Tag: worship pastor

10 Questions to Ask a Search Team

Through my years of working with churches and candidates, I have gone over the do’s and don’ts of interviewing more than I can count. There are some pretty common sense questions to ask but candidates always seem to blank during the interview. I get it – you have several pairs of eyes staring back at you, the room is warm, and you’re afraid that the search committee or the pastor won’t get your humor. Here’s my advice: write down your questions! Everyone thinks that they’ll remember their questions but more times than not, they don’t. Interviewing for a ministry position? Here are a few to get you started:

  1. Why do you think I may be a good fit for the position? Some churches have a wide variety of reasons why they bring people in to an interview. Find out what it is that they like about you.

  2. What’s something difficult that I’ll have to address if I end up getting hired? Want to learn a lot about your team or even the church? This may be the time that the church becomes transparent – this is what you want!

  3. Is your church passionate about making heaven full and how do they do that? I don’t know about you but I want to be part of a church that wants to grow not only the church, but the Kingdom. 

  4. What’s the financial condition of the church? This is NOT a question that’s off limits. You want to make sure that the church can afford you and how much money you’d have in your budget if you decide to move forward. 

  5. Are there any people on the team or in the church that I would have immediate issues with? I would want to know who has the most influence in the church and if there are any people that may be a roadblock for me. 

  6. What is something that you would like to tell me but are a little unsure about? A lot of churches have something that they’re not revealing. The reason why they’re not sharing is because they haven’t been pushed enough to share.

  7. Why did the last person that had my job end up leaving? This could reveal a lot about staff chemistry, the pastors personality or leadership dynamics. Whatever it is, get to the bottom of it. 

  8. What is the vision and mission of the church? If they can’t tell you, you might want to run. You want to be part of a church where everyone is in the know with the direction that the church is going in.

  9. What is the staff culture like? How do they work together? Is it a collaborative environment or is everyone on their own? Do they get together outside of work? It would be nice to know how much of a team the staff really is.

  10. How long do you see yourself in your current position? If the pastor is interviewing you, it would be nice to know how long he/she is planning on sticking around. That will tell you a little about the church culture as well. 

These are just some of many really great questions to ask if you’re interviewing for your next position.  Transparency is the key to making a great placement. It’s also the key to ensuring that you end up in a healthy environment. Do your work and ask good questions!

Written by Meggan Jacobus, Staffing Manager at Froot Group Staffing. 

Looking for a new position? Stop by MinistryJobs.com and have a look at the jobs that are available! Ministry jobs are hard to come by and job hunting is no fun. We help ministry job seekers find their ideal role in their next ministry – for free! More than 6 million search for a job every day. Be found! Looking to list a job or an open position? We help churches and organizations get job openings in front of potential candidates. We have several plans and packages available. Today is the day!

Why Churches Need Worship Leaders More Than Ever

Why Churches Need Worship Leaders More Than Ever

Why Churches Need Worship Leaders More Than Ever

It’s been almost 5 months. Nothing could have prepared us for how quickly our weekend services and the method of ministry would change. Overnight, we went from experts to students. Each week has become a learning experience for worship leaders. We are learning how to do things we might have been afraid to learn before. Congregational worship has traditionally been an in-person activity yet it’s a clean slate with where we’re standing today. The music is an integral part of the worship experience. A lot of ministry leaders never would have heard the call to ministry if it hadn’t been through a worship experience. Church members and guests still want music, even if they’re at home. The pandemic has provided challenges and opportunities. For the most part, churches and worship leaders have risen above and are going the extra mile. Many church leaders though are doubting if the worship leader position is really needed for the future of worship. If there is ever a time that a church needs a worship leader it’s now. Here are my thoughts on why we need this position more than ever before.

Tech

For our first weekend of going fully online, we had three days to prepare!  Initially, everyone scrambled. Admit it if you were one of those worship leaders. The technical side of moving the worship part of the church service online is something many churches struggled with. Most worship leaders had to transition from being a worship leader to a video producer over night. Countless churches around the country have moved to online-only events or explored alternative ways to meet. Digital tools and channels that were once considered optional are rapidly becoming essential. This transformation has led to an unprecedented push to modernize the way we do church. Some churches have essentially been forced into being online-only. Others are choosing to do it out of an abundance of caution. Some are simply making live streaming an option. Over the last few years, a lot of churches have used live streaming as a way to serve members who were out of town or sick. Now, it’s a necessity for everyone. What you invest right now and the experience you collect along the way will pay dividends long after the panic wanes. Our main jobs have been helping pastors and church leaders reframe our challenges and utilizing the technology that God has blessed us with to do an even better job and be more effective. As we begin to accept the digital interface as our new medium of weekend ministry, we’ve got to continue to learn how to improve what is presented.

Relationships

Worship leaders all say the pandemic has bumped up the pastoral part of their job. Your ministry thrives on personal relationships. You have an opportunity though to increase your digital touch points. And while these may feel like temporary solutions, this moment has the potential to permanently enhance your ministry. COVID-19 has actually caused us to do a better job of picking up the phone and checking on our teams. It’s an opportunity for greater connection. There are some connections that are probably stronger now than they were before. Right now, you want to give your team as many opportunities to hear from you as possible. They need your wisdom, leadership, and presence. A lot of your work right now should be all about people. If you want to worship together in person down the road, you better have done your homework in keeping the community together while we can’t gather. Worship leaders are also taking this time to improve their musical skills or learn more about making music in a new way with their teams. 

Creative

Your congregation is more primed now than ever before to choose digital experiences. So offer them. Worship leaders are often the most creative thinkers in the building and they’ve had to think far outside the box during this time. While online services have been positive for churches overall, replicating the music portion falls short of being there in person. When we have to do everything online, it forces us to innovate musically. Your congregation appreciates anything that you can do during this time. A lot of people are used to worshipping on Sundays but a lot of worship leaders are seeing that Sundays aren’t the only day that works for people. Worship leaders are creating worship experiences throughout the week to show that worship just doesn’t have to happen on Sundays. Others even have gathered in church parking lots so they could see each other and sing together. Worship leaders are also coming up with creative ways of creating virtual choir videos — videos of members singing from home. These are true labors of love. Bottom line, perspective is everything! I believe this entire COVID-19 pandemic, though hard, has also presented an incredible opportunity for innovation and creativity as we navigate next steps in ministry.

The model of how we do church has changed drastically! As hard as this has been, I believe it has shown us what we’re capable of offering and that we can’t do it without the creative minds of worship leaders. Through all of this, we’ve learned adaptation and perseverance. There is a oneness with our fellow worship leaders. Those of us who compose, conduct, accompany, or provide music for our churches in any way. I encourage you to not only think of this as a season, but as the new normal of our present and future! When you look at what God has given us and instructed us to do when we gather, singing is fundamental. It is a non-negotiable. It’s critical to the gathering and to individual faith. 

Written by Meggan Jacobus, Staffing Manager at Froot Group Staffing. 

Looking for a new position? Stop by MinistryJobs.com and have a look at the jobs that are available! Ministry jobs are hard to come by and job hunting is no fun. We help ministry job seekers find their ideal role in their next ministry – for free! More than 6 million search for a job every day. Be found! Looking to list a job or an open position? We help churches and organizations get job openings in front of potential candidates. We have several plans and packages available. Today is the day!

The 10 Commandments of Great Worship Team Members

Sometimes I lead the worship band and sometimes I play in the band. Both are important roles and have specific responsibilities to do them well. As both a leader and a player/singer, here are my ten most important rules as a team member:

1. I will be available at least twice per month and answer worship department emails within 24 hours 
  • I find that players need to play a minimum of twice per month to stay in the flow of the worship and maintain good relationships with the leader(s) and team members.
  • As someone who has scheduled worship teams for years, prompt replies by the team members is greatly appreciated. Also, it is a good habit to be prompt in all your communication. It is a form of discipline and respect.
2. I will listen to, practice and memorize the songs for Sunday
  • Most musicians learn by listening. I always spend the .99 cents to $1.29 to download the songs on iTunes and make a playlist to listen in my house and car. Listening will teach you things that charts never will. I also use the PlanningCenter.com app and media player for my phone
  • I will take time to practice the new songs for the team and briefly review the older songs. I want to be excellent in my service to the Lord. Wether I get paid or not, I’m playing for the ‘King of kings’. God rewards faithfulness and excellence.
  • I will play according to the style of the music that is driven by the church’s vision/mission instead of simply imposing my personal tastes into the music. 
  • I will memorize the music. Memorizing songs allows me to get past the music and worship God freely. Most worship songs are not hard to memorize. Here is my post on helping you to memorize.
3. I will show up prepared and on time for rehearsal
  • Leaders and other team members really appreciate when all the team has done their homework. When the drummer knows the grooves, tempos and breaks, it makes the rehearsal go so much smoother. When the lead guitar and keyboard players have learned the introductions and lead lines, it saves so much time for the rest of the group.
  • I will bring a pencil to highlight problem parts, changes and incorrect charts.
  • When team members all show up on time, it shows respect and value for the whole team. It promotes unity and makes the rehearsals go much smoother.
4. I will show respect and love for my fellow team members and leader
  • The second greatest commandment is to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’. When team members show love and respect for each other, rehearsals, worship and life in general is much better.
  • If team members get direction that they don’t like. It’s important that they don’t take it personally, agree to disagree and submit – just like professionals do in the studio.
  • Being a leader can be tough. When you give respect and are patient with your leader, God sees and rewards that attitude and heart.
5. I will not noodle on my instrument when the leader is speaking
  • Having great rehearsal habits is important. The time to practice your individual part is when you are on your own.
  • You show respect for the leader and the rest of the team when you learn to listen at the appropriate times.
6. I will worship as I play my instrument and endeavor to be a great worshipper on and off the stage
  • The purpose of a worship band is to worship God and lead the congregation to do the same. If you are just playing or singing then you are not fulfilling your responsibilities. Get past the music and worship God and lead by example.
  • A sign that you are an authentic worshipper is that you are the same on and off the stage. People see you on and off the stage. Be authentic!
7. I will attend church and give whether I am playing or not
  • Great team worship team members know the importance of regular church attendance. We all need to be great congregational members before we can become great worship team members.
  • Supporting your local church means more than playing your instrument. Giving of your time and finances really shows where your heart is.
8. I will practice my singing and/or instrument regularly
  • Great worship team members are better this year than they were last year.
  • Great team members work on growing by practicing regularly, taking lessons and watching and learning from great worship videos.
9. I will wear the appropriate clothes for the dress code
  • I never want my clothes to be a distraction to our worship times.
  • My general advice is to develop a dress code that is modest and culturally relevant to your congregation.
10. I will grow in my love for the Lord and live a godly lifestyle
  • This is the last commandment but it is the most important. Loving God with your whole heart and life is the core of worship.
  • Living a life that is pleasing to God opens up the door for God’s blessing on your life. Don’t allow sin to ruin that. Repent and get back on track!
  • Great worship team members are more than volunteers. They are serving in worship ministry because of the calling and gifting of God in their lives.

Question: What points have I missed? Are you a great worship team member? What areas can you improve on?

Article written by Mark Cole. Mark has spent over 30 years as a Worship Pastor in some of the largest churches in Canada and is also the founding musical arranger of PraiseCharts.com, a ministry supplying worship charts and orchestrations for thousands of churches around the world. To find out more about Mark, click here.