From Playing to Pastoring
“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:2-3 ESV
I can’t tell you exactly when it happened, but I can tell you that when it did, everything about how I led my team changed. Like many who first start leading a team, the early days of my worship leading can be summarized in one word: manipulation. I know that sounds pretty drastic, and I certainly didn’t see it that way. And others may not have seen it that way either. I was recruiting new musicians and singers, hanging out with my team, and going out of my way to make them feel a part of our community. But at the core of my heart, I desired to surround myself with people who were good at their craft to make me look better. I even remember offering my living room up during hurricane season to college students on my team so they wouldn’t have to go home and miss a Sunday worship set! Again, it was very subtle but very much real in my heart. My leadership was marked by selfishness.
To be clear, as leaders, you and I can and should create environments where our teams can feel comfortable and genuinely a part of what God is doing in our church. We should be spending time with them and connecting with them offstage during the week and building up those relationships. But we have to stay on top of our motives and the desires of our hearts. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
I remember an interaction I saw occur several years ago during my season leading worship at a portable church that met in a local primary school. Our team had been in prayer for the father of one of our musicians who had been sick for a little while. That particular Sunday morning, we found out that he had passed away the week before, and if I’m not mistaken, she still decided to play with us. I can’t tell you any of the songs that were in the setlist that week. But I can tell you how I felt as I watched several team members gather around her backstage, lay hands on her, and pray for her. There was a shift.
Making the shift from simply playing music to pastoring is difficult, but there is nothing more impactful that you could intentionally do in your ministry. John Maxwell has said, “People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Do you have slow feet with your teams when you’re talking with them before rehearsals or services? Do they feel like they have the ability to tell you prayer requests and that you’ll actually take the time to pray for them? May we not be known as busy people who are always running off to the next task.
Father, we thank You for sending Your Son to be with us. There is such a strong power in the simple ministry of presence. When our words fall short, our presence often makes the biggest impact. Bring a slowness to our feet this week, and give us the grace to cultivate a pastor's heart as we pastor those You have placed on our teams. Amen.
