Serving With Excellence

Ephesians 6:7
Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people

Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise,
Risking more than others think is safe,
Dreaming more than others think is practical,
And expecting more than others think is possible.

Our goals and expectations are just as demanding and should be treated with the same consideration that the pastors use in preparing their sermons or as the musicians and singers prepare for each and every service. Worship is not just a time during the service but should be a daily part of our lifestyle. So many folks rush in on Sunday morning typically just in time to make the service and have so much going on that they often miss the opportunities to be drawn in to the worship experience and ultimately miss out on the chance to sit at the feet of our God and Creator.
Imagine having the opportunity to sit across from the President or any world leader regardless of our political influences. We would want to listen to what those placed in leadership have to say. We have an even greater opportunity than that – we can sit before the greatest authority ever. He created those world leaders just as He created you and me. How prepared would you be for a service if we found out the President was coming to our service this Sunday? What an honor! I suspect we would have extra rehearsals, plan every detail out, and try to put our best foot forward.
I’m not saying that we don’t always try and achieve this weekly, but if we were to really examine just our area of ministry, what would we see? Let’s take a quick look and break down the areas of our ministry. I will start with me. As the director, I have been given the responsibility to prepare for, examine and make sure we have the personnel and equipment in place to do what is being asked of us to do. I often don’t start really preparing until a few days before, am I prepared usually not.
Audio can be next. Does the engineer have all the mic cues? Who is playing on what songs? Who is singing what parts? Who has the medley? Are there any solos that need to be reinforced?
Moving on to the PPT operators. Have you looked over both services and made any notes on solos? What is going on during a scripture reading? Video directors, what are your primary shots? Who is leading each song? Any solos to be aware of? How are different people getting on and off stage? What does the stage look like?
Camera Ops, you are the eyes and ears of the director. Are you sitting in on the rehearsal, making notes, talking with the director to help cover shots?(not during the service) What are your primary areas of responsibility or your primary shots?
Recording Engineers, are you ready? Do you have all the blank media you need? Is everything cued and ready?
Stage managers, have you touched base with all the various parties involved? Does the soloist know when and where they are singing? Does the pastor need a podium?


I think you start to get the picture. How prepared are we? That will be our goal this year as we take the media team to the next step: more planning and preparation time for each and every service. My goal has been and will be to have a rotation of being on one week and off two. I feel this gives each team the chance to grow in their skills and gel as a team without burning out anyone. For the most part, we have honored this plan. I also have tried to respect and honor the Tuesdays prior to your scheduled weekend as not being a mandatory time to be here for rehearsal. It is the policy of the music teams that if you are not here Tuesday for rehearsal you cannot play that weekend. I’m not saying that is the case for us. Please don’t misunderstand, all I’m suggesting is that maybe it would benefit us as a team to at least have our directors here to watch and take notes. At worst we should all be here at 6:45 a.m. on Sunday for our production meeting and should be in our positions, ready to go, throughout rehearsal as if it were the service. We should be taking notes and preparing for the services.
Our goal is to always have the stage cleared by 7:45 a.m., allowing you all to meet again for ten minutes and go over any changes prior to the services starting. You should then be at your assigned position at least five minutes prior to a service start time.
I mentioned earlier how prepared we would be if the President was coming to our Sunday service. As powerful as that would be, we have a greater opportunity each and every week. Imagine being a part of a service that allows a person to accept Christ, therefore changing that person’s life forever (eternally). Obviously God is the one doing the saving and He sure doesn’t need any of us to help, but He often uses us to deliver his word or be a part of His plan in bringing people to His kingdom. I suspect that when Pastor David or any of our pastors prepare the message each week they have devoted many hours of research, study time and prayer in to what they are preaching. I also trust that the musicians and singers are preparing and even praying over their part of the service. Our worship time should start the minute we get up out of bed and should continue until we lay down at night.
The service you provide on a weekly basis is also an act of worship that is just as meaningful as the pastors and musicians. We should be as prepared and ready as they are, maybe even more so, to support and not be a distraction as they deliver what God has prepared in them. It is our job as well to eliminate distractions from the congregation and those watching from remote locations and even other countries via our duplication ministry. I appreciate all that you do and have no doubt that you strive for the excellence mentioned above. Now it’s time to step up another notch and see where God wants to lead us. We should never be done learning and always want to do better with the responsibilities He has entrusted to us.
Our walk and personal relationship with Him should be first and foremost – without that nothing else matters. He is the one true friend that will never forsake you or leave you – how awesome is that? You see He is attending every service and even sees us before, during, between, and after each service, as well as all week long, wherever we may be. Let’s step it up, prepare, plan, and be ready to do our part in the eternal work God has given use to do.