Asking “How do I find more musicians and techs?” is the wrong question

We all need more musicians and techs on our team. Not just anybody, but folks who are called, capable, and growing. But asking, “How do I find more musicians and techs?” is the wrong question.

The right question is, “How can we become the team that the people we’re looking for are looking for?”

I have to face the reality that the primary reason people aren’t beating down my door to join the worship ministry is that we’re not attractive, that it’s not a fantastic team to be on. And that hurts!

But before we dive into what to do about it, we need some context. We need to remember the narrative we’re in, the redemptive story we are leading in.

I Corinthians 15:57-58 encourages us: “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Hallelujah! I know that we can get weary in leading, especially when looking for more people to join our teams. But this scripture reshapes our thinking and gives us confidence…because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain!

In THAT context, how do we become the team that the people we’re looking for are looking for?

Excellence in Everything
My personal best. That’s what we must expect of ourselves and each other. Yes, there are moments where our personal best “isn’t much.” But we are called to be stewards of everything entrusted to us. We are called to produce a good return on the Master’s investment in us. So we work to bring our A-game consistently.

Having Fun
Life isn’t all fun and games, but a healthy team laughs a lot. The outside observer can see that they are having fun. Nobody wants to join a lame scene, a stiff group, a nervous bunch of performers. We’ve got a river of life flowing out of us - it makes the lame to walk and the blind to see! Worshipers are givers, and God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

All-in
Ad Lib coach Josh Stewart takes his cue from Mark 12:30: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” He explains:

Heart - We all have a choice of who or what we will give our time, attention, and affection to.
Soul - God created emotions and anticipates that we will use them in our worship of Him. God is big enough to handle any emotion you have and desires to hear exactly how you feel.
Mind - The more you know about God through the study of His word, the more you realize big He is and how little you are. There is something inside us looking for what is the greatest, and when we conclude that it is God, we can’t help worship Him. It is our natural response.
Strength - Our bodies perform acts of service like missions and helping someone in need. All-in also means our physical posture in worship. The scripture gives us so much freedom to worship God with our bodies. Our external posture has a direct impact on the internal posture of our hearts.

God designed us to worship with our whole self, but most of us are more comfortable in just a few of the areas listed above. Everyone is on a worship journey, and the best way to grow is to identify what parts of your heart, soul, mind, and strength you need to give over more fully to God. He desires all of you and is patiently and graciously waiting to receive you as you open yourself up to trusting Him more with these intimate parts of you who you are.

Available
My recently-relocated-to-heaven friend Godofredo Gonzales used to teach about the four ingredients to a great team member. They are Aptitud, Actitud, Disposición, y Disponibilidad. Or in English, Aptitude (Skill/Competence), Attitude, Preparation, and Availability. You must have all four, right?

Authentic
The chapter of Romans 12 gives us such an excellent guide for worship teams relationally. I’m convinced that if we have authenticity in our relationships ON the team and WITH the Lord, we’ll have that authenticity with the congregation we serve. The opposite is also true. :(

Energetic
Lethargy attracts. Ew. I’m not talking about being cheerleaders who encourage the crowd to “lift up a shout of praise.” (Thank you, John) I’m talking about being fully present before the congregation and before the Lord. So let your LIGHT SHINE before men! (Matthew 5:16)

This list was inspired by many places: a podcast, an Adlibbing session, those leaders I’ve mentioned above, and my brain. But to become the kind of team the people we are looking for are looking for, start with this inspiration, but make your list. Talk about this with your team at an upcoming rehearsal. Grow, add, multiply!

-Dave Helmuth
(purchase my book, "Worship Fertilizer: (the first hundred)" HERE)

Asking “How do I find more musicians and techs?” is the wrong question (Nº 304)