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Want more authentic and powerful worship? Develop a stronger sense of community on your team with these 7 community-building tips for worship leaders!
Why I Love Worship Teams
Being on the worship team is just the best! Since I’ve been playing music in church in some form most of my life, I’m pretty sure I’m biased. You might feel the same way!
There’s nothing like playing music with another group of people.
Everyone contributes their part making all the parts become one whole. When all the members are listening and following each other, then it’s not a ‘me’ thing, but it’s an ‘us’ thing. A sense of oneness happens when creating amazing music!
As if this weren’t enough, creating music to worship the Savior is even better! Lifting our voices and playing our instruments together to exalt Jesus brings overflowing joy. Then, add the congregation into worshipping with you, and it’s like experiencing a taste of heaven on Earth!
A Unique Bond In Worship Team Members
Being on the worship team creates a unique bond between its members: playing/singing together, practicing weekly, and worshipping together.
Even though the worship team has this common experience, too often, the relationships are built around just the music. Sometimes worship team members come and practice but never really get to know each other.
What if it could be even better? What if you could build a deeper sense of community in the worship team?
Here’s how.
Treat The Worship Team As One Of The Small Groups In Your Church
Sunday school classes, small groups, and women’s or men’s ministries are often built around age, gender, or teaching topics, and relationships develop in those settings. The worship team is a little different in the purpose in which you gather, but you can still view them as an opportunity to build community and relationships with each other.
Don’t Miss An Opportunity To Go Deeper
The members of your worship team may or may not be part of another small group. If someone just attends worship practice, he/she may be missing out on growing deeper in your church community. Get your members more connected as you develop more community relationships in your team.
Click the link for Worship Songs About Waiting.
7 Great Ideas For Building Community In Your Worship Team
1. Pray Together
Spend a few minutes before or after practice to ask for specific prayer needs.
2. Get To Know Each Member Personally
Ask about each other’s family. Ask about their jobs. Ask how their day is going.
3. Worship Together
Practice sessions can be very ‘let’s get down to business.’ So, have a session of just worshipping together, not for technical practice, not for the congregation, just all of you together as a team. Some of the best music comes when we’re worshipping together.
4. Have Some Fun
Jam sessions … just for the fun of it. Dust off some old favorites and have a good time!
5. Fellowship Dinners Or Parties
Once or twice a year, have a fellowship party. A Christmas party is great but is often such a busy time of year. A New Year’s party in January is a great way to start off the new year as a team. Or, have a summer pool party. This time though, no music or singing! Invite the whole family, play games, and eat food together.
6. Show Appreciation
It sure would be nice if the worship team got paid for their time and efforts. But the truth is, most of their service is volunteering. You can’t pay them, but you can show genuine appreciation for their contributions.
A handwritten card is always a great way to demonstrate how much you appreciate each team member for their faithfulness and dedication. Writing a note is also a great way to encourage your team in their growth musically and spiritually.
7. Develop Leadership
Encourage leadership within your worship team. Communicate that it’s not just about the worship leader doing it all. Instill your confidence in them (when you know someone is ready) that God wants to develop their skills and talents as well.
- Invite team members to pray for each other during practice.
- Invite team members to lead a prayer or scripture to introduce a song.
- Have different singers lead one of the songs.
- Ask for suggestions or input on the song list.
You’re not only building your team as leaders, but you’re preparing ahead in case someone needs to fill in or substitute unexpectedly.
Click the link for 3 Creative Worship Intros For Your Favorite Hymns.
Build Deeper Community With Any Team Size Or Worship Style
Building this deeper community can happen if you have 3 people or 10 people, and it can happen if you have a praise band or a traditional pianist with a choir!
Your Team Is Not Just About The Music
As much as you (and I) love being on the worship team and the thrill of corporate worship, you have a huge opportunity to build something so much deeper in the team members you lead.
It’s not just about the practice or the music. It’s also about building relationships through this shared interest.
When you take the time to get to know each other personally, have fun together, and appreciate each member, the outcome will be stronger relationships and a stronger team.
Bigger Impact And Bigger Results
As a result of building a stronger sense of community in your worship team, you’ll have a more unified band, worshipping as one which will result in more authentic and powerful worship of the Savior!
What are your ideas for building more community in your worship team? Drop them in the comments below.
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Thank you! I’m writing a college paper on how becoming more interested in Christian music led me to joining the worship team and how that has connected me to members of my community! I shared this article (is it an article? Lol) on our group chat and I’m super stoked to see how God moves! Thanks again!
well that is awesome!! 🙂
Joseph, so glad you enjoyed the article! I hope you grow deeper in your ministry and with your team!
At my former church, they spent so much time on the worship “team” that the .congregation was left silent and in the dark. The “team” still gets lots of attention but they’re down to one service…and many of us are gone.
Hi Chris – I’m so sorry if you felt unseen or were treated with little regard. It’s not easy to navigate feeling “missed” or less valued. We believe the church at its best is a place where everyone is seen, valued, loved, and significant. I hope you have found a place that is supportive of you and also have experienced God’s redeeming love in the midst of it all.