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MULTITRACKS : GEAR UP FOR THE NEW YEAR | Joshua Taliaferro
How often do you think about the legacy you leave behind ? Honestly , it was something that I didn ’ t think about much in my early years of leading worship . I found myself so focused on the weekly grind of setlist preparation , rehearsals , making sure my musicians knew their parts , and working with that one alto who always had a hard time finding the right notes : I barely had time to think about the long-lasting effects of my leadership . It took me years to learn that I was building a worship ministry founded on only fulfilling the needs right in front of us , not building a community that would outlast me .
Jesus is an amazing example of building a ministry that leaves a legacy . For years to come his disciples would speak of all the wonders he performed and the people he healed - but the main thing that everyone remembers is how he loved them . That ’ s the main thing our worship team should remember about us as leaders too . Not as the worship leader who crafted incredible music , or the worship leader with the most charisma and vocal talent ; no , let ’ s aim to be the worship leader who left a legacy of loving their team .
So how are we to do that ? How do we balance the needs that every week brings with the action of loving our team ? Yes , I know we can go out for pizza after rehearsal and build community by spending time together , and we should do that - but there needs to be more to it right ? I believe there is , and I also believe it ’ s within your power to change the course of your ministry with just a few easy steps . Let ’ s break it down into three easy-to-remember ideas that you can execute in 2024 .
1 . LEAD WITH YOUR LEGACY IN MIND
If you want to have a legacy that lasts , then you need to build your ministry with your legacy in mind . Jesus did exactly this from the moment he started ! He wanted to leave a legacy that would stand for love and grace : so even though they didn ’ t understand everything from the beginning , he was always providing the apostles with lessons they would need following his ascension . He built a ministry that was meant to succeed even when he was no longer there physically .
So how can you do this in your context ? Begin with understanding what your team culture is built on , and start by asking yourself the question : what would happen to this ministry if I wasn ’ t here ? I used to think about myself as the glue that kept it all from falling apart , and I
38 January 2024 Subscribe for Free ...