Starting a Music Program

What is stopping your church from starting and running an effective music program?

Here are some basic requirements:

#1 - Leadership

Ultimately, the church belongs to God. God has ordained the office of the pastor to lead the church and minister to the congregation.

For a church to have an effective music program, the pastor must support it. If the pastor is not fully on board or is not interested in the idea at all, the music ministry will fail.

Here's why: Practically speaking, the pastor sets the tone and direction of the individual church. To contradict said direction is futile. This does not mean to be silent and never encourage him or speak up, but it does mean that, if you aren't the pastor, don't pastor the church.

Now, the blessing of having a pastor who fully supports the music ministry is that it provides a buoyancy and exuberance that cannot be mimicked in any other way. This church is a happy church, an engaged church, and a working church. It is also an incredibly blessed church.

#2 - Laymen (and women, of course)

What good is a pastor and a building if there are no people?

In order for a church to have a good music ministry, there must be lay people who are willing to get involved, learn, practice, and serve.

This is not a light request. Music, by its very nature, is a complex ministry. However, it is also a necessary ministry.

#3 - Logistics

It is difficult to have an effective music ministry without proper instruments, sound equipment, music, and more!

Time must be taken in each of these areas to ensure that everything is well-suited to a successful music program.

For instance, the sound system should be able to accommodate a song leader and lift his voice over the congregation while singing. There should be at least four microphone channels. A simple mic and monitor system can be a temporary solution but is certainly not ideal.

Of course, a good music program needs instruments! This includes the piano, the vocal instruments (i.e. singers), and whatever other instruments the folks in your church can play.

(I must caution against the drum set. Orchestral kettle drums are generally acceptable, but the drum sets as they appear in rock, country, pop settings are unacceptable in church music.)

Of course, the music program should have written music for those who participate to learn from. One person should be responsible for always expanding the repertoire of church music.

If you have effective leadership, laypeople, and proper logistics, you are set up to have a good music ministry.

But ultimately, remember it is for the glory of God. Do everything for Him and Him alone.

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Thank you for reading!

Aaron Dempsey

I Corinthians 15:58