It’s amazing to me that this blog could mean something to anyone, especially someone possibly sitting hundreds of miles away. And more amazing that it might mean different things to different people.
It’s somewhat like our a worship leader's role. Looking out at 100 or 500 or 4,000 people and hoping that God somehow touches each person’s heart in a unique way, even though they experience the same thing. And realizing that each service plan, each word, each thought, is like a “personal note” God has given us to share.
I think we forget that sometimes. We sing our 3 1/2 songs and sit down. The thought of sharing where we’ve messed up, scheduling silence, interjecting our own thoughts, creating space, explaining the new song, passing along a Scripture…it’s just too much for us. The result? We miss our chance to pastor our people. To shepherd them.
Truth is…our calling is to shepherd our people. To be much more than song leaders, chord changers, harmony singers, string strummers, or crowd motivators. But we get stuck. Or scared. Or complacent. I know I do.
So what do we do? Honestly, we could talk about that answer forever. But for now, here’s two starter ideas for us:
First, plug in with people. It’s easy to play our songs and run. Instead, stand in the lobby and meet the people (even in big churches!). Learn the stories, the struggles, the victories. Be as personally connected as possible.
Second, block out the time in your schedule to think and pray. Think through each moment of your service plan. And pray that somehow, God would reach the poor, the rich, the lonely, the depressed, the recently unemployed, the new mom, the widow, the divorced father, the stripper, the hurting, the lost, the prodigal, the first-time-scared-out-of-his-mind-guest, the 50-yr-bored-church-veteran, the 85-year-old-fired-up-woman…all at the same time.
Hope to see you in September at Experience! But until then, let’s shepherd our people week in and week out.
