Amber Rhoads  has recently released her new EP, "Broken Beautiful" which features songs that are a testimony to what God has done in her life. She is currently on tour as a worship leader for the Women of Faith Fall 2013 Tour.  In addition, she serves as a worship leader for Gateway Church.

What is bringing you life?  Does ministry give you more life and joy than God does?

Click to Listen

"In every season, Something is going to be healed in us or killed in us"

 

Amber Rhoads:

Worship Leader | Women of Faith Tour | Gateway Church

Facebook  | Twitter

Purchase her new EP, "Broken Beautiful" now!

iTunes

"It's about who you are, not what you do!"

"Even in the messiness of life, God can turn it into something beautiful"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnsuY-H9tnE

 

Notable Thoughts:

We need to be healthy in ministry, not just effective.

God has assignments for you, not opportunities!

Be genuine in your worship. People can tell if you going through the motions.

Lead from your brokenness.

 

 

Resources:

WFX | October 2-4

Dallas, TX

wfxweb.com/2013/

Promo Code: LIW2013

Women of Faith

womenoffaith.com

Coming to a city near you!

Coming Soon:  Leaders In Worship Mentoring Program

Click here to get information as soon as it's available!

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If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe:

Your Feedback

If you have an idea for a podcast you would like to see or a question about an upcoming episode, e-mail me.

Also, if you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks.

Pastor Josh Wesley, Worship Pastor at Victorious Life Church shares from his heart about a defining moment in his life when God spoke to him regarding his life, call and destiny.  This was the beginning of an unbelievable year which included losing over 200 pounds, and gaining focus and vision for life and ministry!

As a result of Josh sharing his struggle and journey, hundreds have been challenged and moved to embark on a new journey of their own.

Click to Listen

"I love the local church, but my number one ministry is my wife."

 

Pastor Josh Wesley:

Worship Arts Pastor | Wesley Chapel, FL

Facebook  | Twitter  | Instagram

"I'm Not Gonna Die This Way"

"I'm addicted to living in freedom and see others walk in freedom."

http://youtu.be/3fPE3joM_-g

When you lose hope, there's not much left.  Find someone to help you!

Four Steps to assure change:

1. Take time to listen

To hear God's voice, we must be silent

2. Start Somewhere

The conditions will never be "just right".  You have to take action.

3. Get some accountability

Develop safe-guards in your life; People who can speak freely into your life and how you are doing.

4. Follow Through

There will be setbacks along the way.  Get back up and follow through

 

 

Resources:

Experience Conference | September 3-6

DisneyWorld, Orlando, FL

experienceconference.com

WFX | October 2-4

Dallas, TX

wfxweb.com/2013/

Promo Code: LIW2013

Coming Soon:  Leaders In Worship Mentoring Program

Click here to get information as soon as it's available!

Subscription Link

If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe:

Your Feedback

If you have an idea for a podcast you would like to see or a question about an upcoming episode, e-mail me.

Also, if you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks.

We must be intentional in raising up other worship leaders and developing the people on our team.  In doing this, how provide a way to be successful and how do we give them feedback on how they are doing and when? Today we discuss these topics over lunch at a local restaurant with worship pastors, Devin Webb and Mike Justice.

This podcast was recorded over a lunch with two other Worship Pastors talking about life ministry and mentoring.

Click to Listen

"If they only go away with, "that's a great singer", we have lost the point."

 

How and when to give feedback to a developing worship leader:

1. Culture of the church

It's critical that you have the freedom to use people who are in the process of being developed as a leader.

2. Lead with Intention

Allow your developing leaders see how you transition, engage the congregation.

You can't always have a trainee, follow a trainee, who follows a trainee, etc.

3. Give immediate feedback

4. Sing melody…lead what they're supposed to be singing

Sing the first line…you can ad lib but not at the loss of the worship

5. Make a connection with the congregation

6. You're walking them through the songs because God wants to do something in their heart.

7. They need to have the heart of "what can I do to become better as a leader".

Transitions:

1. The whole set must have some cohesiveness to it.

2. Know what to say and why to say it.

3. Let scripture be the first default.  In times of worship, it should be normal for the Word to come out of you.

4. Discipleship is key!  Disciple your team.

"Their success will be contingent upon their level of comfort."

Create an environment where they are comfortable to lead and be confident.

Budgets, Resources and Vision

Be vocal about your vision to the department and to the church.

People of quality want to be apart of something of quality.

Communicate your vision.

Do what you do with Excellence.

Let your needs be known.

People with the gift of giving want to do more than just pay the ongoing regular bills.

Resources will follow vision.

You have to be able to communicate your vision!

The greatest tactics of the enemy is isolation.  The step after isolation is comparison. Real growth happens within the context of community.

We like to evaluate from a distance and then start to feel worse about ourselves.  We look at everyone else as if they have it better than us.

Resources:

Devin Webb

Mike Justice

School of Worship 

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Your Feedback

If you have an idea for a podcast you would like to see or a question about an upcoming episode, e-mail me.

Also, if you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks.

We've all been there...that awkward start/stop to the worship set.  Waiting for someone to start the next song.  It tends to make everyone feel uncomfortable.  From the platform, to the congregation, and ultimately to the Senior Pastor.

When we spend time in preparation and prayer, we are getting our heart and mind ready for what God wants to do in the service.

Click to Listen

"We plan for the moments, but it's God who creates them."

 

Steps for preparation:

1. Start with the end in mind

2. What elements are needed in the service?

3. Song Selection

A. Theme for service

B. Keys - Are they complimentary, singable?

C. Tempo

Know your tempos

D. Transitions

Avoid "dead air"

Awkward transitions make it uncomfortable for the congregation, as well as your Senior Pastor who has to speak following worship.

Make them as smooth as possible

Give clear cues for whoever is controlling the clicks or when to start the next song

Consider making a medley by using parts of songs that will flow best.

Shalon Palmer

Pad Loops

Mp3 files - 20 minutes in length each.

Playable through iPod, computer

Price:  $29.99

http://youtu.be/Pyhi7kqyuNY

Resources:

Tempo (iOS) $1.99 - Available for iOS and Android

Planning Center Online

Padloops.com

ShalonPalmer.tv

 

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Your Feedback

If you have an idea for a podcast you would like to see or a question about an upcoming episode, e-mail me.

Also, if you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks.

At the core, your music ministry needs to be about more than music. Nahshon Thomas and John (Jun) Rodriguez share how they got connected in their home church and why playing drums isn't the first priority in their lives.

You can travel and be successful as a musician, but everyone needs a home and a family to stay grounded.

Click to Listen

Nahshon Thomas | Jun Rodriguez

Have you taken an inventory on your priorities?

Has playing an instrument become more of a right than a privilege?

How do you handle having multiple drummers in your church?

Do you find yourself becoming competitive with other musicians?

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Your Feedback

If you have an idea for a podcast you would like to see or a question about an upcoming episode, e-mail me.

Also, if you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks.

Everyone one of us have blind spots. John Maxwell defines a blind spot as "an area in the lives of people in which they continually do not see themselves or their situation realistically." This can also be anything that can hinder or undermine your performance that you are either unaware of or have chosen to overlook.

We will look at 4 areas of blind spots and then how we can recognize them in our life and ministry.

Click to Listen

Types of Blind Spots

1. Experience Blind Spots  The experience blind spot is most likely to come into play when leaders move to a new role or a new position of ministry.

2. Personality Blind Spots.   Just as past experience can produce tunnel vision in leaders who are not self-aware enough to notice it, the structure of your personality can lead you to process information incorrectly.

3. Values Blind Spots.  Values blind spots occur when a leader’s attitude and actions are not aligned with the church/ministry core values.

4.  Conflict Blind Spots.  The conflict blind spot can cause someone to interpret every interaction through a distorted lens.

Issues become blown out of proportion, and emotions boil over.

By definition, you are blind to your blind spots. That’s why it’s so important to proactively seek to discover them. Preventing blind spots from undermining your leadership requires discipline.

How to Recognize Blind Spots

1. Be Aware.  You have them just like everyone else.  Many times, we can get the most frustrated with people who are very similar to us.

2. Be Approachable . Many people who have a high competence, also have a blind spot with regard to getting feedback that they need to hear to keep them grounded.

3. Be Accountable. Who is in your inner circle? Do they agree with you all the time? If you get defensive at everything people say, that might be a clue….

What do you need to stop doing? What do you need to do more of? What do you need to start doing?

Podcast Resources:

Leadership and the Art of Struggle by Steven Snyder

DISC Profile - Manager Tools

Amber Rhoads - Blog "Spiritual Hoarding"

Subscription Link

If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe:

Your Feedback

If you have an idea for a podcast you would like to see or a question about an upcoming episode, e-mail me.

Also, if you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks.

Husband and wife worship leaders, Brad & Rebekah have been leading worship together since 2003. They travel within the US and abroad leading worship and teaching on worship.

On this episode:

If this is what I want to do, then I need to put in the effort!

Give yourself time for your gift to develop.  It's a process.

It's not because we aren't good enough; God wants to take us on a journey and show us things along the way.

Lamentations 3:21-24

21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, “The Lordis my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

Don't rush the journey. If you try to shortcut the process, it won't work.  God wants to do a work IN you

Play just beyond your skill level.  Always be stretching and growing!

Learn about the song so you can encourage people as you lead it.

We are taking the congregation on a journey.

God moves the hearts of the people; not us.

We are helping while God is happening!

Links

Brad and Rebekah | When We Gather

bradandrebekahmusic.com/whenwegather

Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Facebook

 

Resources:

CustomMix

Our friends at Multitracks.com have introduced a great new resource.

Charisma Magazine | Worship Edition

---

Our first totally FREE Webinar on how to get started and use Ableton Live for Worship.

Thursday, July 11 at 2pm Eastern Time

Register today at leadersinworship.com/webinar.

 

Limited spaces available so get signed up.

Topics Include:

Set up a metronome click for each of your songs.

I will cover features such as how to set up a setlist.

Great tips for multi-campus churches

Using stems or full multitrack files to supplement your teams sound.

Q & A

 

WFX | Leadership, Facilities, Technology, Worship

PROMO CODE: LIW2013

(Save $150 off your registration!)

October 2-4 | Dallas, TX

http://www.wfxweb.com/2013/

Avoiding the danger zones that lead to an unproductive life and ministry.

In ministry life, we have so many things that compete for time and attention in our life. Add to that, email, text's, etc.

There are tons of expectations that other people have for us and when we can't live up to those, we can beat ourselves up.

If we are not careful, we can get overwhelmed and fall into the "Paralysis by Analysis" trap.

3 Danger Zones:

1. Procrastination:

Know your tendencies

Develop a method of accountability

Completing a task helps you build self-discipline, which in turn builds self-confidence

2. Perfectionism:

We can't wait for perfect circumstances to deliver a product.

Done is Better than Perfect

3. Overcomplicating the process

Tools:

Omnifocus

Wunderlist

Evernote

1. Find what works for you! It doesn't matter how popular it is if you can't use it.

2. Close the Loops

 

Link:

Dan Ariely - Predictably Irrational

(Affiliate Link to book below)

Upcoming Speaking Events:

Relentless Ministries Conference | Christian Life Center, Ft Lauderdale, FL

June 20-23

cfcftl.org

WFX | Leadership, Facilities, Technology, Worship

PROMO CODE: LIW2013

(Save $150 off your registration!)

October 2-4 | Dallas, TX

http://www.wfxweb.com/2013/

Jared Anderson talks about his newest release, "The Narrow Road" and what it means to be a disciple.

1. The Narrow Road

preview / purchase CD

Calling people away from the selfishness.There are times when we cloak our selfishness in ministry.

Saying YES to the Lord involves saying NO to other things.

If we are healthy, we are growing.

You're gifted to do many things...but you're only called to a few things!

It's the "good" that hinders the obedience.

2. Co-Write - Co-writing  retreat.

"Co-Write" is an annual co-writing retreat for songwriters hosted by Jared.

3. Buckets of Obedience

What are the things that if you didn't do, you would be "disobedient" to God in?

There are good things but they aren't necessary things.

QUESTIONS THAT CLOUD OUR CHOICES:

What do the people want?

What does the pastor want?

What's going to make me look good?

The things and people God has placed in our life are "gifts to us"!

But...when we start serving the "gifts", everything gets messed up.

4. The Call of Being a Disciple

Our relationships become the reflection of our discipleship

5. It's like a Birthday Party...

Get it started and get out of the way!

 

Links:

Jared Anderson

@jaredanderson

Upcoming Speaking Events:

Relentless Ministries Conference | Christian Life Center, Ft Lauderdale, FL

June 20-23

cfcftl.org

 

WFX | Leadership, Facilities, Technology, Worship

PROMO CODE: LIW2013

(Save $150 off your registration!)

October 2-4 | Dallas, TX

http://www.wfxweb.com/2013/

What is Your Ministry Environment?

 

Thriving | Stagnant | Toxic

 

1. What is culture?  

Definition: The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterize an organization.

In a lab, a culture (tissue cells or bacteria) is maintained in conditions suitable for growth.

 

Does your ministry environment promote growth?

 

The result is: healthy environment = healthy growth.  Unhealthy environment = unhealthy growth.

 

2. Why does it matter?

Culture determines what is acceptable or unacceptable, important or unimportant, right or wrong.

 

Results of a thriving ministry:

1. Engages People

They feel that they have a voice…They are contributing to the overall team.  They are called!  Not simply filling a volunteer role

2. Creates Synergy

Definition: the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements or contributions.

“Synergy is the creation of a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.“

One can put a thousand to flight….Deut. 32:30

When there is synergy, we then operate in multiplication rather than addition.

 

John Maxwell states, "If someone on your team can do something 80% as well as you can, you should begin the process of delegating it to them.

 

3. Develops Unity

An unhealthy culture will lead to operating by division.  It cannot be sustained over the long-haul.

Unity doesn't mean that everyone agrees on everything.  But that they are willing to set aside their differences for the overall health of the organization or team.

 

4. Promotes Growth

People will want to be apart of what is happening.  There will be growth individually as well as with the team.

 

3. What is my part?

If something is shared, then each individual has responsibility and in turn, will reap the benefit.

Brian Houston of Hillsong Church recently stated, "Our job is to be the culture, not to build it."

Ways that I can BE the culture:

Be on time for rehearsal

Study your part

Come with a positive attitude

Follow the director's instruction

Talk to others with respect

Be ready to pray for others at all times

Remain in the sanctuary and be ready to minister.

Greet people and fellowship with them before and after services.

Always say something positive before pointing out any issue that has to be corrected.

Come with a heart full of expectation of what God is going to do in you and through you.

Anointed corporate worship cannot function without individual worship.  Own it!  Don't wait on someone else to do the heavy lifting!

 

If you act like a leader, you'll get treated like a leader.  Being a leader doesn't mean being the boss….

 

Upcoming Speaking Events:

Relentless Ministries Conference | Christian Life Center, Ft Lauderdale, FL

June 20-23

cfcftl.org

 

WFX | Leadership, Facilities, Technology, Worship

October 2-4 | Dallas, TX

http://www.wfxweb.com/2013/

 

Other Links:

Leaders In Worship - Episode 16

Mark Groover - Creating a Worship Culture

Autopsy of A Deceased Church | Thomrainer.com

http://thomrainer.com/2013/04/24/autopsy-of-a-deceased-church-11-things-i-learned/