Other music ministry types
Music ministry to Christians
Growing up in Church I can remember Church services in the 70’s as different groups would travel and come through town and minister in the Church with songs. They were groups that wrote their own songs and wrote messages of their Christian experiences, their faith, hope, love, and confidence in the working of God in the lives of His people. This kind of ministry consisted of messages in the lyrics alone. But they used this opportunity to speak to the people a message that was relevant as they introduced the songs. Music and song is a powerful way to get a message to the people of God. Songs can minister in ways that a sermon cannot. This is a special form of ministry that many are gifted to do. But in our modern day, a lot of people who pursue music have missed the true ministry part of their music. For many today, it has become far too much about performance and the show of talent than it has about the ministry. These are no doubt gifts that can be used by God. But if we forget the ministry part, or limit it so much that the focus is all on the talent, then we have missed the mark.
The songs we write for Christians can be written in different forms. A lot of praise and worship songs have been written that really don’t work well for a Praise and Worship service. But they are still praise and worship songs. Praise and Worship are a ministry unto God. But they can also be a ministry unto the people of God, with the showing of talent in musical instruments and singing abilities in a way that really should not be the focus in a Praise and Worship service. In a Praise in Worship service we want the focus to be on Jesus, not us. But in special meetings where a band or artist is performing, it can be good and useful for the show of such talents that can bless the people of God. God blesses and anoints people with talents and beautiful voices for a reason. And there is a time and place to use the talents, as there are times and places where we need to understand that we cant be the focus if we want God to move as He desires in the lives of the people. Although both ways can be good at the right time, understanding concerning where the focus needs to be is important. During special songs or music ministry done by artists in special meetings, a show of talent is good and useful for that time. The artists are the ministers. They are using their talents to gain the focus and attention of the people, so they can effectively speak a message into their lives through the songs and introduction of them.
A lot of people may never come to a regular Church service. But they may come to a special music event done by a special group coming through the area. A traveling group or even a visiting group from another area or Church can often give the impression of a talent worth checking out. If they are able to travel and get meetings, then they must have something to offer. So people who think like this may come out to check it out, since they like the music style that has been announced or advertized. We are called as the people of God to use whatever we can to draw people in, to then get them into an experience with the presence of God. God will anoint musicians and bands supernaturally. Especially when He is the focus!
Very few Churches have special songs as a part of the Sunday morning services any more. We can get so stuck in a time schedule that no time is made for such ministry. If it is really an issue of time, then how are we to use the talents of people who are musically gifted? A lot of Churches try to rotate musicians on the Praise and Worship team, in order to give them opportunities to play or sing. They completely overlook the many other opportunities to help musicians and vocalists to use their talents. I have said it many times, “give me a hundred musicians, and I will find a way to use every one of them!” I stand by this statement, as I have done it before and seen it done also. The opportunities are endless! It is sad to me to see Churches with so many musicians doing nothing, or waiting in line to play on a Praise and Worship team. This should not be! We will cover a few more ways musicians and vocalists can be used. But as we look at each method, I hope you will see the amazing potential a music leader has to form powerful ministries. Think about this for a minute. Imagine a Church who has 50 musicians and 50 vocalists wanting to do something with their gift; but the Praise and Worship team is full and not in need of any help. Many people will see this as an issue they cant do anything about. They would probably tell the seeking musicians and vocalists that they can rotate them into the Praise and Worship line up. Or they will tell them to just pray that God opens a door for them. But God gave the ministry to the leaders of Churches to help people find their place, and to even make a place for them. Don’t put off on God what He has anointed you to do! Don’t be afraid of hard work. Don’t settle for being blessed yourself, when others are anointed to be used also. Be determined to help others be used by God! When you have this kind of spirit in you, great things will come about in a short time. Now here’s what I want you to think about;
I just mentioned 100 different people wanting to do something with their desire fore music ministry. Out of 100 people, do you think these people would commit to a music ministry? If it is their passion, then the answer is probably yes. If you have 10 committed people in any ministry, something is going to happen! Image 100 people supporting one another. When they perform, the others are their to support them. And when the 100 are there, so are their families. And when all these are present, since it is a special service, performance, or ministry, all of these people will invite friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc. The 100 are going to be excited to use their gift and call. That excitement will transfer into the people present, and it will spark something new in the lives of the people. Drawing the people of God together is a large part of what the Church is all about. Yet Churches miss this opportunity with one of the most powerful tools available – MUSIC!
Now I used the number 100. But this can apply to even much smaller numbers as well. The point is simply that there is a lot of potential in Churches that is covered up and ignored. It is a powerhouse of talent that can explode into a revival of spiritual blessing, renewed experiences with God, and new salvations. It is time many Churches pull the covers on this issue and bring together the talents in their Churches! Churches are full of hungry people looking for their purpose and place in ministry. Pastors preach to the people how they need to find their calling and purpose. Yet they have the ability to help people find that place and do nothing about it. I don’t say this to shame anyone. I realize pastors don’t realize the potential and opportunities they really have, being ignorant of what to do about it. But this is a shout out to say make it clear that the potential is present! Don’t miss the opportunity to use those talents! If you don’t, someone else may. And those people may go somewhere else where they think they might be used.
Music Evangelism
For many decades now Christians have formed bands or performed solo for the specific use of evangelizing the lost people in the world. This was a big thing for many Churches during the Jesus movement in the 60’s and 70’s, and on into the 80’s. Many Churches had coffee houses where they would have special events for these bands to perform at. At these events there would be special dramas performed by drama teams that were around 5 minutes long that spoke powerful messages of salvation to sinners. The bans would write and sing songs that had a salvation messages specifically written for the un-churched people. Testimonies of salvation and deliverance would be given by a few people, then an altar call for salvation at the end – after a mini sermon of around 10 minutes or less.
As a special event, usually done on a Saturday evening, many Churches would have a time for evangelism on Saturday mornings. This was a chance to go into the community and invite people out for that evening event. People may forget during the week. But when the event is that same day, people may be more likely to come out. Doing this does something in the lives of those evangelizing! And it makes a way for sinners to be a part of something that is not “church”. At least not in the way it is advertized. Maybe they have been turned off by other Christians for some reason? Maybe they have a perception of Church as being boring, too strict, or even hypocritical? Maybe they will have the opportunity to experience true Christianity as God planned it to be?
When the people of God have a vision and desire that lines up together, something will happen! So when we think about several people coming together with a likemindedness in the desire for music ministry, you will have a committed people of vision that can be unstoppable. Yet these people often sit in the pews of Churches without being used at all. They hunger for and desire an opportunity, but none are given to them. It is up to the leaders to make these opportunities available.
Back in the mid 80’s when I formed my first Christian Rock evangelism band, we attended a small Church in San Diego area. We didn’t have the most talented musicians. But they wanted to do something with the talents they did have. In the forming of the band we announced a meeting for anyone interested in paying in a band. The people that showed up consisted of a few people who never played an instrument before, and one person who only knew basic cords on the keyboard. I can honestly say that this did not phase me. I saw the desire in them and trusted that God would somehow work things out. I wrote songs and taught each person how to play their instrument. They were just basic chords, basic drum beat, and basic songs. Within a few weeks we were already performing our first 2 or 3 songs at a Saturday night music scene. The talents quickly increased as God gave the ability to each member. Since that time the same was done with another band. I have watched people step up to music positions in Praise and Worship services who seemed to learn supernaturally. They went from knowing nothing to leading entire Praise and Worship services in a month or so. This is the kind of potential we have in our Churches today also. Yet this talent and potential for supernatural connections is covered up. If God will anoint and gift a person in such a powerful way, then their must be a purpose! And when people can get involved in a ministry they feel called to, and see great things happen that encourage the saints, lead sinner to salvation, and bring in a presence of God that transforms the atmosphere; then the very thing that we have cried out to God for begins to transpire before our eyes. A move of God is within our power! Not because of anything we are. But because of who He is in us! Because of His call and anointing upon us! Because of His Word that instructs us to take the gospel to the world!
Bringing it all together
Maybe you are a leader and you still don’t know how you could pull this of. Maybe you are hearing this, thinking it just sounds like a recipe for disaster. You imaging bringing all interested together, and being overwhelmed with those interested, and not being sure how to get everyone involved. I cant promise everything will go perfectly smooth. We aren’t promised that with anything we do in ministry. We preach the gospel to people, hoping they will get it. We hope they will catch the vision, the fire, and get involved. We don’t know how it is all going to come together. But that doesn’t stop us from preaching the Word and praying for the help and breakthroughs we need. Why should it be any different with this? Don’t allow fear or the risk factor to keep you from the potential in front of you!
If you have a group of people, no matter what the number, it is important to know information about the people. I would suggest having a form printed out for them to fill out, sharing what they definitely feel they are called to do. Not everyone will know what they are called to do, but only know that they want to do something. That is okay! These people will be easier to place, since they are probably more open, just wanting to be used in some way. But those who know what their talent is and how they are to use it should be placed with likeminded people. The understanding needs to be given that you are going to do the best you can with what you have. Pray before the meeting and ask God to help give wisdom, patience, and vision. Don’t feel pressured to place everyone in one night! But assure the people that it will get done in time, as faith is place in God to bring it together.
Each ministry within this ministry needs leaders. I highly recommend meetings for the entire group often. At least once a month. This helps keep the people united and part of something bigger than just a band. It gives the opportunity to share vision, support one another, plan events, and to continually place those interested in being a part. Some people may be a part of the Praise and Worship team. Some may be a part in forming a Church choir. Others will form bands for either Praise and Worship, Christian encouragement, or evangelism bands (The Christian Trinity of Music ministry).
The number of bands created have no limit! I highly recommend starting a Saturday night music scene. If you can form a drama team or 2 (Or more), then have a few skits, a few testimonies given of salvation, and an alter call after a short salvation message. But having many bands will allow for 2 or 3 to perform every Saturday, being able to rotate the bands. You can also bring in visiting bands for a change up and special appearances to get people out. Then the bands can find opportunities to play at other Churches, in parks, or any other event.
Someone needs to be over the ministry to help form groups. It may be good to have someone else plan and set up the weekly schedule of bands, drama’s, testimonies, and speakers for altar calls. The key is to have all the help needed so nobody is overwhelmed with responsibilities. Leadership structure will determine the success or failure of any ministry. In the structure of a building, it needs support beams in the right places. Without them the building will be weakened and can fall when under stress and pressure. The right support holds it all together, even under the worst conditions of pressure. We will be far more effective together as a group of leaders than we can ever be alone!
Music Styles
Everyone knows that people have different music preferences. Many people like country music, while others like Hard Rock, soft rock, pop, Jazz, or Rap. Each style is useful. Although, I wouldn’t recommend mixing different styles in the same event. This is an opportunity to have different styles on different nights. By mixing styles you can lose the interest of those who don’t care for other styles of music.
Rap music is something that appeals to more of the younger generation. Evangelism and advertisements should be focused on the people group interested in that style of music. The drama’s should also be focused on that same people group. Testimonies given should be from the same people group. Everything on that night should be keeping those interested in this music style in mind, which includes their lifestyles, interests, age group, etc.
Just about any style of music can be used to bless, encourage, challenge, or reach out to people. And because some people are interested in particular music styles, they would prefer to play and sing the style they appreciate the most. When people come into a church, most will assume that their only choice in the church is Praise and Worship music. And although most people do not dislike Praise and Worship, when it comes to playing or singing, they would really prefer to do what they love the most. And that is really the idea here. To make a way that they can pursue what they love, and use it for the glory of God. The problem is that many Churches might not discourage this with people. But they also don’t do anything to help people fulfill their dreams and visions in this area. It can be like the person spoken of in James 2:16, “If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; be warm and well fed”, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
It is a sad reality that people do this in the church, including leaders. Most of the time, it is simply because they don’t know how to accomplish it effectively. And it is also assumed that it will cost money they don’t have to invest in it. But it isn’t all that difficult, and it does cost a lot of money. As a matter of fact, if it is done right and done well, the people will invest in it, seeing that it is being fruitful. And God will bless it because the people are being obedient by taking the gospel to others in effective and strategic ways.
Ministering to the people
The one thing that I always stress when teaching aspiring members of a Praise and Worship team, a choir, or a band or solo vocalist, is that they need to do much more than perform. They are there to be an instrument themselves. An instrument of honor and glory to God, leading people into His presence! If we only perform, then we are missing the point of it all. The point is to minister! Whether it is leading people into Praise and Worship in a service, or giving the people a message to ponder as you introduce songs and sing they for them. Ministry needs to be the number one focus. This is something that every Christian artist needs to learn well. Although it doesn’t have to be the lead singer who speaks, someone needs to speak to the people. Some might fight it good for band members to switch off and take turns speaking and introducing songs. Whoever is comfortable enough to do it, it really doesn’t matter who. But since the band represents Christ as they stand before the people, it is the band who should speak to them between the songs.
Now one exception to this is when you have drama teams, testimonies of people, and speakers who step up to speak at special types of events. The order of everything being done might include others, in which the band is not solely responsible for the entire event. In this case there will be plenty of words spoken to glorify God. Although others cannot introduce the songs, they can speak encouraging words and shorten the amount of speaking needed by the band members.
This is a subject that is very close to my heart as a pastor, musician, and a visionary. There is so much more I could write on this subject, and so much more that could be added between the lines of what is already written. For now, I wanted to leave this page shorter, getting the vision out to others. I want to give hope to musicians and vocalists to be used in ministry they love. And hope for pastors and leaders to get people involved in their gifts. As they operate in the gift of music, other gifts will also grow, as they learn to testify, share encouraging and challenging messages with the introduction to their songs. Being in a flowing ministry they will seek to encourage people more, reach out to the lost more, and just be an uplifting part of the Church. Don’t say you are not ready for it! How can you not seek such things? Allow God to open doors and bring it all together. It just takes willing people who are hungry. If you have that, then with the Holy Spirit you have all that you need!