When the stones cry out - Whitney Sewell

When the stones cry out - Whitney Sewell

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  T he music is playing, such as www.churchjobs.net are tweak this? Do we want to change the choir is swaying, available for churches to post de- it? Is it going in a new direction?‟ and hundreds of scriptions of their specific needs. The consensus was that we like the hands are lifted while Churches can also contact colleges direction the music was going. We singing praises to God. It‟s the to inform potential worship leaders know whoever we bring in is going dream of every music minister and about job openings. Several Chris- to be a little different, but we‟re not church, but the road to passionate tian schools even have programs looking to bring in something totally and unifying worship isn‟t always dedicated to church music. The different.” easy. final option for promoting a job The purpose of the committee is The search for a worship leader position is simply word-of-mouth. to ensure the candidates are asked can be a long and extensive process. “We use our networks mainly,” the right questions and that commit- A church may search anywhere Ray Moss, Executive Pastor of New tee members agree the candidate is from three months to two years to Vision Baptist Church said. “A God‟s choice for the church. For find the right person for their needs. church our size, if you just kind of New Vision, the committee still “There are many worship pastors throw it out there, you‟ll be inun- leaves a lot of the decision-making out there, but finding the right fit for dated with resumes, and it‟s very our church, church staff, and the hard to sort through those. We just local unchurched population is a bit try to use word-of-mouth.” more grueling,” Robbie Russell, There are several steps in a Worship Associate for New Vision church‟s hiring process. While Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, some smaller churches can limit the Tenn., said. number of steps, larger churches go New Vision Baptist Church, through about six. For New Vision, home to 2,700 members, is known step one was to form a worship for its dynamic worship experience. leader personnel committee. New Since 2007, popular Christian re- Vision‟s committee is comprised of cording artist Russ Lee has led New six permanent members, two choir to the executive staff. In smaller Vision‟s four services. Russ re- members, two band members and a churches, committees have larger cently decided to focus on his re- youth group member. The commit- roles. cording career by going on tour, tee begins the process by determin- After a committee is formed, which means New Vision is now ing what they want New Vision‟s members begin looking through searching for a new worship leader. worship to look like in the future. resumes. As the list is narrowed to There are several ways to get the “There‟s a little music evaluation an ideal pool of candidates, the word out about the need for a music when somebody leaves,” Moss said. committee may visit a place where a minister or worship leader. Websites “We say „Okay, do we want to candidate is leading worship or (continued on page 2) 1 Worship leader May 2009
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  invite certain candidatesto talk over have to change the job description which is crazy,” Dr. Causey said. lunch. After getting a feel for the up a little bit to fit the candidate you “Worship is how you live your life candidate, the committee narrows like,” Moss said. and how you relate to God on a the pool down to one person who One of the challenges churches daily basis, not an .hourly basis. they actively pursue until God face when pursuing that ideal candi- Then, when you come into a wor- closes the door or date is finding ship service, it doesn‟t really matter brings them to the someone who what the beat or the tempo or the church. can find the accompaniment is.” For this one perfect balance More than anything, churches candidate, there is between tradi- look for someone who is passionate an extensive tional hymns about sharing the love of Christ. It interview process. and contempo- is extremely important that a wor- The committee rary music to fit ship leader be held accountable for asks specific and the needs of the his or her spiritual life. personal questions about the per- church population. Most music “If you don‟t have a vibrant, son‟s spiritual life. For example, ministers prefer to lead one way or growing relationship with God the they want to know how the candi- the other, but Dr. Wayne Causey, Father, you‟re not going to be able date came to know Christ and what Coordinator of the Church Music to lead other people to worship,” Dr. they‟ve done in church. program at Belmont University in Causey said. “That‟s just it. I don‟t “We‟ll ask a lot about their Nashville, believes his students care how well you sing or play the church life,” Moss said. “That‟s should be equipped to handle all guitar or conduct the choir.” probably as important as their per- types of worship services. New Vision is also looking for formance. Either side of that can “In some of my courses we‟ll be someone on fire for God and who mess a candidate up.” working with a praise band one feels called to the church. The hir- Candidates are expected to pos- week and then a choir and a chil- ing process isn‟t just about the sess skills such as acting as a con- dren‟s choir and a youth choir, so church‟s perfect idea of a worship ductor to a choir, band, or orchestra, we just try to equip [our students] leader, but also what that worship playing an instrument, and singing with a lot of tools in their tool bag for leader believes God is leading him well. Worship leaders also need any kind of church,” Dr. Causey said. to do. strong leadership skills in order to Churches are noticing an increas- “We expect anybody on the staff direct volunteers and lead choirs or ing trend of young people who favor to be a minister first,” Moss said. “I bands. Although these are typically contemporary music and a concert- think primarily you want to see a expected, job descriptions aren‟t like atmosphere. On the other hand, guy who‟s very comfortable on the always set in stone. Even if a poten- as these young people grow older stage and able to just have a sense of tial candidate feels they don‟t meet and start families, they want to at- excitement about him, passion about all the job specifications, they tend a church that reminds them of what he‟s doing, and truly leading should still apply if they feel God the church they grew up in. Some people to worship.”  might want them at that church. churches have adjusted by alternat- “We will write a general job de- ing between choirs and praise bands Located in Murfreesboro, Tenn., scription, but we say that‟s general or by adapting a “blended” approach New Vision Baptist Church claims because in church life it‟s so person- to their music. Others have created over 2,700 members and was named ality-driven and a lot about a calling separate contemporary and tradi- one of Outreach’s 100 fastest grow- from God, so when you find the tional services. ing churches in 2008. For more right person, sometimes you might “A lot of people will pick a information about New Vision ,visit church just on the style of music . www.newvisiononline.net. Worship leader May 2009 2