One great way to develop your worship teams is to teach your student ministry bands well. It’s a long haul approach, but in addition to good music, a spirit of faithfulness and a heart for God, here are some basic practical things we want to teach 6th-12th grade worship team members in our churches:
Show up on time
Showing up on time shows respect. Showing up late tells others you don’t respect their time or your team commitment together. Don’t make someone have to hold you accountable to being on time. Always be fifteen minutes early. Be prepared to begin on time by having your stuff set up and ready to roll.
Pray together before you lead
We always open and or close our rehearsal times and leading times with prayer. We call on a different student to pray aloud each time. It’s good to help students develop confidence in praying aloud in these safe spaces. Eventually, as they grow in leadership, it will be natural.
Don’t tinker with instruments
Most students (and even adults at times) can fall into the habit of tinkering with their instrument in between songs during rehearsal or leading up to a worship leadership time slot. We always teach students to finish up the soundcheck, then give it a break of quiet (or other pre-recorded music 15-30 minutes before the service). Don’t just sit up there and noodle around or bang on the drums needlessly while people are entering for worship. Take that time to be around to visit, pray or just hang out.
Don’t pick up your cell phone
Don’t pick up your cell phone while you on the stage preparing to lead or leading worship. Also, don’t just needlessly scroll through Facebook or Instagram after the music portion of the worship. Be engaged with the service, the message and other components.
Learn to engage
As worship leaders, we’re not just cranking through the songs list, we’re trying to engage people in worship. We want to make eye contact, have great stage presence and encourage people to sing and worship. This requires training and practice.
Help set up and clean up
Worship team members are in this together. Help set up the space and help tear it down. Clean up things around you. Don’t leave cups, papers, cords or supplies around for someone else to pick up. And don’t leave until you’re all packed and ready to go as a team.
Encourage others on your team
Encourage others in the worship team. Don’t be sarcastic. Love the sound guy. Don’t glare at someone on stage when they miss a chord or a note. Stay positive. Learn and grow together.