Going to college didn’t prepare me for leading worship.

Taking music lessons didn’t prepare me for leading worship.

Worship songs didn’t prepare me for leading worship.

Theology didn’t prepare me for leading worship in the local church.

Of course, that’s not entirely true. I learned some invaluable things in college. Music lessons taught me discipline. It’s hard to lead worship without songs. Good theology ensures your leadership is rooted in scripture.

But there’s so much more to leading…than that. And that comes down to the people. It comes down to having compassion for the people you serve. It comes down to leading with bold faith and a broken heart for the needs scattered across the room.

Without sounding too cliche, it’s leading like Jesus did. He was busy yet he could always stop for someone in need. He spoke to large crowds, yet he had compassion because they were like sheep without a shepherd.

He balanced big ministry – the most massive ministry in history – with loving “the one”.

No…I wasn’t prepared for this kind of ministry. But I’m so glad to be learning it.

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Dear Worship Leader,

There’s only one opinion in the universe that really matters.

But if you’re like me, you live and work as if it’s not enough. It’s not enough that God has chosen to love you, called you, equipped you, and has your back.

You would never say that God’s love isn’t enough but your actions prove it. You’re not satisfied with who you are, where you are, what you’re doing.

You just want somebody to notice you, to admire you, to give you the approval your heart seeks. But if I know anything about approval, I know that when it comes it doesn’t satisfy. It’s never enough.

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This past week was a special week. It was the the recording of Allison Park Worship’s second full-length worship album, All for Jesus, releasing this December.

Now that I’m on the other side of the live recording, I wanted to share some reflections. This isn’t to brag about what we accomplished. I simply want to share some leadership thoughts that will challenge and encourage you in your big projects.

That’s what my blog and podcast is for – to equip you to be a better leader in your local church.

Here we go…

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If you’re a worship leader, you know the struggle.

It’s not a new struggle. As long as the church has been in existence, people have fought over music.

In the Reformation days, Martin Luther was accused of bringing secular tunes into the church.

In 1540 John Calvin stated that only the Old Testament Psalms sung in a metrical rhythm were appropriate for corporate worship. This caused quite a stir of controversy between Calvin’s followers and Luther’s.

Gregorian chants were criticized when vocal harmonies were introduced.

David & Dale Garrett were some of the first to use drums and guitars in worship back in the 1960s. You probably know the criticism that received.

Fast forward to the present day: If you lead worship in a multi generational church, you know the worship wars.

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