Growing and Keeping Young Worship Leaders and Creatives

Worship ministry is one of the concrete places for young adults to serve in the church. Whether it be on the music team, tech team or other creative aspects, involvement in worship ministry seems to be one way keep young adults connected and involved in the church.

Over the years, hundreds of young adults have traveled with me through Harvest Ministry Teams and several others have served alongside in our church worship teams.

Because things change so quickly it seems like just as I get in the groove, something shifts. I feel like I’ve learned some things about young adult ministry, but still have a long way to go.

Here’s a bit of what I’ve learned:

Create Opportunities

Everyone needs an opportunity to serve in ministry, but worship ministry-minded young adults, they need to see a way to get involved. They need to be invited. The opportunity needs to open up and present itself. They need to hear about it. Create space for young adults in your church to serve through music, video, art and creativity. Make up new jobs (volunteer or paid), roles and places. Find needs that can be filled.

Give Leadership Away

Nothing in ministry is very cut and dried and this is one of those areas. You don’t want to be irresponsible, but you want to give leadership away, support and nurture, and allow people to learn. Don’t be afraid of failure. Take a risk. People will grow as they have experience. I learned that sometimes it’s easier to equip people in worship ministry when you’re not there. The burden of worship leadership rests squarely on them and they rise to it. They learn what questions need to be asked and what holes need to be filled. I’ve also learned over the years in student ministry, that it’s often the non-musical pastors and student ministry leaders to seem to develop the strongest worship teams because they have to count on someone (as opposed to just pulling out an instrument and leading the way on their own). They have no choice but to give the leadership for that area away.

Invest In Them

Teach the young adults on your team. Send them to a conference. Give them tools. Provide information. Help raise them up. Pray for them. Surround them. Find ways to invest in them. It may be as simple as encouragement and it may be as extensive as a paid role or somewhere in the middle, like an official internship.

Hold Them To A Standard

There’s no way around young adult life – you have to go right through it. As leaders, we shouldn’t shy away from holding them to a standard. What are the things you expect as a leader of a ministry in a church? Even as a participant of a ministry team? Most often they will respond to frank conversations and invitations to be in line with expectations.

Build Community

Young adults crave community. Find ways to connect all ages together, develop community opportunities for building friendships aside from serving together. Enjoy the time and connections.

Teach Humility and Kindness

Humility and kindness are two characteristics for ministry leaders. These are good things to learn early in any ministry role. These things characteristics that get the job done.

Be Prepared For Change

When you’re dealing with young adults, transition is always on the horizon. You never know when something is going to change. Be ready for

I would love to hear how you lead and connect young adults to your ministry?

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