Church Plant Music Ministry

April 21, 2009 – 6:08 pm

For those of you who are church planting, will soon be church planting, or have thought about it, Bob Kauflin at Worship Matters posted some helpful info concerning establishing a music ministry in a church planting situation. He gives 8 tips for training a worship leader/music director or for leading yourself. Here are a few:

• Because people will be coming from different churches, backgrounds, and experiences, I’d plan to take extra time  to explain our philosophy of worship.
• I’d plan to repeat songs frequently so that we could build a “musical memory” together.  If I was introducing a song most people were unfamiliar with I’d try to sing it 2 or 3 more times in the coming month.
• If I was a pastor planting a church with an inexperienced worship leader, I’d mention all these things, but play a more pronounced role in song selection and what was said between songs, hoping to train my worship leader in the process. I’d also give a message or two to unpack the part congregational singing plays in the broader category of biblical worship. Probably use a passage like Col. 3:16-17 or Ps. 150.

View all of Kauflin’s tips.

His point regarding “musical memory” is particularly helpful when considering cross-cultural church planting. Many places don’t have hymnals, song sheets, or even “American-style” songs. As people are saved and transformed, they will develop a “new song in their heart.” Most of the songs the congregation will sing will be by memory, until the missionary can translate the ones he knows or nationals begin writing their own lyrics/tunes.

It would be great if missionaries who are preparing to go would take the time to write out their plan to teach/train men and women for music ministry, even if the missionary doesn’t think that he’s all that musical. Regardless of musical talent, newly-saved disciples need to be taught what the Bible says about worship, including music.

What ideas have you heard of or read about concerning music ministry in cross-cultural church planting? Send us your thoughts.