Maybe the new leader?

[andy__woods]

So I've been part of the praise team at my church for just about a year now. I love it, and am really happy with what I do there but the leader wants to move me into his position. He is a great Choir and band director, but he feels like his voice isn't the greatest, which it's not but who cares.

Here's my dilemma, I feel like I'm better suited standing off to the side, in the back, with a mic, than up in front trying to lead the congregation. I'll be praying about it, but if i decide it's not for me, what am I supposed to tell the current director?

[mcStringer]

Just tell him the truth ("the truth will set you free")!

If you really pray about it and you feel the Lord has given you His peace (either way) that's all you need to communicate. It's then up to your current leader to decide whether or not he wants to respect the fruit of your communion with God or not. If he/she is mature enough they should respect your peace whether or not they agree with it. Just don't shoot a line or two off to God and then reply out of your own wisdom / fear, etc., and then expect the Lord "go with the plan." Pray earnestly, expect an answer from the Lord, and then share your answer with a clear conscience. All you need to do is be obedient to what God has placed in your heart and the rest will work itself out--but the truth (spoken in love) is always the best answer.

[PraiseCaster]

Originally Posted by mcStringer

Just tell him the truth ("the truth will set you free")!

If you really pray about it and you feel the Lord has given you His peace (either way) that's all you need to communicate. It's then up to your current leader to decide whether or not he wants to respect the fruit of your communion with God or not. If he/she is mature enough they should respect your peace whether or not they agree with it. Just don't shoot a line or two off to God and then reply out of your own wisdom / fear, etc., and then expect the Lord "go with the plan." Pray earnestly, expect an answer from the Lord, and then share your answer with a clear conscience. All you need to do is be obedient to what God has placed in your heart and the rest will work itself out--but the truth (spoken in love) is always the best answer.

Excelent council mcStringer!

I would also sugest that you meet with both the current P&W Leader and your Pastor, and all three of you pray about it together too.

If I were you, I would be praying, "Lord, I want what You want, so if my feeling that my staying in the backrow is out of line with what you want, let me know, and help me change....."

Remember, at first Jonah didnt want to go to Ninevah, but I seem to recall God did convince him to go.......

Now I'm not saying your gonna be fish-bait, but I think it is prevelent that many that are the leaders in ministry, probably felt like they dont belong. I'll tell you what, if you felt like you should be the team leader, then there might be a problem.......

[Reno Sepulveda]

I'm in kind of the same boat, our team leader doesn't have the best voice but he is really good at leading the congregation. He is upbeat and smiles alot and that is really important.

I'm more of a shoe-gazer. When our team leader is out of town I take on his role and although I've grown as a singer, I'm still having problems as a frontman. My comfort zone is rythym/lead guitar and harmony vocals or singing in a group but I'm being asked to take on more and more vocal chores. For me it's one of those situations where God is providing an opportunity for growth.

[andy__woods]

hey again, just wanted to thank you guys for all your words of wisdom and encouragement. I'm the shoe-gazer type myself too, but with my music. Especially when I lead I tend to be glued to the music, so that i get the right chords, words and notes.

[tom grossheider]

Shoe-gazer, yep that would be me too. I've been asked several times to lead worship on Sunday mornings, which I always take to be an awesome responsibility. Playing bass or guitar is one thing, leading is an entirely different matter. Making sure everything starts and stops, transitions, bringing the whole team together spiritually to focus on worship, and bringing the congregation something good from God Himself. I wouldn't want to do it full time, and have asked a bit a a break for personal reasons. Shoe-gazing is easy, when God asks us to step up to the plate, then He means big business.

[Ptrallan01]

anything is not needed for worship. That includes perfect guitar tone, perfect pitch, perfect interaction with the congregation.

Total love for God is. My wife is a great praise and worship leader but not a great singer. Instead she concentrates on Him and lets go. If your head is down but your spirit is up it will work!

Whichever way you decide to go just remember to Love Him and let His Spirit flow through you.

Peter