Worship Leaders by Stephen M. Newman Pastor of Worship and Arts August 12, 2007

Over the years I have been observing the different methods that ministers of music, worship leaders, and pastors use in making changes occur in their ministries and churches. Each person tends to go about things in their own way with regard to style and method. Some use their personalities to help facilitate change. Still others prefer to get things done in a hurry. A respectable percentage are slow and methodical in their efforts. There is no perfect way to approach change. However, your task will be much easier if you will refrain from forgetting those who are in your congregation. You will create less heartache for yourself and the church. Our good intentions can destroy the mission when we move too fast and leave people behind. We tend to count those who oppose our efforts as throwaways and those who jump on board with you as visionaries.

When we examine where we are and where we wish to go in worship, we have to take into consideration those we have been called to lead. I have known several music ministers that practice the "hold on to your seats" method of change, because it's sudden and powerful. There is little regard for the many saints who have been doing it one way for decades. Change sweeps over the church like a mighty wind and carries off those who fail to get on board. We cannot disregard the perceptions of worship that these believers have. Before effecting change, you need to realize that for thirty, forty, or more years for many of these sweet saints, this wasn't how church was done. To now come to church and experience nothing that is familiar, can make them defensive because they don't understand why the changes occurred to start with. If we are going to make it in ministry, we have to keep the people first and our desires second.

If you are like me, you respond with "We need to get going now! We have wasted too many years and are so behind in style. We are totally out of touch with our culture and community." This is when I have to stop myself, put my personal desires on hold, and look at Jesus. He spent thirty years planning and preparing for three years of ministry. I wonder if He ever thought, "These people are out of it" or "They need to catch up with the times." In my mind's eye, thirty years is a long time to spend before change can occur. We need to remember that Jesus spent those thirty years preparing to make the change. How long have you spent? Our impatient society tells us that it has to happen now! We can't wait ten years before change begins. I am not willing to waste that much time on the hope that change will occur! What to do?

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