As I’ve mentioned before, no one gets anywhere by themselves. If you are a leader, then anything you’ve managed to accomplish is due to commitment and efforts of your team. (Makes sense: You wouldn’t have someone on your team if they weren’t contributing.) The leader’s most important job is to equip and protect the team.
A huge part of that is expressing your gratitude for their contributions and seeing to it that they understand their importance, not only during services and worship celebrations, but also in the trajectory of the worship program altogether. If you think that hot new drummer you just recruited is only helping you for that one Sunday, then a.) you’re lazy, b.) you aren’t thinking past the end of your nose, c.) you aren’t considering the span of her gifts and how they benefit the entire team over time, and d.) you aren’t considering her network.
People are not interchangeable. Pastors in particular tend to forget that, especially when it comes to musicians. It is never as simple as just dropping a warm body in a slot and telling them to play. Assuming that you are looking past the next Sunday, you should be spending time getting to know your people.
Thank your team. Show them how much they mean to your ministry. Show them how much they mean to you. And mean it. Don’t just use them. Actually care.
And if it is just about you, get the hell out of ministry before you do any harm.
