Who is a Worship Leader?

Can you recognize who is a worship leader and what exactly they do that is different to any other church member? It is not hard to see a worship leader as the guy or girl who stands up on a Sunday and gets people singing, but the truth is that leading praise and worship is actually far more than that! Those who are called to this ministry must not only be able to sing, but also have to be able to lead, because that is who a worship leader really is!



Who is a Worship Leader Called to Be?



The first thing someone who is a leader of church worship must settle in their hearts is their calling. Their call is different to most other church members, and is it different to most other church leaders too. For the person who is called in this field, they have to recognize that they are called not only to worship and to lead others in worship, but also to be a leader for their team in their own right! So what does this involve?



Leading worship may seem like you are conducting a sing-a-long, but is this all the one who a leader is really called to be? Does the definition of leadership only apply to songs, and to leading the congregation or is there more required of the person who is leading?



A true leader is a leader in whatever spheres the Lord leads them into, which means that beyond just encouraging the congregation to sing, the praise leader must also be called to be a true leader for their team. True leaders inspire and encourage, and it is this spirit of humility and servanthood that should mark a true worship and praise leader. Real leaders lead by inspiration, not intimidation, so if leaders of worship teams are to truly recognize God's calling on their lives they have to become godly and powerful leaders.





Who is a Worship Leader Gifted to Be?



You see, I believe that when the Lord chooses you and gifts you that He also raises within you the ability to become a leader. Worship and praise leaders must follow the Pastor and church leadership, but among the team members they need to lead with love and inspiration.



So who is a worship leader? It is someone who inspires and encourages their team, and leads them by example into a deeper place of worship. It is someone who seems exalted on stage, but must remain humble and loving at all times. It is someone who has not only the gift of worshipping, but also the gift of leadership.





He Who is a Worship Leader is Also a Servant!



Jesus was a great example of a true servant's heart, so why should any church leader be any different. A leader in the area of worship is someone who leads worship in church, but in reality they are also a true and inspiring leader of people, both in their team and in their church. For this reason, someone who is such a leader must be also a servant, totally available and always humbling doing whatever they can to bless those around them.



Those who lead worship are not rock stars, they are not American idol contestants and they are not even heroes. No, they are simply servants with a peculiar gifting. They must love, inspire and work hard at their chosen profession, and if they do so faithfully they are privileged to experience the joy of seeing many people's lives inspired and blessed, not only by the music by even more by the lives and leadership qualities.



So it is now time for the one who is a worship leader to rise up and become less of a singer and more of an inspirational servant-leader!