staff, team, tech ministry, and volunteers

3. Music – planning, finding, charting, files, creativity

4. Organizing – rehearsals, staging, teams, flow, Sundays

5. Recruiting – praying for new people, raising up the next generation, discovering volunteers

It's great to learn from other churches, to be inspired by bigger and better, but what about the smaller settings? What if you are leading in a smaller church? What if your stage area is more traditional, without grand lighting or state of the art tech?

You may not have a huge budget, a large talent pool, incredible production, but Jesus is still the ultimate worship leader, the Holy Spirit is still present and you have these three advantages:

1. Relationally Driven

2. Less Commotion

3. Opportunities for Involvement

Now is a great time to start thinking about the summer. You can use it to your advantage to strengthen, boost and recharge your ministry worship ministry. Here are some ideas for your life and ministry this summer…

1. Create a social event

2. Plan with your pastor

3. Plan your own ministry

4. Keep the music simple

5. Include others in leadership

6. Music themed Sundays

7. Highlight team members

8. Schedule your home time (and stick to it)

9. Serve at a kids event or outreach

10. Get the big blocks in for the fall

This you can do it all?

You can't, and you shouldn't.

Here are some random thoughts to encourage you, the leader, to invite, ask, and otherwise pull people into serving in ministry with you:

ASKING OTHERS TO SERVE

1. Don’t say “no” for others before asking.
2. Don’t rob people of the joy of using their gifts.
3. Don’t think you’re supposed to do all the ministry.
4. Work at getting over your perfectionist tendencies to allow others to begin, learn and grow into it.
5. Set up a small advisory board to work toward (and give you confidence) to ask others to serve.
6. There may some frontloaded time investment, but make a plan and get it rolling knowing of the time you’ll save in the future (and the way others will grow in it)!

WHAT DO WE ASK

1. Ask people to join you?
2. Ask people to take on responsibility.
3. Ask people to assist you in roles in which you are weak. Someone is gifted for the role. Too often, we think if we don’t like doing something, no one would, so we just buckle down doing things we don’t enjoy while someone else who would love to do it is missing out. I think about putting furniture together, creating certain chord charts, setting up the stage, etc. Don’t begrudgingly take on the burden, pray about the right person who may find it fulfilling and rewarding. Ask them to do it or join you in learning to do it.
4. Invite people to use their gifts in one time projects – like season stage design, painting, a video, sending thank you notes, writing music, etc. I have found that when people can see the light at the end of the tunnel for a project it’s much easier to be a part of it and jump in.
5. Ask your team to respond the kinds of things they would love to do. But most often, it’s the personal invitation that will make a difference in how a person responds. You ask a specific person to consider taking on a role of some kind, etc.
6. Ask people to join you in thinking of new ideas. Incorporating people into leadership is more fun, more effective and more clearly accomplishes your mission of equipping the saints.

EXAMPLES OF ASKING

1. put all the lyrics and graphics into the computer, operate it for rehearsals and services in each of our worship spaces and in many of our traveling events.
2. operate the sound board for services and well as set all the stuff up in advance
3. lead some of the songs and lead the whole service at times
4. take care of loading all the tracks, clicks and pads into the workstation
5. help come up with new songs for worship
6. take care of welcoming, greeting, prayers, etc.
7. welcome people into worship as a guest service team
8. take care of all the coffee and other hospitaly details on sundays
9. edit blog posts
10. send blog posts, emails and more