One of the things I like most about being the gathering pastor for midtown (Calvary’s worship gathering that meets at the local high school) is the number of great young leaders that I get to hang out with, especially in the area of worship/music. Not too long ago, I was one of the youngest people on the worship team. It’s not that there was anything wrong with having seasoned veterans on the team; but we weren’t developing any new worship leaders/musicians. I knew that among the hundreds of college students at midtown there had to be some folks itching to get involved.
So I began to pray and invite people to get involved. They started showing up at rehearsal, guitars in hand, ready to jump in. We met over coffee to talk about their lives, what their relationship with Jesus looks like, and where their lives were headed. Fast forward to this weekend–I looked around the stage and realized that I’m the old guy on the worship team!
Up to this point most of the young leaders have simply been in a support role. They play an instrument or sing the songs that I select. But that’s going to be changing soon, too. I want to develop worship leaders, not just role-players. So I’m going to be meeting with some of them to talk about how we prepare teams for worship at midtown, thinking through theology of the songs and philosophy of ministry, how to work within the system at Calvary to create worship experiences that tie in to the overall theme of the morning.
I’m excited about this change. I’m not giving up my role–I love leading worship, especially at midtown! But if I’m going to be faithful in my role as a developer of leaders, this needs to happen. I have to get over my ego, pride, and fear (oh yes, those beasts still roam) and start letting someone else take the reins from time to time.
In doing so, I’m going to have more time and freedom to do some other things around midtown, and some other leaders will get a chance to explore and create and learn how to lead a large gathering in worship. So it’s time to step into the role of COACH, to help others find their calling. I am convinced that there are some great days ahead of us!
Question: Who believed in you? Who gave you your start, or challenged you to step into a leadership role? What lessons did you learn?
2 Comments
Benjer McVeigh · February 1, 2012 at 7:07 pm
When I was a young believer in college, a youth pastor named Peter believed in me and fostered my love for teenagers and my desire for them to know Jesus. He took time to not only let me help lead in the youth ministry, but to meet with me, and to share his long list of “things they won’t teach you in seminary.” I still look back and credit Peter with helping laying the foundations of my journey in youth ministry.
stacy · February 2, 2012 at 12:00 am
Benj, thank God for a man like Peter who believed in you! And thanks for the life you are investing in the next generation of youth pastors and leaders. That’s good stuff, B!