BETTER BY SUNDAY
ZOMBIE WORSHIP MUSICIANS | Paul Herman
Don’t confront her “publicly” - that is, with other A
frequent
topic
among
worship
leader look at their music stands only when necessary.
team members around. It can feel like you’re discussion groups is “How can I get my Instead, look up. Smile. Move a little. Engage.
disrespecting her leadership, and she’ll be congregation to engage more?” That discussion Enjoy being there.
much less open to what you’re saying. usually leads into another discussion about how people worship in different ways, and how A natural first step is to simply encourage the
And third, seek to learn during this, not just to outward expression is not the only indicator that musicians to interact with each other. Enjoy
get your point across. worship is happening. the simple pleasure of making music together.
Again, your worship leader has reasons for her Yes, I completely agree.
Audiences notice when the other musicians
appreciate that tasty drum fill, guitar riff, bass
decisions that you might not know about.
run or perfectly-timed keyboard swell. That’s just
But we also know when things just feel awkward
part of the organic joy of live music.
Disagreements are never fun, but the health of - and how it can affect a congregation. There your team requires good conflict. If you let your are so many different issues that can send a The next step is to encourage your musicians to
issue fester, it will sour your attitude and likely worship service sideways: vocal, instrumental, sing along, even if they’re not singers and even if
affect the whole team. audio, video, team dynamics, and those topics they don’t have a mic in front of them. It makes
are covered very well here in [WM] magazine. a powerful statement and frees the congregation
STEP 4: REPEAT
to join in.
There’s one issue, however, that’s not talked
Continue to repeat these four steps. If you do, about a lot - and it’s the easiest to fix. That’s Finally, encourage them to worship. One of
you’ll be a role model on the team (and likely the expressionless guitarist, bass player or our drummers - in the sections when he’s not
find yourself in a position of leadership within keyboardist whose face is buried in the music playing - stands and lifts his hands. For him, it’s a
this ministry). And the worship ministry will be stand for the entire worship set, and the only personal worship moment. For our congregation,
far healthier because you chose to make this sign of life is their moving hands and fingers. it’s an amazing example of worship leadership.
commitment to care for (and properly discourse They are the backline worship zombies, statues Yes, it’s not just the “worship leader” who leads
with) your worship leader. or wax figures. Pick your metaphor. worship. The whole team does.
I’ve sat through way too many worship sets Now, having said all that, make sure it’s authentic,
(Note: This article is part of a multi-part series where the upfront leader is cajoling, begging and and not “just for show.” Audiences can sense
on The Seven Critical Commitments of The pleading the congregation to get more involved superficiality and hype from miles away, and
Worship Team Member. This has been a slightly - even chiding the early service crowd to wake that’s even worse than lifeless zombies. You’ve
tongue-in-cheek, up and/or get more coffee - and all the while the probably seen the YouTube videos of way-over-
backline musicians look comatose. Awkward. the-top musicians, and those antics clearly have
1950s-Styled-Instruction-
Manual look at Critical Team Commitment #2:
no place in a worship setting.
“Support Your Leader.”)
I’ve seen worship leader discussion groups that
Jon Nicol
Jon is the founder of WorshipWorkshop.com
and WorshipTeamCoach.com, two sites that help
worship leaders build strong teams and lead
engaging worship. He lives and serves in Lexington,
Ohio with his wife Shannon and their four kids.
WorshipWorkshop.com
are in favor of banishing music stands altogether. But freedom in worship is a wonderful thing. And
While I can appreciate the idea, it’s just not it’s a powerful way to draw an entire congregation
realistic for most volunteer musicians with limited into worship with you. Jesus came to give life
rehearsal time. And I really believe that the bigger abundantly. Yes, even to music-stand-focused
problem lies not with the stands themselves, but guitarists, bass players and keyboardists.
with the players behind them. Have you noticed
that when musicians stare down intently at
music stands, their focus can o