Learning community and teamwork is something that hasn’t come natural for me. It has been a daily decision. Like most decisions, if you repeat them enough they become a habit and soon a way of life. Growing up, my surroundings really worked against me in this particular area. They were a dream for development in others that I am extremely grateful for, but in this one, not so much.

I was home-schooled in high-school and was able to intern and lead worship at church starting at a young age. Because of this, many of my peers were involved in typical teen activities, while I was reading, writing, and learning side-by-side with adults. This was great for my Type A personality and honestly I enjoyed achieving and learning alone; I hadn’t really known anything different.

However, as I’ve grown older, I’ve since realized that if you want to be a successful leader, communicator, friend, spouse, sibling, etc… you can’t do life alone. We weren’t created and wired for it. We were wired for community. We were wired for vulnerability and transparency. We were wired for authentic relationship. We were wired to belong.

The wonderful people that really changed my way of thinking on this was: my husband, opposite of me in almost every way, and really brings out the social butterfly and child-like wonder deep within, and my now pastors; Devin and Ashley Webb, who when I met about 6 years ago completely flipped the way I viewed ministry and helped to revive my love for people and re-ignite a passion for my purpose.

As I’ve been on this new journey as a worship pastor, I’ve discovered that community is messy and can sometimes be tough. However, it is one of the most beautiful and rewarding things you can attach yourself too. In community, there is accountability and encouragement from season to season. Our pastor often says, “Real life change happens in the context of relationships and life is meant to be shared.” I have truly learned over the years that while I can dream and achieve on my own, it is nothing compared to the fulfillment of dreaming and achieving with others, because we are better together.

I encourage you to get connected to others, let your guard down, and live a little. With that being said, I’ll leave you with one of my favorite verses:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
“9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

Our worship team at Connect is now going through a new season even at 6 months old. We are in the creative process of seeing what it looks like for our team to write original music for our church. In doing so, I’ve been attempting to grab any source of information, insight and wisdom into how to write songs for the church, how to write songs as a team, how to write congregational worship songs… you name it, I’ve typed it into my google search bar. I know songwriting to be a very exciting, thrilling, emotional, tough birthing process and if we as a church and team can absorb how to do it better, I want in!

Having said that, below are just a few quotes/thoughts that have really stuck with me throughout all the articles I’ve read and the videos I’ve watched. I simply wanted to share them with you to bring encouragement, guidance or counsel to your creative time as a team. Maybe, even help you put words to thoughts or gut feelings you’ve had but haven’t been able to articulate. Happy songwriting!

Songwriting Foundational Thoughts:

If lead pastors must be worshippers, as a songwriter we must be theologians. We must have a hunger to study God and to know Him. – Pastor Jeremy Riddle

Songwriting is evangelism. Your music is your message. Therefore, the content is so important. – Pastor Jack Hayford

Your spiritual input must be greater than your spiritual output. – Vertical Church Band

You must ask, “What is your end goal? Where are you taking them? Can I hear the church corporately singing this and more importantly, should they?” – Pastor Brian Johnson

There is a time and a place for everything. Corporate worship is different than personal worship. You must keep this in mind. – Pastor Jenn Johnson

When writing a melody, keep the congregation in mind. A song should have a hook that makes it recognizable before the singing even begins. It makes it memorable. – Pastor Brian Johnson

Good songs with tweaking can become great songs. It takes a lot of work. Include other people in the process because it is about teamwork and community. – Pastor Brian Johnson

Get feedback, especially from your pastor. – Vertical Church Band

The things that you value, are the things you spend your time on. 

What does your calendar say about what you value? Does it say you value God’s voice? You can’t hear God’s voice and know His will if you don’t make space for Him. Even Jesus had to go and get away. If Jesus needed to do so, we surely need to as well! (Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 6:12)

Our church recently went through 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting together. We all come together during this time to focus on interceding for needs in our church, in our own lives, in our community and our world. Encountering God, experiencing His presence, and hearing His voice was and has been our focus. For those who aren’t use to making space to connect with God (let’s be honest, we can all do better in this area) or are new to fasting, this time was especially challenging.

This has definitely been a struggle for me, because despite my hunger to hear from Him, even when I would get in the Word, my mind would wander and worry about everything else I had going on that day,  that week. Side note: The saying rings true, if it’s not worth praying about, it’s not worth worrying about.

However, I’ve learned that God really does comes to a prepared environment. Yes, God can meet us whenever, wherever and in spontaneous moments. However, the moments when I prepare to meet with God, He never disappoints. Many Christians live disappointed lives because they miss appointments with God.

Our pastor challenged us during our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, so I challenge you:
This week set an appointment with God. Even if it is just 15 minutes! Read for 5 minutes, pray for 5 minutes and listen for 5 minutes. When Jesus was in the desert being tempted, He didn’t quote a whole passage of scripture, He quoted one verse. One verse meditated on could change your mind, heart and emotions quicker than one passage forgotten.

Set an appointment. If we don’t set an appointment with God, we could miss it, we could miss Him.

“You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.” ― Charlie Jones

Sitting down and reading hasn’t always been something I’ve enjoyed. However, as I get older I’ve realized I have learned more through the books I have read than I ever did in college. Having said that, I put together a short reading list of books that not only opened my eyes to new perspectives, but also assisted in problem solving and faciliated vision in my life. So, if you are looking to grab a good book this year, take a swing at one of these:

360 Degree Leader by John C. Maxwell

Cracking Your Church’s Culture Code by Samuel R. Chand

God of the Underdogs by Matt Keller

Good Leaders Ask Great Questions by John C. Maxwell

Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham & Donald O. Clifton

Simple Church by Thom S. Rainer & Eric Geiger

The Blessed Church & The Blessed Life by Robert Morris

Who’s Holding Your Ladder? by Samuel R. Chand

“Everyone ends up somewhere. Few people will end up somewhere on purpose.”

Our pastor recently did a sermon to kick off the new year and he made the above statement, encouraging us to set vision and goals for the different areas of our lives. At Connect, intentionality is something we’ve taken very seriously even in the infant stages of our church. Something we do at the end of the month for those who are interested in being apart of the platform or media team is go over our core values, purpose and mission as a team. Beyond the once a month core values session for new additions, we have a monthly team team night where core values are briefly reiterated during our time together, because we all know repetition is key.

Establishing the WHY you do what you do is very important to anyone who is planning on joining any team, but especially when they will be apart of projecting the message of the church (verbally and nonverbally) on an ongoing basis. People expect more of leadership and when you step onto the platform, by default position, you become a leader. Articulating what that should look like and simply putting that on paper, helps them know what the expectations are upfront. The purpose is not to set an unrealistic standard or unreachable goal, but to lay the foundation of what the team will be pursuing and keeping each other accountable for as a whole.

Attached are our core values at Connect: Connect Worship Team Core Values
Feel free to take these as your own or let them inspire you to establish a set for your team, if you haven’t already.