YOUTH WORSHIP TEAM
IT ’ S ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS | Vance & Michelle Shepherd
In the evenings , there ’ s nothing that my wife Michelle and I like to do more than sit on our balcony and talk through our day . The other night we asked about how each other ' s day went . I told her that I asked my students " What would you like to do today ? We could spend your lesson time on bass , drums , keys , guitar , or even start a studio recording session - it ' s your pick !".
One particular student pondered for a moment , put down the guitar and with a huge smile on her face said , " I think I would like to record myself in the studio !" So , we took one of her favorite worship songs , and recorded her singing it . At the end of her studio session , I mixed down an mp3 for her to surprise her mother with on the drive home . She told me that her mother had tears in her eyes as they listened to it .
Michelle then told me how her lessons went with students that week . One thing she loves to do when students come into their lessons is ask , " So how was your day ?” Now because they ' re teenagers , they usually just say , " Okay …". So she started asking them , " What was the best thing that happened to you today ?” One of her students was so excited to tell her about a special chapel they had at her school , then and went on and on about it . It was exciting to see this student so fired up about worship !
She also asks the opposite question , " What was the worst part of your day ?" One of her students that week got really silent and seemed upset . Michelle got up , closed the door and said , " Don ' t worry , you can tell me about it and it won ’ t leave this room ." The student proceeded to tell her about a relationship at school that had been damaged , and she didn ' t know how to act around that person , and that it was just hard right now for her to be around them . This question created a very close bonding moment for both of them and allowed Michelle to share God ’ s perspective with her . The ministry that happened during that time was priceless .
When Michelle told me both of these stories it inspired me to want to be more of a friend , a minister or mentor to our students . It also made me think that at times we as youth leaders could be vulnerable of wanting a youth worship team so desperately that we can miss opportunities of just bonding with our youth and knowing their personal story or struggles . Sometimes we ’ re just too focused on getting them from point A to point B , and I have seen it all too often that when youth pastors and leaders find out that a student plays an instrument or sings they have a tendency to say to them , " How about jumping on the team next week ? You ' re on !”, without even trying to develop a relationship first .
We ’ ve seen churches that put youth up on stage , and then turn their instrument or vocal mic off in the house mix and run a multi-track instead . They just want bodies up there “ leading ” worship . But could rushing the youth into these live playing situations possibly be doing the student and the church more harm than good in the long run ? Do we really know that
student ’ s needs ? Do they need ministry and an understanding of what worship truly is before getting on stage ? Would the responsibility that comes with being on a platform create pressure for them that they wouldn ’ t be able to handle well ? Are we setting a worthy standard for them to work towards , not only musically , but spiritually ?
If we put them up there before they ’ re ready , are we possibly setting them up for failure , or training them not to become as skilled a musician or vocalist as they could be some day ? And do they truly realize what purpose they are serving when they are leading worship ? We need to remember that relationship and purpose are the key ingredients to having a great youth worship team and find creative ways to implement both as you lead students .
May you be blessed as you pour into or become the next generation of worship leaders !
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