The Worship Pastor’s Congregation
If you’re a worship pastor you have a congregation — a flock to shepherd.
But it’s most likely not the large group you lead in worship each Sunday. It’s the group of people who work with you all the time:
- your instrumentalists
- your singers
- the volunteer technicians at the controls in back
- your children’s and youth choir directors
- the dramatists you call on to introduce an idea or emphasize a point
- can you think of a couple more?
These are your sheep. A flock within the larger flock — and you’re their shepherd.
You’re the one who notices the extra tension or the well-disguised heartache when they come through the door and offer to pray with them (or perhaps breathe a silent prayer and listen for clues that will open the door to approach the subject with grace). You’re the one who remembers to ask how their mom is doing: I’ve been praying for you all. How is she? You’re the one who prays for your flock so you can say such things with authenticity. You’re the one who notices bits of progress most don’t see, and says something, encouraging them to love and good deeds.
Worship pastor, yours is to feed and nurture your flock’s spiritual growth despite the pull to focus on notes & rhythms, intonation & transitions, schedules & deadlines. Yours is to identify their natural (or supernatural) enemies and protect them from those foes. It may be in-fighting. It may be temptation that refuses to go away. It may be busy-ness. It may be complaining or complacency. It can be any number of things, both from the world outside and from the organization within. Your sheep need your protection. You’re their shepherd. So ask yourself often:
- Who are these people?
- What are their enemies?
- Where can they shine the brightest?
- How can I love, nurture, protect and disciple them so they are healthy and spiritually reproductive?
Yes, you have a flock. Most of them are within ear-shot on Sunday morning. Look behind you. There they are.
Selah —
PS. These thoughts came to mind on my way home after visiting with Wayne, a worship pastor in Naperville, IL while I worked on a project in his church. His heart for his people is apparent and I resonate with his approach. This is how I’ve regarded “my” teams for quite some time, but I don’t think I’ve verbalized it here yet.
