Volunteer Development Declining? Consider This Solution

Those who lead music ministries for their churches have a lot of hats to wear and shoes to fill. Between running rehearsals, organizing and arranging music, making sure systems are smooth and tight, and scheduling team members, many leaders can be overwhelmed with the amount of tasks to be done daily, weekly, monthly, and annually. Couple all this with the responsibility of shepherding your team, well... it can be almost too much.

If your church is growing, then this only adds to your pile of work, and at the end of the day, you probably feel like your best work isn't being done, simply because you're spread too thin. And after all, your role as a ministry leader means working with people and helping them grow in their gifts—but what if you simply cannot get it done?

If this resonates with you, then you might consider bringing on a designated leader who can handle some of the tasks you manage, and there's one role in particular that I heard of recently that would be a perfect fit for many of the readers of this blog:

A creative development director. 

The Role in a Nutshell

Many of you as ministry leaders probably face the issue of having volunteers with limited abilities on their instrument or voice. Their heart for worship is right in line, but their ability to play or sing could be elevated. But here's the thing: This work of elevating another person's skills goes beyond the amount time you can spend AND get everything else done. 

Enter: the creative development director. 

This person is fundamentally an educator, and they know how to help musicians bridge the gap from where they currently are to where they want to be. They know how to guide people in achieving results through encouragement, accountability, and rapid adaptability. Generally, they are well-versed in techniques for instruments and voice, and they are adept in knowing music in all its forms, written out and aurally.

I was told about this role from a ministry colleague, who was facing a steep challenge in training volunteers after the church's leadership team decided to move away from using contract musicians. After a period of time spent "diong things on the fly," the church brought in what they called a "worship development pastor" (essentially, the same role as above) who was able to solely focus on training instrumentalists and singers. It's been a game changer for their church, and my colleague is able to keep his focus on planning services, discipling others, and creating music for the church. 

In my own work, I've functioned as an unofficial creative development director for my home church. This was most evident in 1-on-1 lessons, group seminars, and weekly choir rehearsals where I got to put my music education degree to use. By stepping in where our assistant pastor can't (he oversees creative and youth ministries), we've seen a two-fold increase in general music participation, creating new opportunities for folks who otherwise wouldn't have done much. 

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, someone who is in a creative development role is there to facilitate growth, curiosity, and empowerment for the people in their circle. If your church doesn't have a position like this, even if it's volunteer-based, then I would seriously consider adding it. It'll most likely free up your own time in overseeing your church's music ministry, and your stress levels will thank you. Plus, you allow others to take on leadership roles, which in and of itself is tremendous for their own personal growth.

Shameless plug: If you still can't find someone to fill that role, then give us a shout! Worship Strategies is here to help YOU. 

You know where to find us 😎

Be blessed 👊✌️