Often I’ll get emails from pastors wondering where they can find a worship leader. I have no idea, they’re a scarce commodity. I wrote an article a few years ago that said you can almost commit murder and still find a job as a worship leader!
Schools haven’t been much help either with their ridiculous over emphasis on classical music (yeah yeah we need to know the classics blah blah but that’s all they teach with only a nod to the contemporary world. Try making a living on Bach.)
Then last week I had the wonderful opportunity to teach a few worship classes at Liberty University. I was completely blown away and immensely impressed. Love him or hate him, Jerry Falwell has built quite a place in Lynchburg, VA. It’s huge: nearly 12,000 resident students, 60,000 online students and 587 undergraduate worship majors. And the facilities… try snow skiing in August (watch this amazing video.)
Dr. Vernon Whaley, Chairman of the Department of Worship and Music Studies, has helped develop a program to produce something that Evangelical churches desperately need: worship leaders trained in contemporary worship!
When I arrived in Lynchburg (or any new town) my first order of business is to find a restaurant. Doc’s was right down the road from my hotel. It’s a Jerry Falwell-themed diner with memorabilia. Lots of students were running around and I immediately felt the energy of Liberty.
That evening I taught my first class on worship flow to Liberty grad and doctoral students who study online and visit the school every few months for intensives.
The next morning I spoke on blending hymns with contemporary worship to both graduates and undergraduates and was surprised to learn the legendary Don Marsh was sitting in my class! Liberty has lured this fine composer and arranger to the campus to teach music. Wow – that alone would make me want to attend Liberty.
One touching moment I experienced was attending Johannes Schroeder’s senior recital. He’s a German worship leader who was sent to Liberty by his church in Deutschland to study worship. This first half of his recital was classical and in a few weeks he’ll lead a praise band and demonstrate other contemporary worship skills for the second half.
I can’t say enough about the place – Liberty seems to have a great group of young people and teachers. The thing I really like is the strong Biblical, conservative stance (this is Jerry Falwell’s school, after all) yet the contemporary emphasis. I was quite surprised at how contemporary it is. And I discovered one of my favorite Christian artists, Meredith Andrews (who is the nicest, most normal and not stuck-up famous person you’d ever meet) is a graduate.
If you have teenagers interested in worship leading or Christian music as a career I suggest you have them take a look at Liberty. If you’re a worship leader looking to further your studies and degree, take a look at Liberty. And if you’re one of those churches desperately looking for a contemporary worship leader – take a look at Liberty – the next batch of graduates should be ready to enter the workplace in a few months!
6 Responses to “Looking for a Worship Leader?”
September 29, 2010
julieI would love to be a worship leader in a church, but I live (and plan on staying) in a rural area where worship leader positions are next to none. I got my BA in worship studies from Providence College, Manitoba, Canada. I LOVED it there. Excellent professors, really hands on learning and appropriate content for worship leaders.
September 30, 2010
Jamie ScottI live in the Asheville, NC area. Degree from UNC-Greensboro – vocal and choral major. I can direct traditional choirs and have been involved in contemporary worship leadership since the early 1990′s. I would love to find something in WNC or the Piedmont area of NC.
My good friend, Dan Suttles, is at Lynchburg in the music department….what a wonderful worship leader he is!
October 19, 2010
Robert FosterLeading worship is something God has called me to do. If I could find a church that could support me in a position like that, it would make me so happy. I currently help to lead worship in my home church but they don’t have the funds to support a full-time worship leader. If you’re a church that is looking for one and you happen across this site, feel free to look me up. I’ve recorded some songs that you can hear at http://www.myspace.com/lifegoneaway My email is robrfoster at gmail.com (left the @ out to prevent spam)
Thanks!
November 3, 2010
Leah KathrynUniversity of Mobile in Mobile, AL actually offers a degree in worship leadership, which is through Integrity, located in Mobile. The classes are actually taught on the Integrity campus. I am a graduate of this program and I am now a worship leader at a church in Huntsville. New worship leaders are graduating every year so check them out!
December 13, 2010
Robert GeoffrionI have been leading worship in the military since 2003, and continueto lead, in retirement, at a military chapel. I began learning guitar and how to lead worship 9 years ago at age 40. Jim Bullard formerly of Glad was my first mentor, and I adopted Paul Baloche by way of his training DVDs as another mentor. It would be an honor and pleasure to be blessed with a paid worship leader position.
January 12, 2011
SarahI would have to disagree – I know of lots of worship leaders looking for places that would have them. Unfortunately, unless it’s a paid position, most leaders are unable to move any distance from where they are to where they are needed, and many, many churches can’t/ won’t support a full time worship leader, or even a part-time one.