John Pape Online Blog

by Chrysty

Invariably, every praise and worship team member is a leader in some way or another. The worship leader then is a leader of leaders. People tend to put those in the limelight at a pedestal, having an expectation that they should be able to perform to their expectations.

What then are the qualities that a leader should aspire to possess to enable them function effectively.

1. Be a Prayerful Person

   This is one of the most challenging areas of any christian. The Devil who knows the power of prayer often puts many people in the place of non-prayer. The power of prayer cannot be overemphasised, sufficient to say the prayer life of any worship leader directly affects his ministry. The scriptures encourage us to pray without ceasing. Jesus himself who was the son of God, spend many nights in prayer. How much more should we pray?

2. Be Bold

   A worship and praise leader must be bold and courageous. Bold to encourage the congregation to embrace God and seek for new ways to praise him. Bold to encourage non traditional methods of worship like the use of dance in praise and worship, use of flags, introduce new songs,

3. Be creative

   Be creative in your worship. Let not words become words but mean them from your heart or spirit. many times after leading for a long period you may find that some words become pat words, words that you say without meaning, and you say them repeatedly, e.g “come & lift your hands“, “worship him” or “this is the day that the lord has made let us rejoice and be glad” yet your mind and heart are far from what you are saying. Ask the lord for a creative way of bringing the people to him.

4. Possess leadership attributes from Titus 1.6-9

   Have one spouse
   Be a man/woman of integrity
   Be hospitable
   Do not be a drunkard
   Not greedy for money
   Manage your family well
   Be just
   Have self control

5. Be a worshiper

   Worship God in private and in public. If you are not a worshipper you cannot lead people into the presence of God, you have not been there!. A worshiper is not necessarily a musician, but a person who loves to worship God and stay in his presence. God loves those who worship him in spirit and in truth( john 4:) He is seeking for them.

6. Have a basic understanding of music

   To lead in worship and praise songs or lyrics, one has to have a basic understanding of music or have an ear for music. It can be quite challenging to lead worship when tone deaf!

7. Pay attention to details

   This often is what separates mediocracy from excellence. Pay attention to details of your music, the notes, the way you arrange the lyrics, the song lists, the flow of the songs, the way different keys work either together or not, the way different musicians( your musicians) play the songs.  If you will talk between the songs, what will you say, how will you say it, when will you say it,your backup singers, how they move on stage, the dress code for the group.The difference this will bring to your leadership is simply amazing!

8. Listening to the Holy Spirit

   Many times in the services the praise and worship leader may stay long on a song but he already has lost the people. The annointing is not in the song, and he does not seem to sense or know it. He just goes on for another 5 mins singing the same song, while the congregation’s mind wander away and only come back when another song is sung. A good worship leader should pray and ask the Holy Spirit to let him know when the anointing is on a song, when to stay on a song, and when to move away from a song when to allow the people to lavish their worship on God without a song. The key here is being senistive to God

9. Ability to inspire

   Inspire your worship team and the congregation you are serving. In other words have an annointing. Where, when you lead, the glory and the presence of God comes down. When the anointing of God is upon you your words inspire both your team and the listeners. The ability to draw the presence of God into a service is the annointing.

About the Author
A worship Minister for the last 10 years, in Africa.
I write worship music. Love God so much! blogs at
http://prayer-praise-worship.blogspot.com/,
and http://chrystyk.wordpress.com/

Technorati Tags: Bible, Christianity, God, ministry, Music, Praise and Worship, prayer, Song

1. Wake Up -Decide to have a good day.

“Today is the day the Lord hath made;let us rejoice & be glad in it”
Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up -Smile

The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart”
I Sam 16:7

3. Shut Up -Say nice things & learn to listen.

God gave us 2 ears and 1mouth so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking.

“He who guards his lips guards his soul”
Proverbs 13:3

“Gossip betrays confidenceavoid men who talk too much”
Proverbs 20:19

“Listen to advice, accept instruction and in the end, you will be wise”
Proverbs 19:20

4. Stand Up -For what you believe in.

Stand for something or you will fall for anything.

“Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, letus do good…”
Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up -To the Lord.

“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength”
Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up -For something higher.

As Jiminy Cricket sings in “High Hopes” Always try to better yourself.

7. Lift Up -Your Prayers.

“Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING”
Philippians 4:6

Technorati Tags: Bible, Christianity, God, Jesus, Personal Relationship, prayer

Here is a great story about how God works in people’s lives.

Isn’t it amazing how God works in our lives! One night, this pastor was working late, and decided to call his wife before he left for home. It was about 10:00 PM, but his wife didn’t answer the phone. The pastor let it ring many times.

He thought it was odd that she didn’t answer, but decided to wrap up a few things and try again in a few minutes. When he tried again she answered right away.

He asked her why she hadn’t answered before, and she said that it hadn’t rung at their house. They brush it off as a fluke and went on their merry ways.

The following Monday, the pastor received a call at the church office, which was the phone that he’d used that Saturday night. The man that he spoke with wanted to know why he’d called on Saturday night. The pastor couldn’t figure out what the man was talking about.

Then the man said, “It rang and rang, but I didn’t answer.” The pastor remembered the mishap and apologized for disturbing him, explaining that he’d intended to call his wife.

The man said, “That’s OK. Let me tell you my story.

You see, I was planning to commit suicide on Saturday night, but before I did, I prayed, ‘God if you’re there, and you don’t want me to do this, give me a sign now.’

At that point my phone started to ring. I looked at the caller ID, and it said, ‘Almighty God’.

I was afraid to answer!”

The reason why it showed on the man’s caller ID that the call came from “Almighty God” is because the church that the pastor attends is called Almighty God Tabernacle!!

God answers prayers!

Technorati Tags: Add new tag, Christianity, God, Life, prayer