Cultivating a Prevailing Worship Team

Last Sunday Lorraine and I taught a workshop at AFC Production Conference.

The workshop is called "Cultivating a prevailing worship team." It aimed at educating participants the importance and methods to minister to artists and musicians (worship team). There were about twenty participants from eight churches.

A worship team needs to be nurtured in the following areas:

1. character shaping
2. spiritual formation
3. theological understanding of worship
4. biblical literacy on prayers
5. relationship building
6. team building
7. professionalism
8. healthy rhythm

While the participants were impressed by the depth, breadth and importance of the subject, some were skeptical on whether all these could be accomplished in real life. For some it sounded like fantasy and to others it appeared unachievable because it seemed to require much resources.

Here is one written feedback we have received:
Can you add some success stories or struggles in cultivating a worship team? It's all too idealistic with all the high standards & expectations (E.g. professionalism), but I want to hear how it actually worked out in church life.

I sighed (at the skepticism) as I read the feedback.

It reminds me that one should not take for granted what we have build up in Koinonia's worship team in the past eight months. What we have today are both blessings from God and hard work and discipline on our part.

If I had a chance to respond to the feedback, here are the three advices I would give:
Vision
Babysteps
Discipline over a long period of time...