[DaGeek]

Hey guys, I think God has called me to lead worship when I get older (I'm 15), and I was wondering what I should be able to do. Sadly, I do not have a great singing voice, though it's not horrid, but yeah. I've played guitar for a year, and can play almost any standard chord.

[Dave H]

Practice.

Get on a worship team with experienced people and learn all you can from them- gain experience.

Ask God for grace.

[DaGeek]

Originally Posted by Dave H

Ask God for grace.

Ha, that happens alot, but not only for my guitar


Yeah, I'm almost on my youth worship team, and I figure once I get experience there, I'll try out for the main worship team.

[Decency]

Be versed in many different music styles and instruments. God has given me the ability to play alot of stuff. I play mostly bass and guitar, but He's blessing me with the ability to sit at a piano and play stuff. And I can play a drum beat here and there.

But advice I would give is just stay with it. Learn as much as you can from anyone you can. Keep Him first.

[Tony]

Plan right now to do it as a volunteer. If God directs your path for it to be a career, then great, but statistically, that won't happen. Some of the best worship ministers never get paid for what they do.

[DaGeek]

Yeah, when I look ahead, if this happens, I don't think I'd want to be paid. Don't get me wrong, getting paid to do something awesome would be cool, but it just seems that it would put pressure on it. Not to mention the fact that I feel I'm also being called to be a pastor one day... I dunno how that'd work out. But yeah.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by DaGeek

Hey guys, I think God has called me to lead worship when I get older (I'm 15), and I was wondering what I should be able to do. Sadly, I do not have a great singing voice, though it's not horrid, but yeah. I've played guitar for a year, and can play almost any standard chord.

Hi DG...
You should be able to:[link][*] Worship by yourself with a guitar[*] Worship unashamedly when others are playing and you are in the audience[*] Play several styles of music[*] Arrange songs in singable keys[*] Get along with people especially when there is tension[*] Teach others a song arrangement[/list]
Those would be on my list for a worship leader in our church before we'd put them in the lineup to lead regularly.

[DaGeek]

Originally Posted by ljguitar

Hi DG...
You should be able to:

• Worship by yourself with a guitar
• Worship unashamedly when others are playing and you are in the audience
• Play several styles of music
• Arrange songs in singable keys
• Get along with people especially when there is tension
• Teach others a song arrangement

Those would be on my list for a worship leader in our church before we'd put them in the lineup to lead regularly.

Song arrangement? Do you mean just teach them the songs? And by changing song keys I assume you mean transposing?

[niangelo]

Read worship materials. Attend worship conferences. Paul Baloche has an excellent DVD set all about leading worship and playing guitar and creating flow.

[tjguitar]

Hey guys, I think God has called me to lead worship when I get older (I'm 15), and I was wondering what I should be able to do. Sadly, I do not have a great singing voice, though it's not horrid, but yeah. I've played guitar for a year, and can play almost any standard chord.

You are 15, so that would mean you are either at the end of Middle school or freshman year of High School, Correct? So it might be a tad early to be thinking about college for you, but I don't think its ever too early to start thinking about this stuff, especially if you are in high school.

Yeah, when I look ahead, if this happens, I don't think I'd want to be paid. Don't get me wrong, getting paid to do something awesome would be cool, but it just seems that it would put pressure on it. Not to mention the fact that I feel I'm also being called to be a pastor one day... I dunno how that'd work out. But yeah.

So are you absolutely ruling out the possibility of making a career out of it? Because a music minister is most definitely an important person with responsibility in the church.


(From what I understand for Lutheran seminary, you must have a Bachelor's degree in some major (religion/theology not recommended because your going to study all that stuff again in seminary) before you get accepted to go to seminary, but the only reason I know is because the only because my roommate is heading down that road, I have no idea how it is with other denominations and it very well could be different.)

A music minister is also a a very important person in the church (keep in mind, in some churches, that would be someone who had to take care of traditional worship music too, like the choir and such, be in charge of/administrate any volunteer or paid personnel, so these would be skills you'd have to be willing to learn, though maybe not all churches require that). But if you are set on being a pastor, that is awesome too.

Because you are musically gifted, don't feel like you can't lead worship just because you would be a pastor (unless it would somehow hinder your duties as a pastor, or if it for some reason this goes against some denomination's practice.)

What I mean is, I know of a Lutheran pastor in Southern California that my parents went to college with who preaches sermons as well as leads worship songs and plays guitar. I've only been there once and it was between 5 and 10 years ago, but I doubt he's the only one who does that, but I don't have another example. Then again it totally depends on the church, depending on where you would called to they might have somebody already doing the music.

What I'm saying is you don't have to give up music just because you want to be a pastor.

[TheBarbarianWay]

what he said above is true. my pastor at my church is the worship leader as well, so it works out.

get some material on worship, like "the way i was made" by chris tomlin. im aware of other things as well(DVD's and stuff like that) but i forgot the names.

and an obvious thing....let the Holy Spirit lead you

[adamkaboom]

Originally Posted by DaGeek

Hey guys, I think God has called me to lead worship when I get older (I'm 15), and I was wondering what I should be able to do. Sadly, I do not have a great singing voice, though it's not horrid, but yeah. I've played guitar for a year, and can play almost any standard chord.

You know, what you wrote, is me. Other than I'm a 16 year old junior. I'm not sure exactly what I'm being called to do...lead worship, youth pastor, or something in the CMI. This thread has helped me a lot too. I was getting ready to start one, but you did it already. So, thanks. I guess we'll see where God leads us, heh?

Adam

[gtrdave]

Something to remember; leading "worship" really has nothing to do with singing (example: Kirk Franklin), playing guitar (example: any number of simple 3 open-chord tunes), what gear you have (example: Rich Mullins), what cool poses and faces you make, etc...but it has to do with a lifestyle of worship unto the Lord in everything you do in your life.

I'm not saying that I have it all figured out but I am continuously learning about what leading worship really is and it's not about my musical skills. It's about the fruit of the Spirit. It's about servanthood. It's about forgiveness. It's about praising God when life seems to suck. It's about leaving the parking lot of the church on Sunday afternoon ang going out into your mission field and NOT going back to the ways of the world.

Also, the "job" of leading worship or music minister or similar has a lot of responsibility away from performing the music; there's administrative duties that have to be done, assembling the songs, keeping in constant communication with team members, communicating with the pastor, praying for your team, keep feeding on God's word, searching out new songs, writing new songs, training-up future leaders, possibly overseeing the media and sound ministry duties (as I do), assembling new means of outreach (worship evangelism is becoming my passion), delegating any of the above to responsible parties and more.

I'm not trying to scare you away from the ministry...for me, it is the joy of my life and I praise God many, many times each day for what He's done with my life and where He's called me to serve...but it is serious WORK. It's a responsibility of the highest order and you are, I feel above all, to be a servant leader; serve God and serve your church. The fact that you might get to sing and play is a bonus.

There's great resources out there from Paul Baloche, Chris Tomlin, Tommy Walker and others that can give you insight on the ministry. Soak that stuff up. Maybe find an adult mentor who is willing to at least let you observe the inner-workings of the ministry.

Keep praying and seeking God's will. If you're to head into the music ministry, it will be clear.

[DaGeek]

Originally Posted by gtrdave

Something to remember; leading "worship" really has nothing to do with singing (example: Kirk Franklin), playing guitar (example: any number of simple 3 open-chord tunes), what gear you have (example: Rich Mullins), what cool poses and faces you make, etc...but it has to do with a lifestyle of worship unto the Lord in everything you do in your life.

I'm not saying that I have it all figured out but I am continuously learning about what leading worship really is and it's not about my musical skills. It's about the fruit of the Spirit. It's about servanthood. It's about forgiveness. It's about praising God when life seems to suck. It's about leaving the parking lot of the church on Sunday afternoon ang going out into your mission field and NOT going back to the ways of the world.

Also, the "job" of leading worship or music minister or similar has a lot of responsibility away from performing the music; there's administrative duties that have to be done, assembling the songs, keeping in constant communication with team members, communicating with the pastor, praying for your team, keep feeding on God's word, searching out new songs, writing new songs, training-up future leaders, possibly overseeing the media and sound ministry duties (as I do), assembling new means of outreach (worship evangelism is becoming my passion), delegating any of the above to responsible parties and more.

I'm not trying to scare you away from the ministry...for me, it is the joy of my life and I praise God many, many times each day for what He's done with my life and where He's called me to serve...but it is serious WORK. It's a responsibility of the highest order and you are, I feel above all, to be a servant leader; serve God and serve your church. The fact that you might get to sing and play is a bonus.

There's great resources out there from Paul Baloche, Chris Tomlin, Tommy Walker and others that can give you insight on the ministry. Soak that stuff up. Maybe find an adult mentor who is willing to at least let you observe the inner-workings of the ministry.

Keep praying and seeking God's will. If you're to head into the music ministry, it will be clear.

Thank you very much for the info/insight! When I look at what I want to be, as a worship leader, I realize that it isn't about music. A cappella is a totally acceptible form of worship, for example. When I see the fact that being a worship leader isn't only about playing guitar on Sunday, I can't help but shrug. I think that God has called me to it, and if that's the case, He'll supply for it, and He's given me the mindset/personality/whatever I need to do what He needs. If He has called me to it, it will work out fine, which is encouraging!

[Zoey]

I say go fr it. I play the guitar too. I am on the Praise and worship team at my church. It is what god wanted me to do. I say start out with your worship ministry. sing a couple of songs and see how you improve. Then do a little of special music too. Get the church to give you feedback on the thought of it. Especially you youth minister.