Many years ago I was coaxed by a pastor into being a worship leader at a small church near Nashville. I was miserable and it didn't last long. Then, a few years later, I felt God nudging me into a worship leader job and I loved it. What an about-face! Out of that ministry experience blossomed all kinds of ideas, music and websites.
Same job, different reaction - the difference was with who did the nudging! Has God truly called you into the worship ministry, or are you doing it because someone talked you into it? (Hint: are you happy or unhappy?)
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About Me
- Don Chapman
- Arranger/composer Don Chapman is the creative energy behind several websites devoted to contemporary worship: HymnCharts, WorshipFlow, and WorshipIdeas.com. He's the editor of the weekly WorshipIdeas newsletter that is read by over 50,000 worship leaders across the world.
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3 comments:
I was bamboozled at the tender age of 15 to play in the first church I played in as organist. My mother "volunteered" me as she felt that playing the piano was the same as playing the organ. Years later, I am much thankful for her doing what she did. I recently took on the task of also directing a choir. It took them approaching me twice to get myself to take the "plunge" but I finally decided to give it a try. I am finding that I love what I am doing and have even branched out into composing my own music. Music has been a healing and cathartic tool for me, and I am so happy to share that love of music with other people.
I love your websites Dave, they have been very helpful to me. Bless you.
Greetings to all and blessings in Christ! I can say without hesitation that I was -- and continue to be -- called to this rare and challenging ministry.
For every conceivable reason, the creation of a contemporary praise service should never have worked in my small-town, small-church environment. I arrived in the very middle of the battle between old and new and was the harbinger of change -- the "new" sound of praise and worship. There was no band, no instrumentation, no sound equipment, and the congregation was unfamiliar with praise music. The idea of a praise team was met with scorn from about 60 percent of the congregation, mostly older members, and silence from newer ones. It was a very, very tough crowd.
Small miracles began to occur almost from the first day. Musicians arrived unexpectedly when needed, including one man who came to play guitar but hadn't attended church in 25 years; funding came through where there appeared to be none; and vocalists without a music background stepped forward to learn.
The effort has been miraculously blessed and Spirit-led at every turn throughout the past three years. My pastor supported and encouraged every step along the way and has even sought funding to make purchases possible.
As I have recruited, trained and planned, as I've developed music sets to bridge the gap with segues between "old-timey" hymns and new choruses, and over time as the battles have subsided, the praise team and the contemporary music have achieved an amazing acceptance.
I believe that God encourages us to reach out to new people and to offer many opportunities to worship. Good music is good music no matter how it is delivered and when people can worship without technical affront and can enjoy their time in the House of the Lord, then we are successful in His ministry.
The experience has blessed me in more ways than I can say. Most of all it has shown me what good can happen when God wants it to be so and gives an endeavor His blessing.
In Christ -- jay-jay
Whoa! I am right in the middle of one of those callings. I was asked to be a worship leader for a while at a church who needs someone and I agreed. People are great but it is a church on the mend from a scorching battle over traditional and contemporary styles of which the latter seems to have won.
This is my first time leading a congregation although I have years of leading worship and concert work. Despite what appears to be carnage around me I feel God strangely saying this is where I need you for now. God's not finished yet so I will post up in a month or two with an update.
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