Easy Basic Steps on How to Be a Good Worship Leader Step 2: Evaluate

Prayer is the number one key as we talked about in our first step on how to be a Good Worship Leader. Next, we need to do some evaluation. If we want to have a good Spirit-filled program that will lead others to Christ, we must realize that there is a cost to this happening. Just as prayer takes effort, so will some assessment of our surroundings. In reviewing the needs of our congregation, we must not fail to include all generations. I was raised in a church that used strictly the hymnal, and we did use a few chorus. We held the songbook and heads were buried downward making it actually difficult to allow the freedom as we see today during worship. We had a song leader who was an elderly man and knew nothing about leading worship other than selecting three hymns, and directing the congregation - possibly asking once in a while for some testimonies. However, he was a godly man who loved to sing and loved his job. When he was finally replaced due to taking up so much time talking up front, he was hurt. I felt bad for him, but was in no position to do anything about it other than to be his friend. The music had no theme and you went from one topic quickly to another without any type of transitions or consideration for change in keys. We would use an altar song during congregational worship at times. After each hymn the music stopped,

a new song was announced stopped, and we all waited for everyone to find the page number. If you did not hear it, you looked over at your neighbor to ask or hopefully catch a glimpse of the number. Worship was interrupted until the musicians began the next song. Sometimes, we would be asked if someone had a song they wanted to request. Once in a while the song leader announced a song that no one knew including the pianist and organist. But the congregation attempted to sing. We were never given any songs in advance to prepare as musicians. Things have changed much since my days in the church. However, in your evaluation, it is important to consider the congregation, what age the congregation is, and how they have been used to worshiping. Elderly find it difficult to stand for a long time. Some have bad knees or legs, tire easy, and get out of breath. Middle age and younger generation are much more apt to stand in worship for several songs at a time. Although standing is the best posture for singing, consideration is important to give for the elderly. You may want to have a break between a couple songs for their benefit that will allow them to sit. Also, too much up, down, up, down, up, down is not considerate either. Arrange your music so that is limited to so much up and down. This is hard on the knees and for those who do not have enormous strength to pull themselves up. Elderly love to sing the old hymns of the church. These are the songs they know, love, and feel they must have in order to worship. Respect that! Include them in your selection of contemporary music. Evaluate the lyrics of your music. Some words in the hymns may not actually be completely doctrinally correct (check the Scriptures). Refrain from too many long hymns on the same service especially for new converts and younger generation who are not used to this. This presents too much doctrine for absorbing at one time. The many verses can be tiresome especially when you sing 3-4 hymns with 4-5 verses each. People cannot learn words and carry them home with them if they are newcomers or new converts. These hymns may be meaningful to some, but too heavy for many others especially if you are reaching into your community.

Include short choruses that praise and glorify God presenting a simple message to recall. As you repeat these several times, people get to know them and feel confident in singing. They will find themselves singing them on the way home, at work, humming them during the day and find God s presence near. We live in a generation that does not need to memorize many things. Rote memory is how many people have learned factors such as the multiplication tables. Singing simple songs with fewer words over and over build their repertoire of music and faith. When people turn on the radio anymore today, they will hear all kinds of new songs. Some are more popular than others. We must remember that God is still using people today to write lyrics that are good ones. We can carefully incorporate these into our music selections along with the hymns. Teaching a new song once a month is good for our brains, keeping us sharp in using our own music skills, and bringing something refreshing to our congregations. Younger generations enjoy new music and this is what they will listen to when they turn on the radio. As we pray and evaluate, ask God to help you be open to learning new music, to consider and evaluate what age groups and needs you have in your congregation. Ask him to help you incorporate this wisely using hymns and some newer contemporary music to meet the interest of all your people. Rather they are elderly, middle, or young; all need to be open minded to learning new music and all need to consider others rather than just what please themselves. Consider evaluating the whole program: singers, teams, soloist, sound, choir, assembles, ect. Work on one area at a time prayerfully while being sensitive to others. Make changes slowly and wisely. Choose your battles carefully. Rev. Jeanne McIntosh April 2011