As college ministers, we’re always trying to come up with the greatest formula for service orders, and incorporate the best elements that make up our meetings on campus. Worship through music is undoubtedly one of the most popular aspects of any Christian fellowship. Here are a few thoughts on worship at your college ministry meetings.
I’m a worship leader, turned college pastor. Worship has been really important to me since I became a Christian not that long ago. I believe that God wired me with a passion for worship. It’s a powerful means of my connection and communication with Him. Obviously, worship is much bigger than corporately singing songs to God, but for this post, I’m referring to that act. Here are a few random thoughts on how to make the most of it on campus.
Thought: Pray for your worship leaders.
The Bible depicts Heavenly worship as a battle ground, with worship leaders as the commanders and generals. In an intense spiritual war zone like a college campus, our enemy is naturally going to try to take out the spiritual leaders, including your worship leaders. Pray for them, and keep in close communication with them.
Also, if you don’t have worship leaders on your campus, pray for some. For my first year as a college pastor, I led worship at our large group meetings, but I wanted to step down to focus on other things. Over that first summer I prayed something like: “God, you’ve called me to a school with lots of music students. Please send me a worship leader!” God is funny. He sent me 5 of them…with two revolving teams (they’re super legit).
Thought: It doesn’t have to be ‘big’.
I’m a natural over achiever, so I’m a big fan of “go big or go home”. In the context of worship, this has sometimes resulted in stacking a band with 4 singers, 3 guitars, 2 keyboards, and a rhythm section, and being really loud and borderline obnoxious. However, I’ve recently been rediscovering the value of simplicity. One of our worship teams on campus has taken on the title the “loft” team. This team is a stripped down acoustic team, usually playing beautifully simple worship songs with just a few instruments and voices. Wit that team, the power coms in the simplicity.
I recently had the great opportunity to travel to St. Rose College to speak at one of their large group meetings. Worship that night was super powerful and enjoyable, and the part that really got me; the team consisted of a pianist and a vocalist. I was blown away at how the quality of worship was as good as any ‘big’ experience.
Thought: Take it seriously.
The two teams on my campus work really hard to ensure that they’re not in the way of what God wants to do each week. They each practice hard and take their responsibilities really seriously. This past Sunday, they even held auditions to ensure that newcomers were placed on a team that fits their style and potential. These people do everything they can to perform with excellence.
Thought: Worship resource.
My friend Greg Best published a free Worship Resource document that lays out the best practices of college-based worship teams. In it, he expounds on practical musical insight, as well as the spirituality of worshipping God through music. This document was a must-read for my worship leaders.
This is totally not an inclusive list. What has worked for you on your campus in terms of worshipping God through music?