Worship Leaders of the Future
Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
The Old Testament book of Proverbs is filled with advice, axioms, instructions and warnings for daily life. While we know that a proverb should not be confused with a promise, it is also good to recognize that proverbs contain God-given wisdom.
This is why I have turned to Proverbs 22:6 in answer to the question, “How best can we develop future worship leaders?” In short, I believe the solution is to train them up! This proverb is often quoted in regards to parenting and raising children, but I think the principle is applicable in even more specific ways. Training is essentially equipping for the future, and if we want to see a character trait or skill manifested in future generations, we have a responsibility to train and equip our youngest parishioners to achieve these expectations.
It is often said that the children of a nation are its greatest resource. This is certainly also true for the local church. There are other ways to find worship leaders for short term or immediate needs, but I believe there is simply no substitute for the “long game” plan of raising up your worship leadership from within your own church family.
While this method requires an investment of time and resources, I believe it serves not only the church, but will bear great fruit in the lives of the children and young people who will be discipled for a lifetime of joyful service to Christ.
While there are many educational and pedagogical programs that could be used for training future worship leaders, I would like to propose three simple steps within which churches could formulate their own unique development systems. These three steps can be summed up in the words singing, skills and serving.
The first step to develop future worship leaders is to promote singing among children and youth. Yes, we all may have a time of corporate singing in Sunday School and Bible Studies, and while this is good, I am advocating for something more systematic. Children will sing naturally… it is innate in most young kids to sing along and dance to music that they hear. But in a choir or ensemble setting, kids can be challenged to add to their love of music the discipline of listening to a group, adding expression and dynamics. These should not lessen the energy and freedom of children in worship, but will make them aware of new planes of beauty that can be found in music.
The next step is a concerted effort in developing the musical skills of the next generation. Many parents invest in their children’s talents by paying for piano or guitar lessons. This is a great starting point, but where can the church come alongside to enhance the one on one experience? For me this step of skill development is centered on the principle that good practices of general musicianship will carry over into other, yet undiscovered, interests. If a church sponsors and hosts a Suzuki String program, that does not mean that we are saying the future of our church worship will involve a symphony orchestra. But we are championing the skills that string instruments develop in children. Ear training and intervals, playing in tune, working in an ensemble, these are all corollary traits that transition into other areas of music that can make you a better worship leader or team member. Other examples could be a Kindermusic program for preschoolers or a guitar class for junior high students taught by members of the adult worship band. The kind of investment may vary from church to church depending on available tools and personnel, but every church can do something creative to advance the development of the musical skills of their children and youth.
The final step to developing future worship leaders from within is to create a culture of serving. While I would strongly advocate for using children and youth to assist in leading in the worship service, this is not the only way for future leaders to serve. In fact, I think if the only way a musically talented student ever served in the church was in leading worship, it would actually handicap them in some ways for future ministry. Service, much like worship, is a much larger proposition than just the category of music. Discipling of future worship leaders involves preparing them to understand that their gifting is not their source of self-worth. Our worth is found in the love displayed and extended to us by the Savior, and anywhere He calls us to serve, from the platform to the parking lot, is a high calling to His children. Serving with Vacation Bible Schools, Mission trips, helping Seniors and even younger children all help to inculcate the foundation that there is “one body” (Ephesians 4:4), but many members with diverse and various gifts.
If we are looking for the next generation of worship leaders, let us look within our own churches and get that next generation singing, developing their skills, and serving the Body of Christ. What a joy it will be in years to come, to see what the Lord has done in our midst to provide everything we need out of His abundant riches and glory.
