We’re excited to welcome LifeWay Worship songwriter Tommy Walker to the blog today. Tommy will be writing for us on Wednesdays, and he will be covering a wide range of topics in worship ministry.
Tommy has led worship at Christian Assembly in Los Angeles, California with his pastor, Mark Pickerill, since 1990. He has written over 100 songs that are currently being tracked by CCLI, including: “He Knows My Name,” “That’s Why We Praise Him,” “We Will Remember,” and “I Have a Hope.”
Five Things Every Pastor Wants to Say to the Worship Leader
Tommy Walker and Mark Pickerill
1. Be A God Chaser
Be a leader with a passion to know Christ. Live a life of integrity on and off the stage. Serve God and others with humility. Remember, humility is attribute number one for any worshiper. These things will build trust, which is the most important building block in any relationship!
2. Be A Team Player
Like most artists, worship leaders are notorious for using people or institutions to further their own personal career. In our flesh we want to fight for the spotlight, and in an individual sort of way, make our big break. Pastors are looking for team players that are a part of a community and want the team to win together. Throughout my ministry life, I have found that the more I have blessed the church, the more God has blessed me!
3. Be Teachable
A pastor is a leader and one of the greatest ways to honor a leader is by demonstrating a teachable spirit. It’s kind of like the way it works with a teacher and his student. If you want to make your teacher’s day, be eager to listen to his or her council. Also, the book of Proverbs says over and over again that you’re a fool if you don’t accept instruction!
4. Take Ownership
Don’t ever let the pastor feel like a church problem is his problem to bear alone. Be a problem solver, not a problem causer!
5. Be A Hard Worker
Nothing is worse than having your pastor remind you that you need to show up on time and get to work in order to earn your salary. It’s difficult to measure a creative job with just hours, so always go above and beyond. Don’t ever let the pastor feel that a task is beneath you. Being a hard worker builds trust in the relationship, and the more trust you acquire, the more freedom you will receive.
Next week, we’ll discuss five things every worship leader wants to say to the pastor.
I love #1–Be a God Chaser! When the person who’s leading worship is hungry into God, it makes it easier for the people in the audience to join in faster. True worship makes all the difference!