After lunch we watched a funny intro video to the Q & A session with Lincoln Brewster called: ConfessionsVideo.com – this video is basically the relationship between the sound board people and worship leaders it should at least make you smile.

Hopefully this question and answer section of the summit might spark some youth ministry ideas for how to handle worship development.

Here are the questions and answers with Brewster:

Brewster: What are the key components that can be destroyers or builders?

There can be barriers between people on the platform and those in the sound booth. What does it mean to lead and participate in a healthy ministry?

Question: Everyone is a hands on so how do you not step on each others toes?

Answer: You got to have boundaries. This is where your job begins and ends. Have clear expectations of people. Establish these. Boundaries bring freedom. They did a study with 5 year olds and they put 5 year olds out  in an open area and had play ground equipment there and the 5 year olds stuck to the play ground equipment and didn’t move much from it. They did another study where they had the same scenario except they added a fence around the area and what they discovered is that after awhile the kids would leave the play ground equipment and go all the way out to the fence. So the idea again is that boundaries actually bring freedom.
Question: How often do you bring in new songs?

Answer: By leadership style I’m feeling oriented. We do it as a team. When we introduce a song our method is 3 weeks in a row. We also get feedback from the congregation.

Question: How do you handle worship team member that has a great heart but irritates people?

Answer: Heart of Gold and Irritates people – that’s a tough combo. Being a worship leader is a leadership function. Part of leadership is having difficult discussions. We are not doing anybody any favors by not saying anything. Speak the truth in love. Intention is important. One of my weaknesses is that I tend to be reactive. When conversations go well (it’s usually because of goodwill) don’t go in letting anger and frustration lead the conversation. I think an honest conversation with the person you will see where they are really at. Be careful about how you deliver this. Knowing how people are wired is very important. DISC profile. This will help you talk with them.

Question: We lost the leader of worship and now there is no order what do we do?

Answer: I heard a staff member say we are retooling the entire ministry. We are changing everything. Have you run that by your pastor? It shocks me to pieces when people don’t look to their leaders. One definition of spiritual maturity is being able to walk hand in hand even when you don’t see eye to eye. Whose your pastor and what’s he think about it?

Question: what process do you go through to choose worship team members?

Answer: We do video auditions. We view them as a team and make a decision. 80% don’t make it usually and so the team aspect protects the worship leader because they still need to be the leader each week. Check references. The things you do off the platform allow you to be on this platform. Have reasonable expectations. I think bad music is distracting.

Sometimes things that worked then don’t work now. With our team we ask questions anonymously about how we are doing. We need to do better at community. Ask questions get feedback.

I want to make sure our team tithes.

Time was pretty short for this session and it was probably not the most productive session in my viewpoint but was still helpful and had some good ideas even for thinking about youth ministry worship.