Wow!! Thanks for sharing. When I was 16 a choir from Memphis came to my small hometown. I’ve heard good music before but this choir and band was different. It caused me to start thinking about being Saved. About two months later God saved me and filled me with the Holy Ghost. After the Lord saved me I asked if He would teach me to play music and if He would, I’ll give Him the glory. Three weeks later I was playing music. I ended up studying music in school and earned a Master’s degree in music education. I’ve had a great career in music where I was Minister of Music for a large church for over 20+ years and has taught music for many years. Today I’m working at a hospital teaching music to people who are mentally ill and those with substance abuse. Believe it or not teaching these people is making a tremendous impact on their lives. All of this started because a 16 year old kid heard an anointed choir and band that God used to change my life forever.
Actual musicians shouldn’t be involved in a church band to begin with. If you want to be a studio musician, sure. If you have actual talent, want to get creative, or play how you want, then a church band is NOT where you need to be.
Being a self taught Multi-Instrumentalist, I didn’t grow up in the Church & @ the age of 18 I became a Christian & joined a Pentecostal Church in Brooklyn NYC. And @ 62 years of age today, with over 40 years of playing music in Church & in the Secular field, I’ve ALWAYS understood & RESPECTED the power of MUSIC!!! And I know that the BEST ABILITY IS AVAILABILITY, coupled with HUMILITY!!! Salute! 🫡 🙏🏽👏🏽🙌🏽
I never accepted payment for playing. Service and serving God was the payment. The fact that I got to honor and lead people into the presence of God each day was enough. There were times when I had to humble myself if I felt my pride or attitude was becoming off. This is God helping us to stay true to him. What you do matters and allows others to come to God and meet him at the right moment. He never leaves or forsakes us.
2 Chronicles 20:20-22, Psalm 68:25, Joshua 6:1-27… I get it. To many ministries have placed more emphasis on great worship than they do solid biblical teaching. This makes for a hollow understanding of faith and the character of God. Presentation of the word is pre-eminent, and opening with worship and prayer creates an atmosphere where hearts are opened and made ready to receive of His word. This is why in so many places in the scriptures, the singers, musicians and worshipers were on the front lines of Israel’s battles.
All of it is important because it gives us an opportunity to sacrifice, worship and praise God. We can also be inspired by God's word collectively and individually, which can persuade others to love God for the first time and change their lives.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16 Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! psalms 95:1
I'm not sure if you were agreeing with him or stating that the preaching was the most important part. But either way I'll explain how our church does it. Our worship team ties songs in that go with what the pastor is preaching on/word of God. So it's equally important. Some people are moved by God in different ways. It doesn't mean something is wrong if you are moved by the spirit more by the music, it just means they are doing their job right.
My church has always suffered the misery of diva musicians for 35years. We opted for the beginner musicians. They're more humble and are just plain happy to be given the opportunity to learn and play during service.
Th musicians in my church are not divas, not highly trained, but lift the rest of us to a very high spirituality and sense of worship nevertheless and I could not ask for more!
@@artiefount neither are the ones in my church. We are not professionals who gig out of church. Many times I feel that I'm the one holding them back. I know this because when I play back the recording I made during the worship service, I feel like burying myself.
I played for a well known gospel group here in Cape Town, South Africa. So one night at a concert, we played first so me and another singer went to the dressing room of the other band doing the second half of the concert. I just knocked once as I could hear that they were about to get ready to go on stage, just in time to hear one of them said.. "Let's go show Witness a thing or two.. I reversed and decided that night to never ever play at a gospel concert again.
So you want newer musicians who don’t care to be bullied around and told to play a certain way for the sake of pleasing an arrogant band leader and play by their rules? Nah.
Former guitar and bass church musician here. To be honest, there's too much distractions and temptations for musicians. Even when I'm not playing and just.in the pews. Now, I prefer to attend worship services with just piano and hymns and where the Bible is solidly teached and preached.
Glad that works for you. Not true for everyone. I've had decades of positive, loving, communal, humble-yet-fulfilling musical moments with my band. Wouldn't change anything. Hope to continue for many more years.
That is where I am at, after opening every Major Christian Music Festival in 1987. As for crowds that topped out at 10K at Wilmore KY that year. I opened for Mylon more times than I can remember, and Petra about 5 times that year. Met about 5 real Christians in that Year and a Half. Also saw the Gospel being changed depending upon the crowd. I remember my final CCConcert performance where when it was done there were about 40 or 50 young teen girls on the side stage screaming my name like I was Michael W. Smith or something. Like so much that is going on all around us. It is all just a false construct. Even this Construct is false for a purpose as Heaven and Earth are both Temporal, and will pass away, and HE will make all new when the War is over. The War against GOD's WORD, the War in Heaven and Earth, is all about THE FATHER, HIS Character, for HE stands Falsely Accused, and will remain so until the 3rd Dispensation. Thus, there is no reason and little time for all of the commercialism, business, ego, half measured sermons and messaging. The one who made each of us in HIS Image, and anything that we ever thought was wonderful and amazing, is on trial. What are you doing about it? If the world is your friend, then you are playing GOD's Enemy. It is so easy now to see the falseness of everything about us, now that the economy has been shut off, the consumption of media driven culture shut off. and the gods of the pagans have been revealed nakedly showing Bob Larsen and John Ankerberg were always dead on about the pagan nature of America, to now point out how absolutely and exquisitely perfect and GLORIOUS our GOD is compared to the empty and vacuous blood and self worship that the other gods have always been. Now that the Federal Government pays the state governments to have their schools convince children to have parts cut off of them, we can clearly see why it is so characteristic of CHRIST that HE comes with an iron scepter to crack some heads.
Same here! I use to be a main guitar player for a church, I have always had passion for guitar and always played what they wanted! I had the skills etc. I played from the heart but overtime you just grow tired of other musicians making all political!! the most annoying musicians are the ones who are not that good on musical levels but have big egos!! I’ve seen guys try and show a great piano player how to play a tune?? and they sit there playing very basic chords like they are special?? then they get into position and become a leader because a pastors team think arrogance and being a big mouth is leadership??? Time to go :)
I'm a drummer that has been playing worship for over 25 years. I experienced 2 new musicians on our team. Keyboard and bass player. The first service we played together the bass player was over playing. He was showing his chops and playing on the high register. After the service o spoke with him and suggested in a calm way that maybe he should play less and help me hold down the groove. He was much younger than me. He got defensive and angry. He started yelling at me and swearing right in church. I told him to stop and think about where he is whom he is serving. Then I walked away. This video is important content. God can not use you or move the people in your church if you are using the pulpit to perform. I just felt the need to share on this topic. Thanks brother for sharing this video. May our Lord Jesus continue to use you for his glory. God be with you always.
@@Doty6String That there's just: Immature, Unprofessional, and just downright absolutely *SLOPPY*. Just goes to show who's only in it to showboat or to collect a check...
I also experienced the spirit of rebellion. We had a guitar player, our pastor wanted us to include him. He didn't sing the melodies correctly, tried to play something, that didn't match, told me, that we do Easy Listening music and didn't understand, that he was pretty careless. After he moved in another country, he showed, that his repentance about a bigger sin, wasn't real, that he told the pastor, what he wanted to hear, that he is allowed to play guitar in our band. I would have said "after one year we can decide about you as Band memver", to avoid it, that he fakes something, but the pastor was so convinced and the guitar player was able to hide, that he didn't really repent.
If he’s a musician that “overplays” why would he be in a church band…. No offense, but the church musicians seem really uptight about this kind of stuff, it limits creativity.
the reason we're musicians is to honor the most high with our talents and use it as a tool for fellowship. God speed brothers, this is a spiritual war.
The most high? Churches are into smoking weed now? Maybe I should go back some time. If you tell me a blunt is the body of Jeeeeezus, I might even let you keep influencing elections without paying taxes. Na, just kidding. TAX the church! Enough of the free land giveaway. At least let homeless people camp on all that tax-free land.
This message is so on point I want to hug you! I fell into an “ego rut” for a time until the pastor’s wife gave us all a reminder of what role we played in the church and who we were playing to.
I've been a guitarist for almost five decades. I've been playing at our church for about 20 years. I just can't imagine anyone coming in and being egotistical. This has nothing to do with ego. My job is to be but a part of the whole. That's it. I've had people tell me that they couldn't hear me. Now, I KNOW I'm loud enough to be heard, so I take that more as I'm doing what I set out to do, which is just be one color of the entire music pallet being played. I treat everyone the same, because music isn't a competition or about ego. Especially worship music.
Amen to that. I've been playing guitar in my church's worship team for 15 years. I'm so proud of the humble servants in our team. I don't understand what ego has to do with leading worship. Keep up the good work!
@@basicforge Exactly! If I were to play my guitar alone for a few moments, people would quite possibly think I was too loud, lol. When everyone else is playing, I'm just in there somewhere, and no one would think it was too loud.
@@rklewis2 LOL Yeah, that's what happens when you have half dozen musicians all playing at once. I don't worry about being heard. That's the job of the guys at the sound board. ;) I do want to be able to hear myself playing and everyone else well enough to play along.
I work with a difficult population in the health field. There are days when I get annoyed or overwhelmed. Your testimony reminded me that I have to be careful about how I say things to people because it could be the last straw for them. Thanks!
I am 70. I was in Music Ministry for 35 years. I ran sound. I sang backup. I led Praise and Worship. This message is 100 percent Truth..... Thank you for posting this.
There are church people who happen to do music ministry. Then there are musicians who happen to do church gigs. I did undergrad work in voice and was a professional trombone player for a season. (I also did undergrad work in physics and Bible.) However, my primary axe is keyboard on which I still gig, but out of my role as a Christian minister. I have a graduate seminary degree in theology and do mission work. So I understand the world of musicians. I'm also the lead sound engineer for my church. Many in my position try to make a good sound and end at that. My goal is not primarily to make a good sound, though that's entailed in my primary goal. My primary goal is to facilitate the worship of the almighty God. I need to be invisible. The sound system needs to be invisible. The musicians on stage need to be invisible. I don't want anyone thinking about anything but their Lord Jesus and the Godhead he reveals. The minister of music at my church agrees and he actively prepares the musicians for this task, ministering to them spiritually so that we don't get egos in the music ministry. In the old testament, the musicians would precede the warriors into battle, and we are doing spiritual warfare through music. If we don't fight the battle for our own hearts, we can't fight the battle for the hearts of the congregation.
@@DivineMunika If you're heart is in the right place, simply thank them for their compliment. It' hrd not to be noticed if you're on stage leading worship in some capacity, but the goal is still to direct people toward God, not yourself.
God bless the abandoned woman, such a sad reality. Having experienced a similar family betrayal myself, it never gos away and you question everything you did in your life. Ill pray and hope she finds a living angel to hold her and be by her side. God bless all.
The problem is most large and mega churches are a performance, with the musicians looking to break into the Christian music scene, and develop their resume - wrong motives! I'm a bass and drummer, we never practice before Sunday, we show up 45 min early Sunday, listen to each other playing and then play it once, we hope the spirit of the time completes our worship... refreshing!
As a singer, songwriter and composer I have been doing this for 58 years-and I have done it mostly as a soloist because I don’t want any part of an ego based competition and I’ve seen it too many times. But for the last decade, I have been blessed to be a part of a selfless God-centered group of musicians that serves a church humbly and worshipfully-and it always blesses me-we merely lead a congregation in worship-to God, be the glory
This presentation is the best one you’ve done by far! This is what it is all about! We are music ministers and people need to be set free by what God has given us. We don’t need to take it for granted! It starts with humility and respect for all of God’s people! Peace and blessings!
Since I started playing for God’s glory that I have asked first to be anointed to minister. I have found through the years that some musicians were jealous and full of pride,which caused me grief. It is for His glory not ours. Just need to keep praying and to keep oneself pure and Holy. Thank you Lord for the Holy Spirit which humbles us,comforts us,gives us direction and purpose. Jesus is the Lord!
Man! That story resonated. I'm not religious, that said, many facets of music save people. It touches them. I'm sure you were at Awww with at statement. Music had saved me and continues to save me. I've had fans come up and tell me that the show or the album saved them. I can't express how I felt, like you said. I just hug them and say that they have saved me too. The love thanks is given back. Great video!
Thanks for sharing. I've been drumming Jesus Music / CCM / Worship since the 70s and have been blessed to not run into the ego crowd regularly during that time. My current drumming situation started in '98 and one of the things I've tried to instill in the teams over the years is that we are there to help people enter the presence of God, so we better not get in the way.
Except for our drummer who is a world class pro and a super humble guy, everyone else in our worship team is a talented amateur. A couple of our singers have musical training. We don't do our thing for other churches or tour, We always do our best to focus on the service and worship aspect of playing and singing.
@@basicforge I only did enough gigging way back then to know I didn't like it. :) Then I stopped playing for a few years because I realized I wasn't mature enough to be in a band and married at the same time. In some ways I think God honored that decision with this lovely static playing situation at my church when they decided to have a contemporary service. As you can imagine, our church's worship team has significantly changed over the last 25 years. For much of that time, we were loaded with professional-level players, and I was the weak link. Now I'm the "old guy" who gets to encourage our talented amateurs. Hopefully, I'm doing that right.
@@dmjung Interesting story. 🙂 I've been playing guitar since I was 10 years old, and I'm nearly 60 now. Until 15 years ago I was playing casually, mostly self taught. I never played in a band. I love the guitar but didn't have an excuse to play much, and so when a close friend at church told me they were going to start a music ministry I jumped at the chance. Now I am the only remaining founding member. A lot of wonderful people have come and gone from the group and a few have moved on to other congregations. One has gone to be with the Lord. Our group has a nice mix now, mostly talented amateurs and we finally managed to get some younger people involved. The future looks bright. Perhaps in a few years I will retired from my role, but I wouldn't mind continuing on. Who knows what God has in store?
I've been a musician in church for almost 50 years, I have seen a lot, good and bad but now it seems like many church services and "concerts" are nothing more than a gospel talent show! You have singers trying to show you EVERY run possible from the begining of the song to the end of the song trying to impress other singers and you have bands also trying to show you EVERY lick possible from the beging of the song to the end of the song trying to impress other bands. None of this has anything to do with giving praise and honor to God, this is about singers and musicians seeking praise FOR THEMSELVES!
When I was helping Directly, I would take some of the worship songs (4+ pages long) and re-write them more to Hymn style. It help to keep the ego's down and still provided the songs the music department wanted.
Yes & even some of the song choices are NOT useful for Church participation, because some songs have TOO MANY LYRICS & all MOST of the Congregants can do is LISTEN to the song(s)!!!
@@7777Lace I agree. Getting away from a hymn book does cause problems in Church Music, and reduces the number of people who would have otherwise worshiped in song.
@@chrish7336 disagree. Christians often listen to Worship music during the work days on Spotify or Sirius or radio, and will sing along with those songs during Sunday service. Contemporary songs can elevate and inspire and let people get lifted in the sound and lights. I've been in worship concerts with tears running down my face, feeling the spirit move among me and my bandmates.
The most valuable lesson my Organist taught me was to be humble. She is one of THE best organists to do it and she always portrayed that message. Being humble as a musician is the greatest lesson you could ever learn. Being able to play at service is a blessing and a privilege.
This is good to hear. Thank you. I don't play music that's praise and worship oriented in the traditional sense for services. But, I do long to play with fellow Christians who have a heart for Christ and who want to reach those outside of the church. That said, you're right on the money. No place for ego, just for God's glory.
I was a member of a little church In West Texas where they used an organ and a piano. It was wonderful as far as the performance was concerned, but there was a problem. While they were excellent musicians, the two women would not speak to each other. I have no idea what their feud was about. I had played piano for church since I was a little girl. I always thought it was a privileged blessing to glorify God in my personal ministry. For the next 50 + years, as I accompanied our congregation, I played the words of the hymn rather than just the technical lines and spaces. I played from my heart. I now 89 years old and found a little church that sings hymns and has a sound Bible preacher. On occasion I play for the church and still rejoice that I can glorify the Lord by singing those words in my head and communicating the wonderful message of the words. Playing the piano is an expression of the emotion I feel as the congregation lifts voices to the Lord.
This is absolutely right! Ego…Jealousy. Not to mention professionals that tour on social media giving criticisms from a bad place and not out of love. This was definitely a good one Terence
I've been feeling discouraged as a church musician lately. Asking myself does what I do really matter and make a difference. I really needed to hear this and found it very encouraging. I never really cared much about the money and ego strokes. Thank you for keeping it real!
I really needed to hear this. I am just a solo artist. Just me and my guitar or soundtracks. I really am hard on myself striving for “perfection”. It causes great anxiety in me. One time I canceled out because of my anxiety. I sing at church and community events. I’ve always for the most part sang with some wonderful groups of people that were singing for the right reasons, and I have been blessed by their music. My favorite gospel event is coming up in June. Seems like satan gives me a reason every day to procrastinate practicing. My story is long. I do battle with some egos. Please do pray for me that I stop procrastinating! I know it is a sin that I need deliverance from. Thank you for this video!
Thanks for the good word about ego, etc. Fortunately I have not run into this as a bass player for many years. What is important at our church is character and servanthood being as important as musical skill. Everyone on the platform (not stage) is a servant in other areas first because we see all of them as worship leaders and to do that you need more than just great chops.
Church music is not just any other music. It is worship. It is part of worship ministry, yes it is a service first for the Lord and for the people whom you lead to His presence. It is not about how good you are at playing the instrument, true worship flows from within the heart of the musician.
As a 50 year musician, I know longer want any part of the whole worship machine idol and all it has become. I now attend a little church with just a piano and organ which are rarely played together. Such a breath of fresh air ... Simplicity, solitude, reflection.
Excellent words! Thanks. It's not just musicians but also worship directors and their department. I went to audition to be a Bassist and the directors assistant talked with a cold shoulder to me. First he was like how come you use a pick? I told him I prefer it but can do with or without and he was like, well I just don't think there's a place for you here. I had told the worship leader that the Holy Spirit told me to let him know that I was there to serve and to help him. Then I auditioned playing acoustic guitar for rhythm and while I played with the band the other members were digging my playing smiling and all, and this same director started asking me can't you do this or that and I said sure. I was playing proper for the style of the song and along with the team. He just told me, I just don't believe we can use you. As I walked out, the other guitar player encouraged me by saying, hey I don't know what that guy's problem is, but you're playing was great. Don't get discouraged. Well I was and it totally turned me off of that leader and group director because they worked together and this was unacceptable behavior for leaders to treat someone attempting to do their part in service with their gifting. Their egos were absolutely hurting them and it's interesting that neither of those guys are there any more.
Wow! You received a rare gift, seeing that you and what you do matters and improves the world. I feel that humility is important for all parts of life, not just musically.
Lots of people need to hear this. It isn't just in church. It's everywhere. You might be playing in a bar and be placed there by God to meet someone's need.
I had a Pastor tell me once that the number 1 problem reported with services around the world was with the praise and worship teams. The musicians and singers caused the most drama etc. His solution was to disband such and use a CD player. Good Grief.
It is key for us as musicians to keep ourselves filled with the Spirit of the Living God (Jesus the Christ). You never know...as you have eloquently stated just how much of an impact the gift/talent God gave to us affects those that come across that moment or moments they hear us. Whenever we are made aware of these tender life altering moments, we must remember to CONTINUE to give God all the glory fr flr! Having a humble spirit will always have a much more positive impact on God's people. Keep holding it sir, love your content!
Something similar happened to me recently in Canberra (capital of Australia). I took up busking late last year with my friend as Arthritis robbed me of the ability to play guitar; and even though we had only been busking maybe 8 or 9 times, a gentleman in his 50s, came up to us after one of our songs and told us that our music had touched his heart and had turned him around (as he had intended to kill himself later that day); he told us that our music had moved him to tears and filled him with a realization that life truly was worth living. The experience humbled my friend and I as we came to realize the power of music to heal. Almost every time we play (at local shopping centers etc); someone will come up to us and share how our music has affected them in a positive way. We don't make much money busking; but to have our music and songs touch the hearts of those who pass by is more than enough reward I think.
I’m not a church musician, but this is very helpful. I had an experience recently that was really upsetting. I wanted to just go home, but I told myself no it’s not about you. It’s about the music and I stuck with it even though I wasn’t sure if doing so was allowing this person to trample on me. It was an ego thing with this other person, I think. I don’t know for sure because I’m not in their head. But I stayed and played my part with heart, even though it was very, very difficult and I was very upset. This video had a few messages for me. Yes, it’s not about me. It’s about the music. I’m just the vessel that it flows through. Secondly when other people are having ego issues, I need to just continue to be nice because that speaks just as loud as talent. it doesn’t matter how talented you are, if you can’t work with people, you’re never gonna do anything with it. So I’m going to continue to try to be nice and patient. :-) And thirdly, Music is transformative; every opportunity to play music is an opportunity to potentially help someone else transcend their situation and feel something different, whether it be Joy, community, validation, fellowship, peace,…and that there is a greater purpose behind what they are navigating through, which brings me back to the first point. it’s not about me. I feel a lot better now. Thank you.
God bless you good Elder. We have to Honor God in everything and forget ourselves. God have mercy on our Christian churches for our failings. God help us all be ready for His coming.
God bless you Brother. I needed this, as I begin my worship drummer journey at my 5 campus Church. I just sat in my wooded prayer spot ,last night, and prayed for God to bless me as I serve the music that prepares hearts to be more open to hear God. I began training at 60 when I retired, and am now 63. My Church has a ton of talented musicians and can be clicky, but us flawed people can be like that. I always say just keep the focus on Jesus, and not on people, and that will take care of any flaws us humans can exhibit.
I appreciate your wise words here. For several years, I served occasionally as a substitute singer on our church's worship team, and many people encouraged me to be on the team weekly. Sadly, a person who was the chosen to do administration for the team took a fervent dislike to me. (Long silly story.)After one service when I had been asked to substitute for an absent friend, the administrator came up to me and sharply and angrily demanded, "Why are you singing today?!" I explained that I had been asked to do so. She responded, "We don't have substitutes!" I just stood there in shock. We tried to work it out in a meeting with the pastor, and she admitted that she hadn't been truthful, but wasn't apologetic and kept her position. Of course we have substitutes, but she had her vendetta against me. I never went back to sub again. God isn't served by egos, and as Christians, we need to do better. People are watching to see how we are doing at loving each other.
beautiful perspective. I think that applies for all things we do in life. Do it genuinely by heart unconditionally and you will succeed with everything in life.
I was a Worship Leader for 15 years, as a guitarist and vocalist. The first thing i ever said to anyone on my team was, ego is left at the door when you enter the church. I had no patience for showboating or Ego, Worship is not limited to playing music or singing, Worship is a way of life. Living a life of worship is attributing every success, accomplishment, and blessings to God, pointing to the accomplished and perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. I found the message being preached more important then what i was singing or playing. In my opinion, those should be there to support the message being preached. If the message is not the primary focus then it doesn't matter if that woman was moved by the music or not. If the message heard was more about stories then the word of god and it's meaning in context, then the whole service is meaningless. She was moved to the point of saving her earthly life, but Worship is about your eternal soul. I stepped down 4 years ago at the church i was at in a Worship leader/Pastor capacity, because i realized that no matter how much the music meant and was praised by the congregation, if the messages were not in line with exegeting the text properly, it didn't matter how good the music was. The Lead Pastor of the church was an amazingly generous, selfless and kind hearted man. But he would prepare his sermons on Saturday night for the next Morning leaving me with no way to be able to support any text he might be speaking about and most of the time the text was mostly about useless stories like fighting the Goliath in your life kind of story then actually properly presenting the Word of God in context. So, If you don't know the word of God. There is no amount of music that will be beneficial to anyone. In most evangelical churches today, the music is the primary tool to attract people and the Word of God is secondary, if properly exegeted at all. I would challenge any big assembly church to pass around a questionnaire in their service asking questions about the Word of God requiring proper answers in context and have at least 50% of their congregants either answer properly or at all because they never heard the text properly presented and most of them don't actually read and study the word of God for themselves, But that is only one man's opinion. God Bless!
Thank you so much for this video!!! I recently learned my own hard lesson of this. I write original music for Churches and I had written a song that I was SO proud of. I spent months on the recording process of just this one song. Fine tuning the reverb, the equalization, the panning etc... I took the recording to work to play for a co-worker in order to get her opinion (and honestly, I think that I was seeking her praise.) When she heard the song she began balling. I mean waterfalls of tears. She explained to me she was having a hard times in life, and that she really needed to hear that song. I realized that day that all my practice with piano, time spent engineering and recording, meant literally nothing to her. It turns out it was actually God using me as his tool to deliver a message to her that she needed at that exact time. It humbled me deeply, and today I am grateful that I was able to play my "SMALL" part in God's greater plan.
Wow just wow! You have no idea how low i have become. You may have just saved someone else. Thank you that was very needed I’m gonna cling to it. The timing is unreal.Wow God bless you.
This is one of the few times where an attention grabbing video title didnt lie 😃 Thank you so much for the very inspiring and valuable clip. Interestingly, my takeaway is the intention to play with such a heart and love for others and passion for God that passers-by will get touched and can encounter him that way. If you do so, technicalities probably wont matter in the big picture :-)
Wow, amazing testimony I wish every church would listen to this, I used to play at church and got to see that first hand, the I’m better than you attitude, in the group I wasn’t the best, so from time to time I would let someone else play my instruments, but boy, this put a lot of things into perspective great video my brother, God bless you all!
I've been a guitarist since 9 yrs old in Church. Was saved at a tender age but fell away from God for a short t8me. Returned to Him because the world has nothing to offer, especially it's music. I've always played volontarily at church and always experience the presence and glory of the Lord. Never seen myself above anyone else, humility as a church musician is a must, for the hand of God to move in your ministry, it is Christlikeness. I'm 42 now and still play, but always do it as I'm glorifying the Lord. Musicians were placed at the front of the battle at Jericho, as a musician you are at the tip of the battle, live Holy lives pleasing unto God, and everything else will follow...
Well said - very well said. I've been playing and singing in UK churches for over 50 years and have seen the power that music - rhythm - meaningful lyrics can have on people at a deep level. It's humbling and rewarding and gratifying and reminds you that our job is to serve the congregation - ie the people - on their journey through life
I've been a musician in church for over 30 years. Everything you've said is true. The service aspect of what we do is lost many times in churches. We are in service to God with the talent He has given us.
From 2008 to 2013 I was the drummer in our church praise band. I was constantly aware of the presence of God in worship and I worked hard to make sure that my playing glorifies him and not me. Psalm 150:3-6 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
BTW I'm no longer the drummer in the praise band because in 2013 I was appointed as a local pastor in the UMC, where I've been ever since. And still I need to point to him and not myself. I must decrease and he must increase.
Thank you brother this is something I have being educated on for some time. I'm always checking myself. There is an awareness with my music group and I hope its something we bring every time. To come centred on Christ with the desire to worship. Please pray for our music group as we are thin on the ground with singers and musicians. We lost our drummer and bass player and have classical trained pianists playing contemporary gospel. I'm on rhythm guitar/lead with a bit of bass. You see our challenges. plus we have a haphazard tec group who are not always in the mind of worship.
AMEN 🙏 MY BROTHER!!! I WAS THE ONLY MUSICIAN FOR THE CHURCH AND I HAD TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THE STRESSFUL DISRESPECT OF PLAYING FOR THE CHURCH. I TRULY LOVE THE LORD AND LOVE USING THE GIFTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN ME TO PLAY GUITAR FOR THE LORD. MAKING MY GUITAR SOUND LIKE A HAMMOND ORGAN AND PIANOS AND BASS ,A FULL BAND TO PLAY SONGS FOR THE CHURCH CHOIRS. NOT MAKING GOOD MONEY BUT LOVING WHAT I DO FOR GOD!!! BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE TIME PLAYING FOR FUNERALS, GOING OFF WITH THE CHURCH TO PLAY AT OTHER CHURCHES ROLLING AROUND MY OWN EQUIPMENT NOT GETTING RAISES IN PAY THE WAY I KNOW THAT I DESERVED TO FIND OUT THAT YOU REALLY CATCH HELL PLAYING FOR THE CHURCH. I PRAY THAT GOD WILL BLESS THE CHURCH TO HAVE A HEART ❤️ ❤❤ CONSIDER WHAT THE CHURCH MUSICIAN DO FOR THE SERVICE. SINCERELY YOURS LORD ( STEVEN WALKER)
This so cool and so TRUE! I’ve been playing in church for almost 40 years. I never look as it like a job, but my praise and thanks to God for the blessings and talents he gave me. It’s all for him anyway. Love the post my brother and God bless you 👊🏾
Very true words concerning the ministry of music. Consider the story in Joshua of the wall of Jericho, first went the singers and then the musicians before the people. I had the privilege of taking a private lesson with Victor Wooten, one of the first things he taught me to do was embrace my mistakes and learn to make them intentional. As ministers of music our humanity rolls into intentionally changing lives in the spiritual realm.
As a choir director for the past 10 years and in the choir for 30 yrs prior, we choose hymns that pertain to the lectionary. I also play acoustic guitar. What my choir and I discuss at practice is focus on the words and meaning..how can we make sure we highlight the Word of God at Mass? It is a privilege to sing at church. Our congregation is mixed age from 90 to newborn. It is important that we choose from different repertoires, from Latin to MercyMe. As a Catholic musician, I am pushing the boundaries while making sure the Sacred Sacrifice is respected.
Brother, I can relate! My son and I are drummers. He was discouraged by the piano player, the leader of the band--on purpose! So thanks for relaying the proper, spiritual attitude! And that's why Lucifer ultimately fell; and thus the worst sin--pride (ego)! Thanks!
I loved hearing this bro. I always try to remind myself to stay humble and to remember that I am using a gift that God gave me to bring His Spirit into the Church. It's not in the service of me, but in the service of Him. I appreciate having another person reminding me to stay humble and remember that what I do up there matters.
Great message ❤️ I went to LA Tech! I would stop by Grambling to go to Panda Express and always loved and appreciated the school, band, and area! Thanks for speaking about this! As musicians we can get our place misconstrued. We are servants of the Lord. Setting the presence for Jesus to move in the room with our worship together in the congregation. Our worship is the difference between just making loud noises on stage and furthering Jesus’ work in us and the people we are leading. It’s ALL about Jesus. Seek first His kingdom. We can play every note right and sing every word but if we ain’t worshiping we are just cymbals and gongs. Thanks for spreading the gospel and for serving Him with your talents that you worked for and he has given us as musicians the opportunity to thrive in!
Good message brother. I’m a Christian and previously been playing in a church music team for about 25 years. I agree that we don’t play for self honor, but to give in service to God. I’ve learnt much over the years - it’s all about our hearts at the end of the day, why are we doing it, simple - to give in service to God. If we’re doing it to promote ourselves we shouldn’t be on the stage. It’s a ministry that everyone sees, and I’ve learnt also in how we play can affect the Holy Spirit moving in a service, so if we’re sensitive to the Holy Spirit and the musicians around us, we’re going to compliment everything around us. If what we do means one person gives their lives to Christ, then praise God, we’re part of that too.
Haleluyah (Elhamdürüllah) Brother 🤲🏻🙏🏻 As a musician, I have whitnessed similar confessions from various audiences that I felt the honor to simply make them happy, or see the light that god gave us all. It doesn’t matter the music style or venue. We musicians/artists have something inside as a gift of God. This should be one of our duties to help other living things to feel this energy too. (Also as a listener I have thanked many of my music idols for saving me from the depression or bad mood). Keep making music. God bless you all. ❤️ All the best.
Thank you for sharing this and please keep up the good work. This scenario happened to me twice. Me and a couple of my friends used to do prison ministry and did it for years. I would be out and about somewhere and I would notice a guy looking at me. And he would look at me again. And again. And then he would approach me and I am wondering what is going on when he would ask me: "you play music, right?" And I said "yes, I do." Then he would say: "I remember you, you played for me when I was in prison." I have to admit that I did'nt say much, because I was at a loss for words.
“Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is the best.” - Zappa
Thank you so much my fellow church minstrel. That’s exactly what we are here for. Any musician who has ego has no other life than music. However, Jesus is our life. I tell folks I’m delivered from music in order to be an anointed minister of music.
This video rang true with me big time. I played on the worship team for 13 plus years. Unfortunately I saw attitudes. And wrong motives. We all have issues. But ultimately I switched from the big stage to just playing a few tiny drums in the kids ministry. It’s more impactful and honest
Great video. So glad I’ve found an egoless church. I know exactly what you’re talking about because I’ve been in those situations. It took years for me to find the right church with the right group of musicians who are playing for the right reason, worshiping the Lord.
All Praise Team leaders, before one note is played, need to remind each member why they are there, what each piece is about and how each piece relates to the message/sermon and most of all - pray.
Amen, brother. Music is a ministry when we, musicians and singers, perform for Hime rather than us. Thank you for this video and the Music is Service message ; I really needed this. Bless you and play on.
Music is a light, a language, a message - making the music, not yourself, matter will be affect and impact those that hear it - that is what people remember. You are clearly doing what God wants you to do.
🤔 Thanks for bringing this forward. I once wanted to join a church band. This was a Christian church. The “leader” of the band which was a guitar player as I am. Didn’t even give me a chance to audition. He hit me with I needed to know the Bible and the word of god before I can even try to audition. I am a trained musician that graduated from Musician Institute in Hollywood California. I didn’t mention this at all. After I heard what the band leader said I was discouraged completely.
Oh, man. I couldn't agree more with you. That experience must have been something else. Being catholic, in Mexico, Sunday church gigs are basically never paid, and it's something one usually gifts to the community. As a part of a group, alone or with my wife I've been at it for 25 years. When I was way younger, some 30 years ago, I sang with the classical choir in my college graduation mass, and my grandma, who lived in another city, heard me sing for the first time that day. She had a hard life, became a young widow with six kids, and had been very bitter for decades about everything. Since it was my graduation, I was very emotional and the Panis Angelicus I sang that day came out beautifully After hearing that, my grandma was reduced to tears, and it's like all her life memories came back to her and began to feel thankful for life. She really changed her ways that day. It is clear to me that music can be a very powerful spiritual and emotional catalyst, and one as a performer needs to understand that the music we are interpreting is the gift itself, it's not for us to show off or brag about, it's the returning of a gift that was given to us as capable musicians, that we are then able to channel this to other people for their own benefit. I do wish musicians were treated a bit better in our country, as I don't see music as an extra but as an integral part of religious ceremony, yet one that is too often treated as an afterthought.
Terrence, thank you so much for this! I got thrust into the job of worship leader at our very small church plant because no one else really wanted it. I love worship. I love music and I love God. So for me that was not an issue. But the one thing that God really made clear to me and it's something that of course I have known forever is that THERE CAN BE NO EGO IN CHURCH WORK!!! This goes for all kinds of church work, but your point that Music is Service ties right into this. Thank you so much for reminding all of us of this. We aren't there for us. We are there for God. We have a huge responsibility to the members of the church to draw them into the presence of God. To allow them to worship the Lord. That should be extremely humbling to anyone. It's not a rock concert, it's not a show. It's a service. They call Church service the service for a reason. And I think you touched on it. Again thank you so much and keep up the good work. I've encouraging and exhorting all of us to do what we do for the right reasons and not for the wrong reasons. God bless you!
Praise God!! That’s an amazing story and a reality all across the globe. We have a merciful and gracious Lord. But I’m sure he didn’t appreciate the bedroom scene. I didn’t! We must keep sin in its place. But Thank God he always provides a way to him at our lowest moments in life, even through a musician. I would love to hear what you played.
Terrence The Lord bless you sir. This spoke to my heart and I’m definitely subscribing for more content like this. I’m sharing too with my drummer and piano friends. This is so uplifting.
Thank you brother so true so true Lord Jesus help us to stay broken and get humble need to reach out to others and connect with people church service and events to be the light and encouragement to people God bless you sir
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Many times the sweetest spirits flow from the most humble singers & musicians. Stay in the word and always pray!
YOU GOT THAT RIGHT. many times it having the spirit than great skill and talent 😊😊
Wow!! Thanks for sharing. When I was 16 a choir from Memphis came to my small hometown. I’ve heard good music before but this choir and band was different. It caused me to start thinking about being Saved. About two months later God saved me and filled me with the Holy Ghost. After the Lord saved me I asked if He would teach me to play music and if He would, I’ll give Him the glory. Three weeks later I was playing music. I ended up studying music in school and earned a Master’s degree in music education. I’ve had a great career in music where I was Minister of Music for a large church for over 20+ years and has taught music for many years. Today I’m working at a hospital teaching music to people who are mentally ill and those with substance abuse. Believe it or not teaching these people is making a tremendous impact on their lives. All of this started because a 16 year old kid heard an anointed choir and band that God used to change my life forever.
That’s beautiful, Tyrone❤
Keep up the good work.
Hey, Ty!
Yeah, it's your big bro, Dennis! Thanks for sharing your testimony!
Glory to God!
Glory to YHWH. That's awesome!!
Awesome 👏🏽
Musicians needed to hear that
We all got to be humble
FAX
Truth.
Exactly ‼️‼️
Yes musicians, be humble because you are really not that important. This thruth could hurt some egos but in the end it sets you free.
Actual musicians shouldn’t be involved in a church band to begin with. If you want to be a studio musician, sure. If you have actual talent, want to get creative, or play how you want, then a church band is NOT where you need to be.
It's all about leadership. The right pastors, the right music director, make a world of difference in your church experience.
Being a self taught Multi-Instrumentalist, I didn’t grow up in the Church & @ the age of 18 I became a Christian & joined a Pentecostal Church in Brooklyn NYC.
And @ 62 years of age today, with over 40 years of playing music in Church & in the Secular field, I’ve ALWAYS understood & RESPECTED the power of MUSIC!!!
And I know that the BEST ABILITY IS AVAILABILITY, coupled with HUMILITY!!! Salute! 🫡 🙏🏽👏🏽🙌🏽
Well said!❤Dawn(Mike too)
I never accepted payment for playing. Service and serving God was the payment. The fact that I got to honor and lead people into the presence of God each day was enough. There were times when I had to humble myself if I felt my pride or attitude was becoming off. This is God helping us to stay true to him. What you do matters and allows others to come to God and meet him at the right moment. He never leaves or forsakes us.
Uuhhĥ the word of God is the most important part of the service 🙌
But also the word of God can be preached thru song
2 Chronicles 20:20-22, Psalm 68:25, Joshua 6:1-27…
I get it. To many ministries have placed more emphasis on great worship than they do solid biblical teaching. This makes for a hollow understanding of faith and the character of God. Presentation of the word is pre-eminent, and opening with worship and prayer creates an atmosphere where hearts are opened and made ready to receive of His word. This is why in so many places in the scriptures, the singers, musicians and worshipers were on the front lines of Israel’s battles.
All of it is important because it gives us an opportunity to sacrifice, worship and praise God. We can also be inspired by God's word collectively and individually, which can persuade others to love God for the first time and change their lives.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! psalms 95:1
I'm not sure if you were agreeing with him or stating that the preaching was the most important part. But either way I'll explain how our church does it. Our worship team ties songs in that go with what the pastor is preaching on/word of God. So it's equally important. Some people are moved by God in different ways. It doesn't mean something is wrong if you are moved by the spirit more by the music, it just means they are doing their job right.
My church has always suffered the misery of diva musicians for 35years.
We opted for the beginner musicians. They're more humble and are just plain happy to be given the opportunity to learn and play during service.
What happens when they progress past the beginner stage? I've been there and I'm now end up covering both electric guitar and bass.
Th musicians in my church are not divas, not highly trained, but lift the rest of us to a very high spirituality and sense of worship nevertheless and I could not ask for more!
@@artiefount neither are the ones in my church. We are not professionals who gig out of church. Many times I feel that I'm the one holding them back. I know this because when I play back the recording I made during the worship service, I feel like burying myself.
I played for a well known gospel group here in Cape Town, South Africa. So one night at a concert, we played first so me and another singer went to the dressing room of the other band doing the second half of the concert. I just knocked once as I could hear that they were about to get ready to go on stage, just in time to hear one of them said.. "Let's go show Witness a thing or two.. I reversed and decided that night to never ever play at a gospel concert again.
So you want newer musicians who don’t care to be bullied around and told to play a certain way for the sake of pleasing an arrogant band leader and play by their rules? Nah.
Former guitar and bass church musician here. To be honest, there's too much distractions and temptations for musicians. Even when I'm not playing and just.in the pews. Now, I prefer to attend worship services with just piano and hymns and where the Bible is solidly teached and preached.
Glad that works for you. Not true for everyone. I've had decades of positive, loving, communal, humble-yet-fulfilling musical moments with my band. Wouldn't change anything. Hope to continue for many more years.
That is where I am at, after opening every Major Christian Music Festival in 1987. As for crowds that topped out at 10K at Wilmore KY that year. I opened for Mylon more times than I can remember, and Petra about 5 times that year. Met about 5 real Christians in that Year and a Half. Also saw the Gospel being changed depending upon the crowd.
I remember my final CCConcert performance where when it was done there were about 40 or 50 young teen girls on the side stage screaming my name like I was Michael W. Smith or something.
Like so much that is going on all around us. It is all just a false construct. Even this Construct is false for a purpose as Heaven and Earth are both Temporal, and will pass away, and HE will make all new when the War is over.
The War against GOD's WORD, the War in Heaven and Earth, is all about THE FATHER, HIS Character, for HE stands Falsely Accused, and will remain so until the 3rd Dispensation. Thus, there is no reason and little time for all of the commercialism, business, ego, half measured sermons and messaging. The one who made each of us in HIS Image, and anything that we ever thought was wonderful and amazing, is on trial. What are you doing about it?
If the world is your friend, then you are playing GOD's Enemy.
It is so easy now to see the falseness of everything about us, now that the economy has been shut off, the consumption of media driven culture shut off. and the gods of the pagans have been revealed nakedly showing Bob Larsen and John Ankerberg were always dead on about the pagan nature of America, to now point out how absolutely and exquisitely perfect and GLORIOUS our GOD is compared to the empty and vacuous blood and self worship that the other gods have always been.
Now that the Federal Government pays the state governments to have their schools convince children to have parts cut off of them, we can clearly see why it is so characteristic of CHRIST that HE comes with an iron scepter to crack some heads.
I hate modern praise music. It teaches nothing.
I hear you brother
Same here! I use to be a main guitar player for a church, I have always had passion for guitar and always played what they wanted! I had the skills etc. I played from the heart but overtime you just grow tired of other musicians making all political!! the most annoying musicians are the ones who are not that good on musical levels but have big egos!! I’ve seen guys try and show a great piano player how to play a tune?? and they sit there playing very basic chords like they are special?? then they get into position and become a leader because a pastors team think arrogance and being a big mouth is leadership??? Time to go :)
I'm a drummer that has been playing worship for over 25 years. I experienced 2 new musicians on our team. Keyboard and bass player. The first service we played together the bass player was over playing. He was showing his chops and playing on the high register. After the service o spoke with him and suggested in a calm way that maybe he should play less and help me hold down the groove. He was much younger than me. He got defensive and angry. He started yelling at me and swearing right in church.
I told him to stop and think about where he is whom he is serving. Then I walked away.
This video is important content. God can not use you or move the people in your church if you are using the pulpit to perform. I just felt the need to share on this topic. Thanks brother for sharing this video. May our Lord Jesus continue to use you for his glory. God be with you always.
That’s the definition of immaturity
@@Doty6String That there's just: Immature, Unprofessional, and just downright absolutely *SLOPPY*. Just goes to show who's only in it to showboat or to collect a check...
I also experienced the spirit of rebellion. We had a guitar player, our pastor wanted us to include him.
He didn't sing the melodies correctly, tried to play something, that didn't match, told me, that we do Easy Listening music and didn't understand, that he was pretty careless. After he moved in another country, he showed, that his repentance about a bigger sin, wasn't real, that he told the pastor, what he wanted to hear, that he is allowed to play guitar in our band. I would have said "after one year we can decide about you as Band memver", to avoid it, that he fakes something, but the pastor was so convinced and the guitar player was able to hide, that he didn't really repent.
If he’s a musician that “overplays” why would he be in a church band…. No offense, but the church musicians seem really uptight about this kind of stuff, it limits creativity.
Spiritually a secular musician!
the reason we're musicians is to honor the most high with our talents and use it as a tool for fellowship. God speed brothers, this is a spiritual war.
The most high? Churches are into smoking weed now? Maybe I should go back some time. If you tell me a blunt is the body of Jeeeeezus, I might even let you keep influencing elections without paying taxes. Na, just kidding. TAX the church! Enough of the free land giveaway. At least let homeless people camp on all that tax-free land.
Not every musician is involved in an over controlling church band….
exactly!
This message is so on point I want to hug you! I fell into an “ego rut” for a time until the pastor’s wife gave us all a reminder of what role we played in the church and who we were playing to.
I've been a guitarist for almost five decades. I've been playing at our church for about 20 years. I just can't imagine anyone coming in and being egotistical. This has nothing to do with ego. My job is to be but a part of the whole. That's it. I've had people tell me that they couldn't hear me. Now, I KNOW I'm loud enough to be heard, so I take that more as I'm doing what I set out to do, which is just be one color of the entire music pallet being played. I treat everyone the same, because music isn't a competition or about ego. Especially worship music.
Praise the Lord you never had to deal with this. Unfortunately, that’s not for all of us…
Amen to that. I've been playing guitar in my church's worship team for 15 years. I'm so proud of the humble servants in our team. I don't understand what ego has to do with leading worship. Keep up the good work!
@@basicforge Exactly! If I were to play my guitar alone for a few moments, people would quite possibly think I was too loud, lol.
When everyone else is playing, I'm just in there somewhere, and no one would think it was too loud.
@@rklewis2 LOL Yeah, that's what happens when you have half dozen musicians all playing at once. I don't worry about being heard. That's the job of the guys at the sound board. ;) I do want to be able to hear myself playing and everyone else well enough to play along.
@@basicforge I'm right there with you. That's exactly what I think as well.
I work with a difficult population in the health field. There are days when I get annoyed or overwhelmed. Your testimony reminded me that I have to be careful about how I say things to people because it could be the last straw for them. Thanks!
❤🙌🏽👏🏽Awesome
I am 70. I was in Music Ministry for 35 years. I ran sound. I sang backup. I led Praise and Worship. This message is 100 percent Truth..... Thank you for posting this.
There are church people who happen to do music ministry.
Then there are musicians who happen to do church gigs.
I did undergrad work in voice and was a professional trombone player for a season. (I also did undergrad work in physics and Bible.) However, my primary axe is keyboard on which I still gig, but out of my role as a Christian minister. I have a graduate seminary degree in theology and do mission work. So I understand the world of musicians.
I'm also the lead sound engineer for my church. Many in my position try to make a good sound and end at that. My goal is not primarily to make a good sound, though that's entailed in my primary goal. My primary goal is to facilitate the worship of the almighty God. I need to be invisible. The sound system needs to be invisible. The musicians on stage need to be invisible. I don't want anyone thinking about anything but their Lord Jesus and the Godhead he reveals.
The minister of music at my church agrees and he actively prepares the musicians for this task, ministering to them spiritually so that we don't get egos in the music ministry. In the old testament, the musicians would precede the warriors into battle, and we are doing spiritual warfare through music. If we don't fight the battle for our own hearts, we can't fight the battle for the hearts of the congregation.
Wait bùt what do u do in a situation were people praise you for playing well during worship do behave humbled or jus ignore them 🤔
@@DivineMunika If you're heart is in the right place, simply thank them for their compliment. It' hrd not to be noticed if you're on stage leading worship in some capacity, but the goal is still to direct people toward God, not yourself.
Well said!! Music as well as vocals are a means, not the "steam" of a church gathering. The Holy Spirit IS to BE FRONT and CENTER of it ALL!!
God bless the abandoned woman, such a sad reality. Having experienced a similar family betrayal myself, it never gos away and you question everything you did in your life. Ill pray and hope she finds a living angel to hold her and be by her side. God bless all.
The problem is most large and mega churches are a performance, with the musicians looking to break into the Christian music scene, and develop their resume - wrong motives! I'm a bass and drummer, we never practice before Sunday, we show up 45 min early Sunday, listen to each other playing and then play it once, we hope the spirit of the time completes our worship... refreshing!
As a singer, songwriter and composer I have been doing this for 58 years-and I have done it mostly as a soloist because I don’t want any part of an ego based competition and I’ve seen it too many times. But for the last decade, I have been blessed to be a part of a selfless God-centered group of musicians that serves a church humbly and worshipfully-and it always blesses me-we merely lead a congregation in worship-to God, be the glory
This presentation is the best one you’ve done by far! This is what it is all about! We are music ministers and people need to be set free by what God has given us. We don’t need to take it for granted! It starts with humility and respect for all of God’s people! Peace and blessings!
Since I started playing for God’s glory that I have asked first to be anointed to minister. I have found through the years that some musicians were jealous and full of pride,which caused me grief. It is for His glory not ours. Just need to keep praying and to keep oneself pure and Holy. Thank you Lord for the Holy Spirit which humbles us,comforts us,gives us direction and purpose. Jesus is the Lord!
As a worship leader, you absolutely expressed truth with beautiful clarity!
Good job my friend.
N.
Man! That story resonated. I'm not religious, that said, many facets of music save people. It touches them. I'm sure you were at Awww with at statement.
Music had saved me and continues to save me. I've had fans come up and tell me that the show or the album saved them. I can't express how I felt, like you said.
I just hug them and say that they have saved me too. The love thanks is given back.
Great video!
To God Be The Glory 🙌🏾
Thanks for sharing. I've been drumming Jesus Music / CCM / Worship since the 70s and have been blessed to not run into the ego crowd regularly during that time. My current drumming situation started in '98 and one of the things I've tried to instill in the teams over the years is that we are there to help people enter the presence of God, so we better not get in the way.
Except for our drummer who is a world class pro and a super humble guy, everyone else in our worship team is a talented amateur. A couple of our singers have musical training. We don't do our thing for other churches or tour, We always do our best to focus on the service and worship aspect of playing and singing.
@@basicforge I only did enough gigging way back then to know I didn't like it. :) Then I stopped playing for a few years because I realized I wasn't mature enough to be in a band and married at the same time. In some ways I think God honored that decision with this lovely static playing situation at my church when they decided to have a contemporary service.
As you can imagine, our church's worship team has significantly changed over the last 25 years. For much of that time, we were loaded with professional-level players, and I was the weak link. Now I'm the "old guy" who gets to encourage our talented amateurs. Hopefully, I'm doing that right.
@@dmjung Interesting story. 🙂 I've been playing guitar since I was 10 years old, and I'm nearly 60 now. Until 15 years ago I was playing casually, mostly self taught. I never played in a band. I love the guitar but didn't have an excuse to play much, and so when a close friend at church told me they were going to start a music ministry I jumped at the chance. Now I am the only remaining founding member. A lot of wonderful people have come and gone from the group and a few have moved on to other congregations. One has gone to be with the Lord. Our group has a nice mix now, mostly talented amateurs and we finally managed to get some younger people involved. The future looks bright. Perhaps in a few years I will retired from my role, but I wouldn't mind continuing on. Who knows what God has in store?
I've been a musician in church for almost 50 years, I have seen a lot, good and bad but now it seems like many church services and "concerts" are nothing more than a gospel talent show! You have singers trying to show you EVERY run possible from the begining of the song to the end of the song trying to impress other singers and you have bands also trying to show you EVERY lick possible from the beging of the song to the end of the song trying to impress other bands. None of this has anything to do with giving praise and honor to God, this is about singers and musicians seeking praise FOR THEMSELVES!
When I was helping Directly, I would take some of the worship songs (4+ pages long) and re-write them more to Hymn style. It help to keep the ego's down and still provided the songs the music department wanted.
I agree
Yes & even some of the song choices are NOT useful for Church participation, because some songs have TOO MANY LYRICS & all MOST of the Congregants can do is LISTEN to the song(s)!!!
@@7777Lace I agree. Getting away from a hymn book does cause problems in Church Music, and reduces the number of people who would have otherwise worshiped in song.
@@chrish7336 disagree. Christians often listen to Worship music during the work days on Spotify or Sirius or radio, and will sing along with those songs during Sunday service. Contemporary songs can elevate and inspire and let people get lifted in the sound and lights. I've been in worship concerts with tears running down my face, feeling the spirit move among me and my bandmates.
The most valuable lesson my Organist taught me was to be humble. She is one of THE best organists to do it and she always portrayed that message. Being humble as a musician is the greatest lesson you could ever learn. Being able to play at service is a blessing and a privilege.
This is good to hear. Thank you. I don't play music that's praise and worship oriented in the traditional sense for services. But, I do long to play with fellow Christians who have a heart for Christ and who want to reach those outside of the church.
That said, you're right on the money. No place for ego, just for God's glory.
I was a member of a little church In West Texas where they used an organ and a piano. It was wonderful as far as the performance was concerned, but there was a problem. While they were excellent musicians, the two women would not speak to each other. I have no idea what their feud was about. I had played piano for church since I was a little girl. I always thought it was a privileged blessing to glorify God in my personal ministry. For the next 50 + years, as I accompanied our congregation, I played the words of the hymn rather than just the technical lines and spaces. I played from my heart. I now 89 years old and found a little church that sings hymns and has a sound Bible preacher. On occasion I play for the church and still rejoice that I can glorify the Lord by singing those words in my head and communicating the wonderful message of the words. Playing the piano is an expression of the emotion I feel as the congregation lifts voices to the Lord.
This is absolutely right! Ego…Jealousy. Not to mention professionals that tour on social media giving criticisms from a bad place and not out of love. This was definitely a good one Terence
There is such a thing as constructive criticism…
I've been feeling discouraged as a church musician lately. Asking myself does what I do really matter and make a difference. I really needed to hear this and found it very encouraging. I never really cared much about the money and ego strokes. Thank you for keeping it real!
I really needed to hear this. I am just a solo artist. Just me and my guitar or soundtracks. I really am hard on myself striving for “perfection”. It causes great anxiety in me. One time I canceled out because of my anxiety. I sing at church and community events. I’ve always for the most part sang with some wonderful groups of people that were singing for the right reasons, and I have been blessed by their music. My favorite gospel event is coming up in June. Seems like satan gives me a reason every day to procrastinate practicing. My story is long. I do battle with some egos. Please do pray for me that I stop procrastinating! I know it is a sin that I need deliverance from. Thank you for this video!
Thanks for the good word about ego, etc. Fortunately I have not run into this as a bass player for many years. What is important at our church is character and servanthood being as important as musical skill. Everyone on the platform (not stage) is a servant in other areas first because we see all of them as worship leaders and to do that you need more than just great chops.
Music is Service. I call TRUTH on That! 👍
Church music is not just any other music. It is worship. It is part of worship ministry, yes it is a service first for the Lord and for the people whom you lead to His presence. It is not about how good you are at playing the instrument, true worship flows from within the heart of the musician.
@@mark0muzziker0 Worship is not music(alone)....it is how you live your life for God.
As a 50 year musician, I know longer want any part of the whole worship machine idol and all it has become. I now attend a little church with just a piano and organ which are rarely played together.
Such a breath of fresh air ... Simplicity, solitude, reflection.
I refuse to in my personal time to listen to any of the modern stuff. Stinks of the secular demonic music industry.
What a very touching testimony of the woman saved and the profound influence of your music on her. Excellent points shared and very true.
I don't even know if "God bless you!" faithfully conveys my prayer for you, brother.
This is so needed on my side of the world (D.R. Congo).
Thank you for this man. That genuine honesty and you just sharing that story is everything
Excellent words! Thanks. It's not just musicians but also worship directors and their department. I went to audition to be a Bassist and the directors assistant talked with a cold shoulder to me. First he was like how come you use a pick? I told him I prefer it but can do with or without and he was like, well I just don't think there's a place for you here. I had told the worship leader that the Holy Spirit told me to let him know that I was there to serve and to help him.
Then I auditioned playing acoustic guitar for rhythm and while I played with the band the other members were digging my playing smiling and all, and this same director started asking me can't you do this or that and I said sure. I was playing proper for the style of the song and along with the team. He just told me, I just don't believe we can use you. As I walked out, the other guitar player encouraged me by saying, hey I don't know what that guy's problem is, but you're playing was great. Don't get discouraged.
Well I was and it totally turned me off of that leader and group director because they worked together and this was unacceptable behavior for leaders to treat someone attempting to do their part in service with their gifting. Their egos were absolutely hurting them and it's interesting that neither of those guys are there any more.
Wow! You received a rare gift, seeing that you and what you do matters and improves the world. I feel that humility is important for all parts of life, not just musically.
Lots of people need to hear this. It isn't just in church. It's everywhere. You might be playing in a bar and be placed there by God to meet someone's need.
FAX!!!!
God bless you, brother. God bless you!!!
I had a Pastor tell me once that the number 1 problem reported with services around the world was with the praise and worship teams. The musicians and singers caused the most drama etc. His solution was to disband such and use a CD player. Good Grief.
It is key for us as musicians to keep ourselves filled with the Spirit of the Living God (Jesus the Christ). You never know...as you have eloquently stated just how much of an impact the gift/talent God gave to us affects those that come across that moment or moments they hear us. Whenever we are made aware of these tender life altering moments, we must remember to CONTINUE to give God all the glory fr flr! Having a humble spirit will always have a much more positive impact on God's people. Keep holding it sir, love your content!
Something similar happened to me recently in Canberra (capital of Australia). I took up busking late last year with my friend as Arthritis robbed me of the ability to play guitar; and even though we had only been busking maybe 8 or 9 times, a gentleman in his 50s, came up to us after one of our songs and told us that our music had touched his heart and had turned him around (as he had intended to kill himself later that day); he told us that our music had moved him to tears and filled him with a realization that life truly was worth living. The experience humbled my friend and I as we came to realize the power of music to heal. Almost every time we play (at local shopping centers etc); someone will come up to us and share how our music has affected them in a positive way. We don't make much money busking; but to have our music and songs touch the hearts of those who pass by is more than enough reward I think.
The singers,directors,Ministers of Music who DON'T play need to hear it too...SERVICE!!!!!
I’m not a church musician, but this is very helpful. I had an experience recently that was really upsetting. I wanted to just go home, but I told myself no it’s not about you. It’s about the music and I stuck with it even though I wasn’t sure if doing so was allowing this person to trample on me. It was an ego thing with this other person, I think. I don’t know for sure because I’m not in their head. But I stayed and played my part with heart, even though it was very, very difficult and I was very upset.
This video had a few messages for me. Yes, it’s not about me. It’s about the music. I’m just the vessel that it flows through. Secondly when other people are having ego issues, I need to just continue to be nice because that speaks just as loud as talent. it doesn’t matter how talented you are, if you can’t work with people, you’re never gonna do anything with it. So I’m going to continue to try to be nice and patient. :-) And thirdly, Music is transformative; every opportunity to play music is an opportunity to potentially help someone else transcend their situation and feel something different, whether it be Joy, community, validation, fellowship, peace,…and that there is a greater purpose behind what they are navigating through, which brings me back to the first point. it’s not about me. I feel a lot better now. Thank you.
God bless you good Elder. We have to Honor God in everything and forget ourselves. God have mercy on our Christian churches for our failings. God help us all be ready for His coming.
God bless you Brother. I needed this, as I begin my worship drummer journey at my 5 campus Church. I just sat in my wooded prayer spot ,last night, and prayed for God to bless me as I serve the music that prepares hearts to be more open to hear God. I began training at 60 when I retired, and am now 63. My Church has a ton of talented musicians and can be clicky, but us flawed people can be like that. I always say just keep the focus on Jesus, and not on people, and that will take care of any flaws us humans can exhibit.
I appreciate your wise words here.
For several years, I served occasionally as a substitute singer on our church's worship team, and many people encouraged me to be on the team weekly.
Sadly, a person who was the chosen to do administration for the team took a fervent dislike to me. (Long silly story.)After one service when I had been asked to substitute for an absent friend, the administrator came up to me and sharply and angrily demanded, "Why are you singing today?!" I explained that I had been asked to do so. She responded, "We don't have substitutes!" I just stood there in shock.
We tried to work it out in a meeting with the pastor, and she admitted that she hadn't been truthful, but wasn't apologetic and kept her position.
Of course we have substitutes, but she had her vendetta against me. I never went back to sub again.
God isn't served by egos, and as Christians, we need to do better. People are watching to see how we are doing at loving each other.
beautiful perspective. I think that applies for all things we do in life. Do it genuinely by heart unconditionally and you will succeed with everything in life.
What a story man! When you do anything as an act of Worship to God. God shows up, blesses you and others.
I was a Worship Leader for 15 years, as a guitarist and vocalist. The first thing i ever said to anyone on my team was, ego is left at the door when you enter the church. I had no patience for showboating or Ego, Worship is not limited to playing music or singing, Worship is a way of life. Living a life of worship is attributing every success, accomplishment, and blessings to God, pointing to the accomplished and perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. I found the message being preached more important then what i was singing or playing. In my opinion, those should be there to support the message being preached. If the message is not the primary focus then it doesn't matter if that woman was moved by the music or not. If the message heard was more about stories then the word of god and it's meaning in context, then the whole service is meaningless. She was moved to the point of saving her earthly life, but Worship is about your eternal soul. I stepped down 4 years ago at the church i was at in a Worship leader/Pastor capacity, because i realized that no matter how much the music meant and was praised by the congregation, if the messages were not in line with exegeting the text properly, it didn't matter how good the music was. The Lead Pastor of the church was an amazingly generous, selfless and kind hearted man. But he would prepare his sermons on Saturday night for the next Morning leaving me with no way to be able to support any text he might be speaking about and most of the time the text was mostly about useless stories like fighting the Goliath in your life kind of story then actually properly presenting the Word of God in context. So, If you don't know the word of God. There is no amount of music that will be beneficial to anyone. In most evangelical churches today, the music is the primary tool to attract people and the Word of God is secondary, if properly exegeted at all. I would challenge any big assembly church to pass around a questionnaire in their service asking questions about the Word of God requiring proper answers in context and have at least 50% of their congregants either answer properly or at all because they never heard the text properly presented and most of them don't actually read and study the word of God for themselves, But that is only one man's opinion. God Bless!
Thank you so much for this video!!! I recently learned my own hard lesson of this. I write original music for Churches and I had written a song that I was SO proud of. I spent months on the recording process of just this one song. Fine tuning the reverb, the equalization, the panning etc... I took the recording to work to play for a co-worker in order to get her opinion (and honestly, I think that I was seeking her praise.) When she heard the song she began balling. I mean waterfalls of tears. She explained to me she was having a hard times in life, and that she really needed to hear that song. I realized that day that all my practice with piano, time spent engineering and recording, meant literally nothing to her. It turns out it was actually God using me as his tool to deliver a message to her that she needed at that exact time. It humbled me deeply, and today I am grateful that I was able to play my "SMALL" part in God's greater plan.
Wow just wow! You have no idea how low i have become. You may have just saved someone else. Thank you that was very needed I’m gonna cling to it. The timing is unreal.Wow God bless you.
God knew 🤗❤️🎵✝️
This is one of the few times where an attention grabbing video title didnt lie 😃
Thank you so much for the very inspiring and valuable clip. Interestingly, my takeaway is the intention to play with such a heart and love for others and passion for God that passers-by will get touched and can encounter him that way. If you do so, technicalities probably wont matter in the big picture :-)
Amen, I so agree. I also agree with Gentlerailings, that would be my preference, quiet worship music, not loud ego-centric "me centered" music.
Wow, amazing testimony I wish every church would listen to this, I used to play at church and got to see that first hand, the I’m better than you attitude, in the group I wasn’t the best, so from time to time I would let someone else play my instruments, but boy, this put a lot of things into perspective great video my brother, God bless you all!
Thanks Terence. This is so true. Musicians seeking for a plateform to showcase their talent, not the Jesus they pretend to be playing for. Keep up.
I've been a guitarist since 9 yrs old in Church. Was saved at a tender age but fell away from God for a short t8me. Returned to Him because the world has nothing to offer, especially it's music. I've always played volontarily at church and always experience the presence and glory of the Lord. Never seen myself above anyone else, humility as a church musician is a must, for the hand of God to move in your ministry, it is Christlikeness. I'm 42 now and still play, but always do it as I'm glorifying the Lord. Musicians were placed at the front of the battle at Jericho, as a musician you are at the tip of the battle, live Holy lives pleasing unto God, and everything else will follow...
Wow. A powerful reminder to keep our eyes fixed on Him and reaching others.
Truer words have never been spoken. May God continue to pour His anointing on your ministry.
Well said - very well said. I've been playing and singing in UK churches for over 50 years and have seen the power that music - rhythm - meaningful lyrics can have on people at a deep level. It's humbling and rewarding and gratifying and reminds you that our job is to serve the congregation - ie the people - on their journey through life
I've been a musician in church for over 30 years. Everything you've said is true. The service aspect of what we do is lost many times in churches. We are in service to God with the talent He has given us.
From 2008 to 2013 I was the drummer in our church praise band. I was constantly aware of the presence of God in worship and I worked hard to make sure that my playing glorifies him and not me. Psalm 150:3-6
Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
BTW I'm no longer the drummer in the praise band because in 2013 I was appointed as a local pastor in the UMC, where I've been ever since. And still I need to point to him and not myself. I must decrease and he must increase.
Thank you brother this is something I have being educated on for some time. I'm always checking myself. There is an awareness with my music group and I hope its something we bring every time. To come centred on Christ with the desire to worship. Please pray for our music group as we are thin on the ground with singers and musicians. We lost our drummer and bass player and have classical trained pianists playing contemporary gospel. I'm on rhythm guitar/lead with a bit of bass. You see our challenges. plus we have a haphazard tec group who are not always in the mind of worship.
AMEN 🙏 MY BROTHER!!! I WAS THE ONLY MUSICIAN FOR THE CHURCH AND I HAD TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THE STRESSFUL DISRESPECT OF PLAYING FOR THE CHURCH. I TRULY LOVE THE LORD AND LOVE USING THE GIFTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN ME TO PLAY GUITAR FOR THE LORD. MAKING MY GUITAR SOUND LIKE A HAMMOND ORGAN AND PIANOS AND BASS ,A FULL BAND TO PLAY SONGS FOR THE CHURCH CHOIRS. NOT MAKING GOOD MONEY BUT LOVING WHAT I DO FOR GOD!!! BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE TIME PLAYING FOR FUNERALS, GOING OFF WITH THE CHURCH TO PLAY AT OTHER CHURCHES ROLLING AROUND MY OWN EQUIPMENT NOT GETTING RAISES IN PAY THE WAY I KNOW THAT I DESERVED TO FIND OUT THAT YOU REALLY CATCH HELL PLAYING FOR THE CHURCH. I PRAY THAT GOD WILL BLESS THE CHURCH TO HAVE A HEART ❤️ ❤❤ CONSIDER WHAT THE CHURCH MUSICIAN DO FOR THE SERVICE. SINCERELY YOURS LORD ( STEVEN WALKER)
Are you shouting, or are you merely too stupid to work your caps lock?
This is confirmation for me to keep striving to keep worship simple. Praise the Lord 😊
This so cool and so TRUE! I’ve been playing in church for almost 40 years. I never look as it like a job, but my praise and thanks to God for the blessings and talents he gave me. It’s all for him anyway. Love the post my brother and God bless you 👊🏾
You are so on point!!!! Music is service!!! Having an ego is also a vision problem. You can't see beyond yourself.
Very true words concerning the ministry of music. Consider the story in Joshua of the wall of Jericho, first went the singers and then the musicians before the people. I had the privilege of taking a private lesson with Victor Wooten, one of the first things he taught me to do was embrace my mistakes and learn to make them intentional. As ministers of music our humanity rolls into intentionally changing lives in the spiritual realm.
You said it! You said it all.
As a choir director for the past 10 years and in the choir for 30 yrs prior, we choose hymns that pertain to the lectionary. I also play acoustic guitar. What my choir and I discuss at practice is focus on the words and meaning..how can we make sure we highlight the Word of God at Mass? It is a privilege to sing at church. Our congregation is mixed age from 90 to newborn. It is important that we choose from different repertoires, from Latin to MercyMe. As a Catholic musician, I am pushing the boundaries while making sure the Sacred Sacrifice is respected.
Brother, I can relate! My son and I are drummers. He was discouraged by the piano player, the leader of the band--on purpose! So thanks for relaying the proper, spiritual attitude! And that's why Lucifer ultimately fell; and thus the worst sin--pride (ego)! Thanks!
Thanks brother. Wonderful testimony. You’ve got a new subscriber from Sweden 🇸🇪. God bless you even more.
Music is our ministry as musicians... EGO destroys ALOT!!!! Great word of encouragement brother!!!
Oh wow! I just had this conversation with my nephew today. This is ministry, not perfection: God gives you perfection. So move yourself out the way.
I loved hearing this bro. I always try to remind myself to stay humble and to remember that I am using a gift that God gave me to bring His Spirit into the Church. It's not in the service of me, but in the service of Him. I appreciate having another person reminding me to stay humble and remember that what I do up there matters.
Great message ❤️ I went to LA Tech! I would stop by Grambling to go to Panda Express and always loved and appreciated the school, band, and area! Thanks for speaking about this! As musicians we can get our place misconstrued. We are servants of the Lord. Setting the presence for Jesus to move in the room with our worship together in the congregation. Our worship is the difference between just making loud noises on stage and furthering Jesus’ work in us and the people we are leading. It’s ALL about Jesus. Seek first His kingdom. We can play every note right and sing every word but if we ain’t worshiping we are just cymbals and gongs. Thanks for spreading the gospel and for serving Him with your talents that you worked for and he has given us as musicians the opportunity to thrive in!
Good message brother. I’m a Christian and previously been playing in a church music team for about 25 years. I agree that we don’t play for self honor, but to give in service to God. I’ve learnt much over the years - it’s all about our hearts at the end of the day, why are we doing it, simple - to give in service to God. If we’re doing it to promote ourselves we shouldn’t be on the stage.
It’s a ministry that everyone sees, and I’ve learnt also in how we play can affect the Holy Spirit moving in a service, so if we’re sensitive to the Holy Spirit and the musicians around us, we’re going to compliment everything around us. If what we do means one person gives their lives to Christ, then praise God, we’re part of that too.
Haleluyah (Elhamdürüllah) Brother 🤲🏻🙏🏻 As a musician, I have whitnessed similar confessions from various audiences that I felt the honor to simply make them happy, or see the light that god gave us all. It doesn’t matter the music style or venue. We musicians/artists have something inside as a gift of God. This should be one of our duties to help other living things to feel this energy too. (Also as a listener I have thanked many of my music idols for saving me from the depression or bad mood). Keep making music. God bless you all. ❤️ All the best.
I'm grateful for simple, pure music that both glorifies God AND allows me to feel the Holy Spirit speak Hope and Peace to my mind and heart.
I loved every minute I spent watching this...on God❤❤❤❤❤
This is something every Musician must hear!!!
Thank you for sharing this and please keep up the good work. This scenario happened to me twice. Me and a couple of my friends used to do prison ministry and did it for years. I would be out and about somewhere and I would notice a guy looking at me. And he would look at me again. And again. And then he would approach me and I am wondering what is going on when he would ask me: "you play music, right?" And I said "yes, I do." Then he would say: "I remember you, you played for me when I was in prison." I have to admit that I did'nt say much, because I was at a loss for words.
Great word! Thank you. "Seek first the Kingdom of God ..." Easier to remember than to live out!
Truth! I finally gave up on playing at church over the performance mentality and egoism.
“Information is not knowledge.
Knowledge is not wisdom.
Wisdom is not truth.
Truth is not beauty.
Beauty is not love.
Love is not music.
Music is the best.”
- Zappa
Thank you so much my fellow church minstrel. That’s exactly what we are here for. Any musician who has ego has no other life than music. However, Jesus is our life. I tell folks I’m delivered from music in order to be an anointed minister of music.
This video rang true with me big time. I played on the worship team for 13 plus years. Unfortunately I saw attitudes. And wrong motives.
We all have issues. But ultimately I switched from the big stage to just playing a few tiny drums in the kids ministry. It’s more impactful and honest
Great video. So glad I’ve found an egoless church. I know exactly what you’re talking about because I’ve been in those situations. It took years for me to find the right church with the right group of musicians who are playing for the right reason, worshiping the Lord.
All Praise Team leaders, before one note is played, need to remind each member why they are there, what each piece is about and how each piece relates to the message/sermon and most of all - pray.
Amen, brother. Music is a ministry when we, musicians and singers, perform for Hime rather than us. Thank you for this video and the Music is Service message ; I really needed this. Bless you and play on.
Music is a light, a language, a message - making the music, not yourself, matter will be affect and impact those that hear it - that is what people remember. You are clearly doing what God wants you to do.
🤔 Thanks for bringing this forward. I once wanted to join a church band. This was a Christian church. The “leader” of the band which was a guitar player as I am. Didn’t even give me a chance to audition. He hit me with I needed to know the Bible and the word of god before I can even try to audition. I am a trained musician that graduated from Musician Institute in Hollywood California. I didn’t mention this at all. After I heard what the band leader said I was discouraged completely.
Oh, man. I couldn't agree more with you. That experience must have been something else.
Being catholic, in Mexico, Sunday church gigs are basically never paid, and it's something one usually gifts to the community. As a part of a group, alone or with my wife I've been at it for 25 years.
When I was way younger, some 30 years ago, I sang with the classical choir in my college graduation mass, and my grandma, who lived in another city, heard me sing for the first time that day.
She had a hard life, became a young widow with six kids, and had been very bitter for decades about everything.
Since it was my graduation, I was very emotional and the Panis Angelicus I sang that day came out beautifully
After hearing that, my grandma was reduced to tears, and it's like all her life memories came back to her and began to feel thankful for life. She really changed her ways that day.
It is clear to me that music can be a very powerful spiritual and emotional catalyst, and one as a performer needs to understand that the music we are interpreting is the gift itself, it's not for us to show off or brag about, it's the returning of a gift that was given to us as capable musicians, that we are then able to channel this to other people for their own benefit.
I do wish musicians were treated a bit better in our country, as I don't see music as an extra but as an integral part of religious ceremony, yet one that is too often treated as an afterthought.
Beautiful what the woman said to you. Good talk too. Iron sharpens iron. 🙏🏼☝🏼✨✝️🙌🏼
Terrence, thank you so much for this! I got thrust into the job of worship leader at our very small church plant because no one else really wanted it. I love worship. I love music and I love God. So for me that was not an issue. But the one thing that God really made clear to me and it's something that of course I have known forever is that THERE CAN BE NO EGO IN CHURCH WORK!!! This goes for all kinds of church work, but your point that Music is Service ties right into this. Thank you so much for reminding all of us of this. We aren't there for us. We are there for God. We have a huge responsibility to the members of the church to draw them into the presence of God. To allow them to worship the Lord. That should be extremely humbling to anyone. It's not a rock concert, it's not a show. It's a service. They call Church service the service for a reason. And I think you touched on it. Again thank you so much and keep up the good work. I've encouraging and exhorting all of us to do what we do for the right reasons and not for the wrong reasons. God bless you!
I keep hearing from others who tell me that what we're doing in our music ministry is helping people to worship God. I am grateful for that.
Praise God!! That’s an amazing story and a reality all across the globe. We have a merciful and gracious Lord. But I’m sure he didn’t appreciate the bedroom scene. I didn’t! We must keep sin in its place. But Thank God he always provides a way to him at our lowest moments in life, even through a musician. I would love to hear what you played.
Terrence The Lord bless you sir. This spoke to my heart and I’m definitely subscribing for more content like this. I’m sharing too with my drummer and piano friends. This is so uplifting.
Thank you brother so true so true Lord Jesus help us to stay broken and get humble need to reach out to others and connect with people church service and events to be the light and encouragement to people God bless you sir