Details, details. Some people dig ’em, some people don’t. For some, the details for a particular project or event seem exciting. For others, the specific details in life may seem overwhelming or stressful. Some of us like for our clothes to be sorted by color and hanging in the closet with the hangers exactly one inch apart, and some of us seem to gravitate to a less organized lifestyle. There’s nothing wrong with this. We are all different, and it’s all part of God’s grand design. However, when the rubber meets the road, you find that details in life are, in fact, quite important.
So what does this have to do with worship? Well, believe it or not, there are a lot of details that go on behind the scenes of effective worship services and worship ministries. Serving as a worship administrative assistant has started opening my eyes to just how much unseen, hard work is put into cultivating a healthy worship ministry. I have learned that there are so many processes and detailed tasks that are in place to help ensure growth and efficiency within the team. The equipment doesn’t just appear on stage out of thin air, and the vocalists and instrumentalists don’t just show up on Sunday mornings ready to lead in a worship service. There is a lot of hard work that goes on to make these things happen.
You often hear statements such as, “I’m called to ministry and feel gifted to lead worship, pastor others, or reach the lost, but I’m not very good with all the administrative stuff.” Could it be that these ideas stem from the fact that details can seem overwhelming, and many of us don’t have experience in handling the behind the scenes ins and outs? Could it also have something to do with what role or position on the team appears to be more attractive?
The fact is, whether it seems to be glittering in gold or not, the details of administrative work are vital to any healthy team or organization.
If you aim to lead an organized worship rehearsal, efficiently schedule a worship team for a service, send a properly formatted email, or manage a budget, important administrative skills are involved.
For the detailed types of people, you may or may not love the fact that you’re good at making it all run behind the scenes. Guess what- you are amazing! Whatever team you are a part of would not be the same without you! You know what else? God sees every detail. He sees you and every single breath you put into serving Him. When people in my life started pointing out my administrative giftings, to be quite honest, I wasn’t exactly jumping for joy at the thoughts of unending piles of paperwork. I soon began to learn the importance and absolute necessity of such skills no matter what job I would someday have. I also realized that God handcrafted me this way, with these certain skills, for a very specific reason. I implore you, embrace your gifting. God knows best. He creates us all with such divine sovereignty and plans that have been set in place since the beginning of time. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
Do well with what God has put in your hands. Be thankful to serve God’s Kingdom in any way you can. You never know what doors God may open through your faithfulness.
For those of us who may feel we are not the detailed type, it’s okay! Take a deep breath, and don’t be overwhelmed. You’ve got this! And hey! We detailed types have a lot to learn from your giftings as well! Iron sharpens iron. You are made exactly the way God wanted you to be made. However, I would imagine you may come upon days in life where you need to create an excel document or create a detailed plan for a worship service. Take the time to find the people in your life who operate in details and learn from them. Don’t be ashamed to learn seemingly insignificant tasks. The fact is, the tasks are not insignificant if they are serving to grow God’s Kingdom.
You can look at the building of the temples in the Old Testament and quickly see that God is very into details. Why? Because He is holy.
God desires excellence, care, and diligence in our service to Him.
God is a God of order. “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace…” 1 Corinthians 14:33 (NIV)
Could it be that we sometimes try to avoid administrative tasks because they’re not very attractive and require a lot of effort? Just like God desires excellence in our worship services, he desires excellence in the details behind the scenes as well. Let’s get our hands dirty together and prepare to effectively take on our calling, no matter the task.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24