It goes without saying that the worship and praise aspect of a church service is highly important; it’s supposed to help create an ambiance that ushers in God’s presence. With that being said, it necessitates that worship leaders be highly sensitive to the Holy Spirit. This allows for the worship team to be more in-tuned with what God wants to do in a service.
However, just being spiritually sensitive isn’t going to help transition from the beginning of the service to the preaching of God’s word effectively. Anointed worship leaders and worship pastors are aware that there are ‘in between’ moments between songs, where the right word from the worship leader can shift the service. If the worship pastor says something led by the Holy Ghost, he or she can create a moment for lives to be changed.
Intentional Growth in Music Ministry
This doesn’t happen by chance. This comes from studying the word, spending time in prayer, and of course, heavy preparation. Some senior pastors have decided that the worship pastor should take Bible Courses in order to make sure their worship pastors and leaders are giving their best spiritually. Sending a worship leader for Bible college courses is definitely an investment for your church. If your worship leader is on staff, it is no different than if a mid-level manager was sent for professional development courses.
Christian colleges offer various courses that could be beneficial to a worship leader who wants to be anointed and theologically sound in what they say as they usher in God’s presence. Here are some courses offered by Harbor Genesis Christian College that will not only enhance the worship pastor’s time in front of the congregation, but also help his personal life as well.
Some may even find that they have a calling to beyond worship leading and take steps towards other aspects of pastorship. Taking courses with an online Biblical college will help students take courses on their own time, which is especially helpful when they have hectic schedules. Consider this investment in your music ministry as an investment in your church growth.
Top Four Classes for Music Leaders
- Introduction to Public Speaking
While this course seems trivial, or even secular, being someone who is comfortable in front of large crowds is important. While some worship leaders are naturally able to do this, taking a course that helps individuals develop this ability is important to helping them connect to new individuals visiting the church where they lead worship. - Music and Worship
This is vastly different than a traditional music course, where music theory for all genres of music is discussed. This type of course allows students to learn why certain religions and denominations use certain styles of worship. The worship pastor and lead pastor can then collaborate, and determine what types of music they can introduce into their services to grow their church demographics. Understanding why a young person likes the music they do will help a worship leader incorporate more than just what they personally like to sing; they will be able to reach generations. - Administration
Any time a leader has to delegate authority, he or she should have a firm grasp of what a good administrator looks like. A worship pastor has various departments under their care — singers, musicians, technicians — and they need to be able to have each group feel heard, needed, and appreciated. By learning how to administer people’s gifts, the worship leader will have a happy, thriving team. - Bible courses – as many as possible
As aforementioned, having someone who truly understands the Bible is fundamental. Having a deeper understanding of all aspects of God’s Word will give a worship pastor the deeper understanding needed to connect music with God’s word for his people. For some, what the worship pastor says is the first thing they hear about God’s love; it makes sense that what the worship leader shares be something truly meaningful and based on God’s word.