The more I spend time with local churches, and the worship leaders in those churches, the more I see a common pattern: There are many leaders who lead worship but don’t lead people.

They sing songs with sincerity and energy, but they don’t help people do the same.

They spend time improving their craft, but they don’t disciple others to do what they do.

They’re focused on a career, but not on where the church will be in 15 years.

So I’m asking the question: what does it take to be a reproducing leader?

It’s the kind of skill that goes beyond talent and experience. You have to have a certain comfortability with the background. As a reproducing leader, you aren’t always out front but strengthening hearts behind the scenes.

Before we go any further, are you OK with that?

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Such a joy to welcome Melissa Helser on the podcast. Melissa and her husband Jonathan David are incredible worship leaders. It’s remarkable what they do with their Cageless Birds ministry in South Carolina as well as their recent partnership with Bethel Music.

In this interview we talk about the new Starlight album, women in worship, leading with authority through suffering, what worship leaders need to practice, what shifts the atmosphere in worship, and more. So many great truths!

Enjoy:

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When it comes to worship, we are obsessive about the atmosphere. 

The pad creates an atmosphere. The guitar swells create an atmosphere. Every intro, transition, and altar call is about the atmosphere it provides.

But the tension happens when the planning of the atmosphere doesn’t leave space for what the Holy Spirit wants to do. Of course, God can [and does] work through Spirit-led, intentional, well-researched, well thought-out planning.

The time and energy you invest in staying ahead and well-planned is never in vain. However, how do we plan and create an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit can operate?

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When you hear the word performance as it relates to your worship team, does it make you cringe? Or does it excite you?

In more conversations than I can count, I’ve heard performance thrown around as a dirty word.

This is not a performance. This is worship.”

I get where these comments come from. Matter of fact, I’ve said them myself. What I want to guard against is demonizing performance. If you play music in your local church, there’s no need to avoid the word performance or think of it as something less than true worship.

Performance and worship don’t need to be mutually exclusive.

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Let’s be real. You’re not the best worship leader there is. Neither am I.

There will always be a better musician, a better singer, a more charismatic personality, a more organized leader. You’re not the best.

But isn’t it good to know that leading our churches isn’t about being the best? Because worship class worship leading is more about being hidden than being noticed. Let me explain what that means.

It’s important to distinguish what we actually do and facilitate as worship leaders:

• Worship leaders don’t draw attention to themselves. They direct eyes and hearts to Jesus.
• Worship leaders don’t sing for people. They sing with people.
• Worship leaders don’t entertain a crowd. They engage a room.
• Worship leaders don’t usher the church into encounter. They spotlight the One who does.

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