Chris Denning encourages new worship leaders to find a mentor:
Doing anything for the first time can be nerve-wracking, even if its something you want to do.
I believe this is especially true with anything that has to do with artistic expression, because for most people, their gifts and abilities are simply an extension of themselves. “If people don’t like my singing, then maybe they just don’t like me.” It’s never easy to start new things, and I’d say that’s especially true for worship leaders.
It’s one thing to play guitar for your friends around a campfire or something, but making the decision to lead a group of people in worship is a weighty one. There’s the performance aspect, for sure, but there’s also the weight of taking what you’re doing serious enough that you honor God but not taking yourself TOO serious and simply being yourself.
I was fortunate enough to have 2 or 3 guys in my life who helped me for many years as I was learning how to lead worship. I started by just watching them, being a part of the band, and eventually was mentored by them. This kind of experience is INVALUABLE.
I say all that to say this: Being a new Worship Leader is HARD. But I want to take a stab today at giving you a few tips to get you started right. Whether you’re a young pup just learning how to strum a guitar and lead, or even transitioning into leading with some experience in bands, I think that these tips can help you build the foundation for being a successful Worship Leader.
1. Find a Mentor.
This seems like kinda a “duh” tip, but I can’t over emphasize the impact a great mentor can have on your life. You want to find someone who you look at and think “I want to be like that.” Find someone who is further down the road you want to go on, and then get to know them. Make the ask, and see if they would be open to intentionally mentoring you as you grow as a Worship Leader.
You can also find mentors that you’ll never even meet. Look online and find people who write their own content, are great to follow on Facebook or Twitter, and learn what you can from them. You can even try reaching out to them to see if they have any advice for a Worship Leader who wants to grow. You’d be surprised how often people like this are willing to help you.
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