5 Synergies Of A Team

• Branon Dempsey
• Re-posting October 28, 2008
  
• Leadership Development

Clues that make or break a worship ministry.

1. Relationships - Our first priority begins with the Triune God who is worthy of our worship. In every breath and pulse of a ministry, it is about people. Love, acceptance and joy must be cultivated for spiritual and biblical health, without them a ministry cannot function effectively. A calling to worship leading needs to be present in the heart of team members, where there is an understanding and a response that is breathed by God just as we see Samuel's response in I. Sam. 3:10.

2. Leadership - Is defined by the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible. The DNA of a ministry is found in the development and empowerment of people, which means mentoring, defining and equipping people for a journey of purpose. Having a vision, common goals, clear communication and the visibility of your values will help spur on teams towards missional purpose with fruitful results. Vision without execution is simply illusion.

3. Resources - These are essential building blocks to nurture spiritual, personal and professional development. The integral blocks of formation are found in the following: 1) Spiritual - worship, prayer, study, support groups and testimonies. 2) Personal - identification of gifting and right placement, training and teaching opportunities, acts of celebrations and esteeming team members. 3) Professional: private and group skill instruction, educational/training books, internet sites, podcasts and other development material as well as a helpful listing of other resource recommendations.

4. Tools of Worship - A plethora of technology and devices are employed to help the facilitation of worship services - a/v, films, dramas, dance, musical instruments and computers. Tools in worship are essential for productivity, but only as they remain tools and not the object of our worship - they are a means and not an end. Worship teams need to have a rhythm that matches and speaks to the church's surrounding community. Musically speaking, the worship team's #1 job is to facilitate congregational song. The band supports the singing and not vice versa; simply, we help the congregation worship. Concerning bands, it was said before: the most we can do is the least we can do. Worship needs to be full of breath and space, while offering tangible and organic invitations for people to participate in the splendor and response to God.

Solitude Found

• Branon Dempsey
• Published August 4, 2008
  
• Spiritual Formation
  

The conference was held at Riverbend Church in the hill country (foothills) of Texas. The building was very impressive as it offered large angular windows that engaged your senses to the outdoors. The tall and deep rich cedar woods on the inside of the building seems to guide you to a quiet and gentle solace. As the services and worship progressed through out the week, this place of worship gave you a feeling of home and familiarity.

If you do not know, Central Texas and Austin is one of the most beautiful landscapes in all of Texas. My wife and I visit the hill country frequently. The scene is very dark foliage overlooking the meandering river that lazily swims by the church side. The main bridge takes you right over to the church campus as you travel through roads of cut rock.

Riverbend’s chapel has stone-white and limestone walls on the frame arches of dark rich mahogany beams. As you enter through its heavy wooded doors, you see the worship space itself - intimate with old english style pews with a very high stone ceiling. The pulpit area had a marble floor with simple wall accents of icons and relics. The space itself was captivating and atheistically pleasing.

The church campus is nestled among the hills dotted with trees of deep green and airbrushed accents of shrubs against etchings of white rock. The fragrance from the cedar trees lingered through the hillside as golden sunbeams pierced through the shadows. Through out the landscape you will find small creeks, stones and walking paths that are peppered with sign-markers of engraved Scripture verses, which acts as your tour guide to solitude.

Having the conference at the retreat-style environment/local church made this conference a special treat. I ran into numerous good friends and churches and was excited to hear of their experience. To my surprise, I found myself not alone. I know I was in love with the surroundings and others felt the same. It seemed that almost everyone commented on the uniqueness of the conference. At first, I was expecting folks to share stories of their favorite classes and the attended seminars. The overall conversation among my friends were fixed upon their time alone with God. Many shared that they really came to the conference to be ministered to and not so much to learn what’s “new,” but rather what God was speaking into them. Fellow ministers communicated how the conference gave them time away and to not have to “worry,” about anything. They felt great in the worship services to simply participate and not to lead. Others, told me how God had replenished their inner longings of spiritual fulfillment while others through silent tears, were awestruck to learn just how dry they really were and now had the opportunity to be filled as well.

Each of them shared their experiences of the Tabernacle, which seemed to be the outdoor highlight. The Tabernacle was an actual replica of the Biblical dwelling of God. Marked off by private walls from the outside, the tabernacle was a place behind the walls for individual worshipers. Tickets were given to participants as they were asked to come not by groups, but individually at certain times so each person can take-in the experience and to not feel rushed. One by one, people would enter the area. You were given an mp3 player and/or headphones as a recorded guide explained biblical/historic details of the tabernacle. In certain spots along the way you were able to meditate and pray. As you are finally led to the inner sanctum, you were free to commemorate your devotion to God in the special time. As partakers explained, it really gave them a sense of what it must have been like in early Israel. They were moved by the spiritual tour that also wet their appetite for the rest of the day/evening’s worship services and classes.

All the days for me left me with the same experience as I met God either in solitude or in mass with people. The worship time was so intimate that as I was with my brothers and sisters I also felt face to face with God. The power of solitude and cooperate worship was powerful. Doesn’t this sound like a great place for you? Just to get away from it all and just “be” with God? I know for me, this was a needed and cherished time.

View the pictures and other stories of this article on PraiseCharts Live.

For Pete's Sake

• Branon Dempsey
• Published July 18, 2008
  
• Leadership

I had a phone call from one of the churches in which I recently provided a workshop/clinic. The excitement in his voice and the laughter over the phone filled my heart with smiles. He went on to tell me how much fun his worship team had at rehearsal. Even when practice was over, his team did not leave. They stood around describing how much they’ve enjoyed and what they have learned from Wednesday night. Did this really happen? Why all this excitement after an ordinary rehearsal? How did they become so amped-up, that they couldn’t wait for the next Sunday service to arrive? Is this not normal?

“Humility does not mean you think less of yourself. It means you think of yourself less.”
— Ken Blanchard, Motivational Speaker & Author

Here’s the pretext from this phone conversation. Recently, I was asked to conduct a follow-up clinic/rehearsal with this church. I happily accepted and was looking forward to see the familiar faces and friends. Prior to my visit, I was encouraged by the leadership to arrange the rehearsal as I saw fit. In fact, I was told directly to make any changes that I wanted, even if it meant that others were to be “set straight.” The Spirit inside of me said “red flag!” but outwardly I pleasantly responded with a positive level of assurance.

The rehearsal night was here. As I saw the team members pile in, I noticed that they seemed happy, but a bit apprehensive. Maybe not having their regular worship leader directing their rehearsal seemed to fill them with wonder of the night’s agenda.

As we moved through the order of music, I went around the room asking questions to identify concerns and needs. My first concern was to ensure that they not only understood the flow, but the had the means to confidently participate in the rehearsal. Again, I noticed a slight bit of awkwardness. Eyebrows bashfully raised as I entertained some questions. After we made the necessary adjustments, we were ready to roll.

We began rehearsal with a familiar and fun song just to ease the coming-off-of-work state of mind. By the second song, everyone had their groove on. I could tell that the team was closely watching me for any sort of hint or subtle move. Normally, I tend to run the complete song through once, before making any adjustments. After we ran through the second song, I stopped to make a few modifications. Before speaking, all eyes hit the floor. Knowing that their leader was absent, they looked as if they were afraid of something. I stepped back and thought to my self: “hmmm...this team was so energized and uplifted when we last met. What  happened?” I couldn't understand the trepidation.

From the song’s standpoint, I didn’t feel that the musicians and singers were playing comfortably. So I did something. I gave a few pointers on the song’s direction and format, but in the same breath I asked them how they felt. I really wanted to hear what they heard musically. After all, they are the ones really creating the “sound” for the song.  My job was to lead and facilitate.

Each of them began in a timid soft spoken voice. As I listened, the ideas were rolling towards a crescendo of possibility and optimism. Before, I knew it, we were off playing again to the very suggested ideas. Faces were now bright and full of enthusiasm as we played through the music. We broke out into laughter quite a few times during and after the songs. At one point, I noticed the joy was coming back into the room. We covered the rest of the music set in the same manner: mapping out the form, voicing concerns and implementing ideas in a timely fashion. (it’s good to be mindful of your rehearsal time in making it efficient in all respects.) After collaborating with a few more ideas, I showed them a few of my own and we completed the rehearsal. Our time was over, but people were still singing and playing of on their own. As I said goodbye, each of them shared with me how much they enjoyed practice. I returned the similar feelings of satisfaction. In my reflection, it was simple: we had fun.

I am startled by a few perspectives in question that overtime, have altered human thought: what purpose does it serve to place agendas higher than people? Why do we have more “my-ways” than highways. When were we told that having fun compromises our reputation? How do we “look” if we are perceived by others as “not in control.” Will God stop loving us if we fail?
 
Like you, I find that unnecessary pressures only breed resentment and fear. Ministry is about people. Volunteering is about volunteering and serving is about service. There are those who believe that in order to maintain your status in the church, world or life, you must exert pressure on to others. This simply stems down to a lack of security in one’s self and a lack of honesty and faith in God. As a result, fear and bitterness turns into torment, which widens the gap between strife and grace as well as isolation and community.

Abraham Lincoln said: “Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. Whether it be true or not, I can say for one that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem.”

I am learning everyday that it has to do more with Pete than it does with me. When we look at the esteeming style of Jesus, he never once turned people away. I am reminded when the disciples were tired and wanted rest, but the crowd of 5,000 were hungry. Jesus faced his disciples who were imploring him to send them away, he replied: “no, you give them something to eat.” That pretty much ended the discussion. There was no discussion because Jesus was here on earth for mankind not himself.

Our family life, personal life and ministry life can easily be infiltrated, shaped and nurtured by the grace, honesty and love of Jesus. May we be a people that esteem other better than ourselves. As a byproduct, people of the world will know us by our love for one another (Jn. 13:35).

Leading Change In Ministry

• Branon Dempsey
• Published June 23, 2008
  
• Ministry Organization

2 Most Feared Words in the Church
"Change," is the most feared word in the Church.
"Patience," is the most feared word in Worship and AV Ministries.

Now What? Change in ministry, whether staffing, direction, mission-vision or re-assignments can either stop followers in their tracks or hinder leaders in processing and making effective decisions. Suggested book: John Kotter, "Leading Change" is a good resource for teams and leaders to ascertain change and how it is or isn't received.

Think COW

C - Consider - the people first.
Your idea may be the best idea since the invented wheel. But who will lead your idea? What role will you play in your idea? If your without answers that involve yourself, the idea may not be as practical as you first thought. More importantly, how does your idea benefit others? Are you sure they would agree? Having a vision is a wonderful thing, but having input is what makes it fly. Additionally, the need for change begins with the end in mind. Are your people wondering if you're giving them a green light to participate?

O - Overtime - introduce change slowly.
When change moves slowly, you begin to learn more about the people and the process; this helps you navigate more cautiously as your newly introduced idea politely befriends people. When your idea is "shared" rather than "shoved" people will be more open to receive change.

W - Wait - be hurry to wait.
Let patience have it's perfect work with you as others catch on. This will breed buy-in and ownership; without them change will be a frustration to others and possibly cause animosity within the group you are trying to lead or influence.

Story of a Cow: a business man and a church.
A business man in a power suit grows impatient with the cow on the other side of the fence. After ranting and raving he demands, "cow...I want you to produce milk for me right here, right now." The cow just stares back at him chewing his cud. The man hollers out, "hey cow! Make me milk or I'll turn you into hamburger!!" The cow has the same non-response. (Story Source by Leonard Sweet)

What's actually going on in this picture? The cow is producing milk. By chewing and processing the grass over-time, milk is the final result. Change can feel like this.

Wise Questions to Ask Before Change is Introduced.
Here are five questions to post/think that may gauge team and leader perceptions and/or ministry strategies. Basically, these questions can foster healthy dialogues and give both the team and leaders a common ground to listen and discuss.

 1. What are the five most important things about our ___________ that need to be preserved and why? (Form a Need)

2. What are the top three things we need to change and why? (Form a Plan)

3. How will this help or hurt you? (Form a Purpose)

4. What role will you play in this idea? (Form a Commitment)

5. What are our celebrated short & long term goals? (Form a Follow-through & Party)