CCLI
HOW TO BUILD A WORSHIP TEAM THAT FEELS LIKE FAMILY W / CANAAN BACA | Matt McCoy
Worship leader and songwriter Canaan Baca sat down with CCLI President Matt McCoy to talk about how we can better pour into and disciple our worship teams.
OUR ROLE AS WORSHIP LEADERS [ Matt ] Worship leaders spend so much time, energy, and effort throughout the week putting setlists together, music rehearsals, soundcheck, etc. And I think often discipling the team is forgotten. What has discipling your team spiritually looked like for you?
[ Canaan ] As worship pastors and worship leaders, I believe that is what our role is. It’ s so much more than checking off boxes on Sunday. Of course, we need to meet whatever the expectations are and make sure all the technical things are done. But as leaders, we’ re meant to help people grow in their relationship with God more than just their instrument. Everything else flourishes outside of that.
There are guys on our team that are genuinely some of the best musicians I’ ve ever played with. But they were gigging before they landed at our church, and we were one stop at a rotation of churches they played at. For me, I grew up with a strong value of being at one church. So, I challenged them,“ Hey, it doesn’ t have to be here but pick a church and stay there.” They received it so well and took a step of faith to plant themselves in a community and see the spiritual fruit in their lives.
THE CHALLENGES OF BUILDING A WORSHIP CULTURE [ Matt ] How do you build a culture of worship and disciple your team? Why is it so hard to do?
[ Canaan ] First, for a lot of people I know, their strength is in the technical / musical side of it. That’ s how they got the role they have, and they don’ t even consider themselves pastors. They see themselves as music leaders.
Second, a lot of worship leaders may not feel equipped to lead spiritually. It’ s a great weight, and none of us measure up to any sort of mark, but to some people it’ s a foreign idea and they don’ t feel equipped.“ Who am I to try to apply how I’ m interpreting Scripture to someone else’ s spiritual life?”
PRACTICES FOR DISCIPLING YOUR TEAM [ Matt ] Are there any rhythms or practices that you have used that have helped your team grow spiritually?
[ Canaan ] On Thursday nights we have rehearsal. Our teams rotate, so it’ s not the same team every week. The first hour from 6pm to 7pm, is dinner that we provide for them. Then whoever the worship leader is for them prepares a devotion. We read Scripture together, reflect on it. Then we spend 5 to 7 minutes together in worship. The first hour is basically small group. Then we go rehearse from 7 to 8:15.
[ Matt ] You can do all of that in two hours? That’ s impressive.
[ Canaan ] We have grown into it. At 7pm we split up vocals and musicians. Vocals stay in the green room with the vocal director. The band goes out with the music director. Then we bring it together about 30 minutes later for two passes through the set.
CLICK HERE to watch the full interview. Be sure to listen to Canaan’ s new song“ Oh My Soul” wherever you stream music.
Matt McCoy Matt is the President of CCLI and the Founder of LoopCommunity. com. He’ s also a worship leader and passionate about building simple, powerful, and affordable technology for churches and worship teams. www. ccli. com 64 May 2026 Subscribe for Free...