Making Sure That Your Now Doesn’t Become Normal

“Success” in ministry has more to do with developing people than it does creating a team to out rock all teams. Sure we need to pursue excellence, sure we need chemistry, sure we need to rehearse together, flow together, pray together, etc…

But a tight rhythm section or regular vocals that the congregation sees every week isn’t a sign of success (when you dig a little deeper).

This means putting people first – before talent and/or spaces to be filled. Of course we should always be aware of positions and roles that need to be fulfilled, but we should never see people as just a set of skills. Sure that guy is a great guitarist and you could really use a great guitarist, but what you really need is a PERSON that will plug in to the vision of the ministry and commit to using their talents and skills to serve others. [Read more...]

The Best Worship Leading Advice I Ever Received

Thanks to Rob Still for sharing this post with TWC today – originally published at: http://www.robstill.com/the-best-worship-leading-advice-i-ever-received/

The post is about soul care and perspective for worship folks, but it could apply to anybody. [Read more...]

Serving the Local Church with Songwriting – an Interview with Gary Gale Norris


Thanks to Mark Snyder of TreeHillCollective.com for sharing this interview with The Worship Community.

I recently had the opportunity to meet and interview Gary Gale Norris. Gary is a worship pastor at Discovery Church in Hickory, North Carolina, and shared a powerful testimony online about the difference a program of songwriting directed at his congregation had made in their worship. Gary graciously agreed to answer a few interview questions for TWC (Mark’s questions are in bold, Gary’s responses are in italics).

[Read more...]

5 Reasons You Should Not Lead Worship This Sunday

Thanks to Fred McKinnon for sharing this post. Originally published at fredmckinnon.com.

It’s Monday morning. If you’re like most ministry leaders you wake up feeling completely drained from the day of ministry before. Turn on the coffee pot because as we all know that…

Sunday is coming…

Have you ever thought about what would happen if you didn’t show up to lead on a Sunday?

  • Would worship still occur?
  • Would your leadership team be able to adjust?
  • Would your congregation adapt? [Read more...]

Are We Willing To Drop Everything?

Last night an amazing thing happened at our “worship” rehearsal. We were plowing along tweaking verses and choruses, hammering out lead riffs and chord progressions, and adjusting in-ear monitor mix levels like we normally do.

As I recall, we were just getting ready to move into our last song and it happened.

There were two ladies who kind of just showed up in our auditorium and were having a “Jesus moment” right there at the altar. [Read more...]

Words of Encouragement: An Experience From A TWC Member

Thanks to TWC member Trent Smith for sharing this experience with us.

Yesterday I was putting down my guitar after church when two 10-year-old girls came running up on stage (have you noticed that 10-year-old girls always come in pairs?).

They had that vibe about them…that “I’m-about-to-do-the-bravest-thing-I-have-ever-done” vibe.

One of the girls looked right in my eye and announced, at breathless warp speed, “I wrote a song about God and I want to sing it for you……unless you are busy right now.” [Read more...]