YOUTH WORSHIP TEAM
MOVING UP, MOVING OUT | Vance & Michelle Shepherd
We’ve had the unique privilege of teaching When we were thinking about this subject this grow healthy relationships with the other
youth and raising up young worship leaders week, an idea came to mind that could be an parents. We have seen this first hand.
and musicians for ten years now. Most of our option for you as a leader. If you don't have any students started music lessons with us when students learning any instruments or taking If you have success in partnering with a teacher
they were seven or eight years old, and now vocal lessons, or you simply have no pool of or music facility, here are two big tips that we
they’re young adults, or getting ready to be. musicians that allows you to have a youth would recommend you discuss on the first
We’ve watched some of them move in to full worship team at your home church, or maybe meeting:
time ministry as leaders for YWAM, going to you don't have the time, passion or knowledge college for worship arts or music, or becoming to teach music to others - your option could 1. You would want to give them a handful of
a great addition to a church’s worship team. be to schedule a meeting with your local music songs that are in current rotation at your church,
As much as we have had hated to see them stores and local music teachers. Let them know so they can start teaching them musical parts
spread their wings and go, it has been a reward that you have an outlet for their current students that would be at their skill level.
like no other for us to know that they moved to play live for your church events. Be up front into ministries and opportunities that we have with them and let them know that it would be 2. Teach them each song in a male key and a
had the opportunity to prepare them for. exclusively worship music. Chances are you female key and how to transpose.
will have some parents that are Christians, and
We see a very familiar cycle: as our younger they would love for their children to have the 3. If they have multiple guitar or keyboard
students grow into their teenage years as their opportunity to learn music through worship and players, request that they teach each of their
life is busier, school requires more homework, play in a live band instead of just playing scales students a different musical part, then rotate
or they get jobs which force them to miss dates and secular songs that they probably won't the parts amongst the musicians.
leading worship with our live worship band. have the opportunity to perform beyond their This is why it is so important as youth leaders bedroom walls.
Implementing this method could be a great way
to keep getting new younger students prepared
to have trained professionals get a team ready
and ready to lead worship. And not be content On the other hand, there is that possibility that to lead worship at your church youth events.
with your current group of more seasoned you may get some musicians that are a bit And this could also be an amazing outreach to
musicians and singers. It's so easy to let time “rough around the edges”. For those students, your community.
slip away without thinking ahead to the next it's great to remind ourselves of the great season and the next generation of worship commission (Matthew 28:19–20). What a great May you be blessed as you pour into the next
leaders. It seems like we lose our teenagers way to get some young ones in the church and generation of worship leaders!
almost overnight to adulthood. We must keep exposed to the gospel! It can create healthy new students in training at all times to keep our Christian relationships that they will have into worship teams vibrant and healthy. their adulthood. The parents of these students
would also have an opportunity to bond and
104
April 2019
Vance & Michelle Shepherd
Founders of The Shepherd School Of Music in Las
Vegas, NV, where they work with youth to raise up the
next generation of worship leaders and musicians.
facebook.com/shepherdschoolofmusiclasvegas
www.ShepherdStudiosLV.com
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