Better Worship - 12 Marks of an Effective Music Ministry

Small Beginnings

My first experience in music ministry happened fairly soon after I first picked up a guitar at 15 years of age. I knew about 20 chords and could play a few songs from a new songbook titled Scripture in Song. Fortunately most of the songs were in guitar-friendly keys.

There were four of us who played guitar in a small country Baptist church. I know one song we dreaded was "Rise and Shine" ('God said to Noah there's gonna be a floody floody?'). The chords were simple, but the strumming rhythm was a real wrist breaker.

After church we would retire to one of our homes and listen to the latest Larry Norman or Randy Stonehill album, and try to work out the chords and guitar licks. As Bryan Adams sang, 'I played it till my fingers bled?those were the best days of my life'. The songs were simple and we'd try and embellish them with influences from progressive rock bands like Pink Floyd and Yes. However there's a limit to what you can do with a $20 nylon string guitar. Sometimes this went down well. At other times some of the elders would warn us of the dangers of getting so caught up in the music that we forgot the main game. In their quirky country ways, they had a point.

In the years since then I have enjoyed being part of many different music teams. My studies meant I moved around a fair bit, so I was part of a number of churches. Some were well resourced and it was a struggle to get to do what I loved, whereas others were small and welcomed whatever help they got.

Unrealistic Models

When the Willow Creek team first came to Australia I witnessed what was possible with a dynamic, creative and well-resourced team. However, my frustration was that the models of music ministry I was seeing presented by big, well-resourced, upper middle class churches was simply not achievable in the majority of churches.

This sparked my interest in training and developing churches without these kinds of resources. The problem was to distil from 20 years of experience 'what things really mattered'. What were the issues that could make or break a music ministry, whether in a mega church or a church struggling to survive as demographic change followed its course?

What can work anywhere?

Since then I've had the privilege of speaking with hundreds of music ministers and team members here in Australia and from overseas. From those conversations, these are what I believe are the 12 "biggies" for creating an effective music ministry.

Notice that I said effective, not "successful". Many people equate success with big budgets and large teams. An effective music ministry can be one talented and gifted person doing what they do in harmony with their church and surrounding community.

So here they are:

1. Music is valued as a gracious gift from God, given for our enjoyment, as well as being a strategic tool for strengthening believers and reaching unbelievers.

2. The ministry team should have a biblical understanding of the nature of worship, music, church and Christian experience.

3. Music ministry takes place in the context of a church with a shared understanding of its purpose and mission.

4. The music team are servants with a clear understanding and a passionate commitment to the part they play in that mission.

5. The music ministry is a team who:

• work together towards common goals.
• love and support one another.
• deal biblically and appropriately with conflict.
• have clear, mutually agreed, written standards explaining what is expected of members.
• receive regular training and teaching in theology, practical musicianship and teamwork.

6. Music takes place in the context of prayerfully and carefully planned services with an emphasis on cultural relevance, excellence, biblical content, personal authenticity and vulnerability.

7. Music team leaders are involved in the planning and programming of services and special events.

8. The repertoire is regularly and systematically reviewed to:

• assess its content, ease of singing and relevance.
• evaluate and recommend new songs before they enter the repertoire.

9. The music ministry has adequate financial support within the church's existing resources.

10. Human resources are used effectively and supplemented by appropriate use of technology such as CD's, DVD's MIDI or backing tracks where required.

11. The church supports and encourages local and "lesser known" writers by using their material where possible and helping them to develop skills and access training opportunities.

12. The music ministry obeys the letter and the spirit of the law regarding copyright and performance rights.

A helpful tool

I've distilled these into a quick assessment you can use to see where you and your church are at in terms of ministry. You can download this assessment as a PDF document here. It will give you 60 quick ideas to improve your music ministry.

http://www.insideoutmusic.net/cgi-bin/ar/ ad.cgi?EZA

Ken Davis is a songwriter, guitarist and music producer who also sings badly. He has been involved in music ministry since 1977 and currently serves in the music ministry at Dapto Anglican Church in Australia. You can get plenty of Music Ministry resources at http://www.insideoutmusic.net including free sheet music, MIDI files and training materials.

---

The Wealth of the Wealthy

Some may ask, why can't I have a lot of... Read More

2nd Coming of Jesus

In this first verse, God says He will allow all... Read More

Slain in the Spirit?

WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?A Catholic woman reported to me that a... Read More

123 ABC Numbers in the Bible Simply Amazing

Underneath the Hebrew and Chaldee of the Old Testament and... Read More

Rock of Ages

William Jennings Bryan said: "Christians desire that their children shall... Read More

Great Seats

And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit... Read More

Call No Man Father

Matthew 23:5-23:10Call no man Father A look at deception and... Read More

Women as Catholic Priests: The Time for Change is Now

In ancient Rome, the cradle of democracy, women had no... Read More

Let Her Be Covered Part Four

Again, let's call attention to our text: "Let her be... Read More

You and Your Money: Are You Making a GIVING?

A young man who was attending my Coffee Bar Bible... Read More

Connect These Dots: Unilateral Withdrawal, Egypt, Collapse of the South Wall, Raised Taxes and the..

There is a prophetic mosaic that few have attempted to... Read More

Living By the Truth, the Word of God

Let's be honest: Too many Christian books are nothing but... Read More

The Basics of Salvation Through Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

The one key central message of the entire Bible is... Read More

Human Evolution Timeline: Bible Quote and Science

The human evolution timeline is found recorded in Bible quotes... Read More

Saved From Religion

"Religion is the fashionable substitute for belief." - Oscar WildeA... Read More

Discipled by the Kingdom of Heaven -- Becoming a KingdomScribe!

Jesus tells a story - a powerful story - that... Read More

The United States of Europe is a Joke!

French & Dutch Reject EU Constitution & British Table It-We... Read More

Brief History of Jerusalem; Part 1

Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel.....it is the city... Read More

Organized Religion is Great for Humanity; Rants from Lance

Organized Religion has served mankind well, by uniting civilization and... Read More

From the Heart

1 Corinthians 9:19-9:23From The Heart A Look at Christianity from... Read More

Pagan Religions Taught In Public Schools

In classrooms throughout the country, Judeo-Christian beliefs are often cast... Read More

Ark of the Covenant - Purpose

Hold on to your hat! Here comes one of the... Read More

Letters from Christ: the Calligraphy of the Spirit

Their reasoning must have been, "This is the precious gospel... Read More

What Did I Do To Deserve This?

"You must have done something awful for this to happen... Read More

Battle of Armageddon

This will be last and final event of the Great... Read More

Church Building and Church Buildings

Church building is a term used to designate both the... Read More

The Wisdom of this World is Foolishness with God

Once you start to receive the knowledge and wisdom of... Read More

Obsessed with Armageddon

More and more today people are showing an obsession about... Read More

Why Christian and Atheist Libertarians Get Along

I'm the most religious guy in the Libertarian Party. At... Read More

Africa; The Forgotten Land of The Catholic Church

African Nations upset at the selection of the new Pope,... Read More

Witnesses, Mormons, Masons and More

The founding of the United States went along with the... Read More

The Emmaus Journal ~ What Kingdom Are You Looking For?

The Emmaus Journal What Kingdom Are You Looking For?The awe... Read More

Here?s Help for the ?I Can?t Say ?No? Blues?

I hear it all the time. Cries from Christian women... Read More