One one hand, our job as church leaders is to feed sheep… But if people were as easy to feed as sheep ministry would be a whole lot easier. Unlike sheep, people are sometimes hard to love, especially when they take up the role of food critic and arrive with their note pad and pen instead of their knife and fork.

On the other hand, like any good restaurant, a church can sometimes fall into the trap of serving the same specialty dishes without realizing that what’s coming out of the kitchen is getting a little stale.

Having another food buff come in with a fresh palate can help resonate fresh, new life into your recipe, delivery, and serving staff, leaving people hungering for more. At Slingshot Group, we’re a little more sensitive than your average food critic, but just as discerning in aiming and coaching your ministry towards excellence.

Sure, some sheep just can’t be pleased, some people may need to find another place to eat. Your job is to prepare the best feast you can with the unique ingredients God has given you.

He’s already been to the supermarket.

- Tim Foot | Worship & Tech Arts Lead

I grew up Southern Baptist… and I am really thankful for my up-bringing and the heritage I come from. Though it definitely has it’s failings, I was taught the Bible like you would never believe! And I was raised by parents who lived out their faith and prayed like crazy! And I never heard language associated with liturgy or the Christian Calendar. I was never subjected to dark, reflective spaces, candles, the Book of Common Prayer, or any other ancient rituals that compelled you to pray with your whole body.

Now Baptists definitely have their own rituals and language, but that’s another conversation. =)

In hindsight, perhaps I would not have the appreciation for liturgical worship I do now had I grown up with it. Over-exposure to anything tends to create baggage. Still, I feel like I missed out on something.

One who is not familiar with liturgical worship (like me) could tend to think that anything having to do with “ritual” in church is about as exciting as watching paint dry. Plus, we’re all about “out of the box” worship…and yet “liturgy” could easily pass as the biggest, oldest box in the room! We’re supposed to be moving forward, not backward! Right?!

You already know where this is headed. And of course, the argument can be made that the “grass is always greener on the other side.” And I wouldn’t argue with that. Church culture is an ever swinging pendulum driven by lust & desire for what’s on “the other side.” We never seem to be satisfied, so we keep filling that gaping black-hole in our hearts with the latest toys, gimmicks & trends (& liturgies) instead of the One Who Satisfies.

But what I’m learning with “liturgy” and “modern worship” is that there can be a fresh, contextualized “both/and” approach. It’s not about forsaking the old, but adding onto it and taking what you are already doing to a deeper place. And I’m not talking about a “blended” approach either, where you strive to keep a balance in order to please everyone, resulting in a water-down experience of ancient chanting, a few hymns, then followed up by some contemporary music to attract the “young people.”  What I’m talking about & have experienced myself is a passion-fueled, artistic & theologically rich narrative of worship that breathes life into my soul and opens my eyes to the mysteries of the Unseen God. Something that goes way beyond the popular yet shallow liturgy of a few pop-worship songs & a feel good sermon about better living.

“It’s about learning to worship in ‘spirit and in truth.’ The uncomfortable truth is that ‘the way we worship and pray is the way we believe is the way we live’ (or, in Latin, if you prefer: Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi.)” – Glenn Packiam on the liturgy

Don’t even get me started on visual worship & how this applies to our eyes & what we see.

I wish I could put into words what it was like when I celebrated the Eucharist with a room full of worship pastors, artists & mentors last year. Ian Cron was leading our retreat, which culminated in one of the richest & most moving times of Communion I’ve ever had. Words simply cannot begin to describe it. Like visual worship, the power of liturgical worship (when curated & led well) can’t be described with words or even pictures; it can only be experienced.

And for the curious of us that are leading others, it’s best to first experience liturgy for ourselves and get some familiarity before leading it out. This applies to everything. So I want to introduce to you what I’m calling “the gateway drug” for liturgy.  =)

[READ THE REST ON WORSHIPVJ.COM] 

Stephen Proctor | Slingshot Associate

- Monty Kelso | Slingshot Principal

1. What is Slingshot Group?
We are a group of people who love God and His bride, The Church! As “creatives” with lots of church experience we long to see the church thrive in the 21st century. To be a place that fulfills God’s heart for what The Church should be. And we believe that art is a vital component to that. We want to help The Church get it right! So we help churches determine, among other categories, their worship and arts strategy and structure…and then we help them find the right staff to get it done. So we’re more than “head hunters”. We consider ourselves coaches, curators, and connectors of people.

2. In your opinion, what is the stage of worship in the church now-a-days?
Ever morphing. The unlimited access churches have to trends and tools is a game changer. There-in lies the opportunity and the challenge. Without people in the church who are savvy at what does and doesn’t CONNECT with an audience, art can be a disaster in a church context. We must grapple with the tension of what we like and what serves the greater mission. In essence the art is not the object in and of itself. God is. We lose sight of that so easily as we sometimes out run the church’s capacity to “get it”. The good news is that we have seen exponential progress in the church’s receptivity to art as a conduit to worship expression. Now, we as creatives, must steward this privilege, by the Grace of God, with brilliance! And this brilliance is best realized in those churches who gladly embrace the next generations of artists. A church where inter-generational collaboration is embraced will live long and thrive!

3. Has technology helped or hindered the worship experience?
Overall it has helped us immensely. People long to experience God. They want to feel that God is with them. And many times this feeling is accessed through the senses as God’s story is revealed. But it’s a razor’s edge journey in most church. Without skillful implementation of technology it can be a disaster. This is one of the major things we are trying to help churches understand. Without skillful artists and technicians we become an embarrassment in our attempts to be 21st century current or cool. So we encourage churches to re-think the way they allocate resources both in tools and staff.

4. Where do you see the future of worship headed?
We have to keep it real! Understanding that worship is “ascribing worth” to God…or a response of gratitude for what He has done, implies that we have to be aware! Awareness of how God is operating in the here and now and what he is doing is foundational to a true worship experience. As architects of creativity in the church, we must first be about perpetuating the story of God’s presence. Our pre-occupation with “story” is really about raising the worth of God within people who easily forget. If life change and transformation is the greatest apologetic (evidence of God) of the age, then what better preoccupation for artists and teachers then to tell the stories of how God is redeeming brokenness in extraordinary ways…a sure fire way to ignite authentic worship…in and outside the walls of the church building.
To facilitate this, it’s clear that the screen is the secret weapon we must learn to leverage. We, as a culture, are fixated on visual stimulus. It’s been proven to dominate what we hear. It’s becoming evident the church will spend more money on visual media and environment over the coming years than it does on all things musical combined. Digital media will “take the lid” off of what we have known in a worship experience. Check out worshipvj.com and click on the “service” and “gallery” tabs to learn about what it means to be a visual worship leader. So very cool!

5. Do you think it is important for the church to be culturally relevant on a national level or just within the local community?
The gospel message is to begin at home and then reach beyond. If a church is effective locally then it seems natural that it will have a further reach. A visionary pastor will always see beyond what “is”. As long as churches are about the fame of Christ and His message, attempts to be culturally relevant are good. If the pursuit of relevancy becomes a twisted motivation to build the glory of man we are destined to fail.

The crazy part about taking on this kind of ‘in and out’ approach to our lives is that we miss the opportunity to lay roots. When you don’t lay roots, life can become little more than constantly questioning, ‘where should I be?’ Often, we want God to give us more of whatever it is we desire deep in our heart. We start praying things like, ‘give me more influence,’ ‘bless me financially,’ ‘give me more leadership in my job,’ etc. What is interesting is that we’ll even quote a famous scripture when we want something from God like Psalm 37:4 ; ‘Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desire of your heart.’ Pretty simple right?

A few weeks back I was at a gathering of Worship Leaders and the moderator handed Psalm 37 out to us in its entirety. As I began to read it, I was struck by the verses preceding and following the promise in verse 4. The verse, in context, reads as follows:

Psalm 37:3-5
3Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

4Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.

5Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

There is a common theme in this passage… laying roots. This passage keeps on coming back to me as I consider the things I really want to do with my life and ministry. In summary, here’s what I pull from this passage:

1. TRUST GOD = ultimately.  This is what matters most and is what God is looking for from us.

2. DWELL IN THE LAND & CULTIVATE FAITHFULNESS = Lay roots and be wherever you are RIGHT NOW. In vocational life I would say this is reminding us to stick around where we are…FOR A WHILE. Push through the tough stuff. Humble yourself while earning trust and respect within a community for the season God has you there. Sometimes God’s intent for ‘the season’ isn’t the breaking point where you feel ready to give up and move on. Often His invitation is for us to stick around and work it out. I believe, in general, we give up to quickly when things get hard without remembering that some of God’s best character/leadership building takes place when we CANNOT do it and it has to be HIM in us! It’s also the season in which He is often preparing us most for our’ next.’ Stick it out, YOU CAN DO IT!!

3. DELIGHT YOURSELF IN CHIRST = In whatever it is you are called to in this season…give it your all and do it with joy, gratitude, and the servant attitude of Christ. Some of us need to stop taking ourselves and our work too seriously and learn to laugh a little bit more throughout our day!

4. WATCH GOD WORK= As you lay roots, cultivate faithfulness and find joy in the midst of it. You can almost be certain that God will bless the pure desire in your heart and life.

5. UNLEASH YOUR WAYS FOR HIS WAYS = Whatever you think it is that YOU want to do, commit it to God and remind yourself that His way is always better.

6. FAITH BEGETS PROMISE= When we find ourselves abandoned to God’s desire/plan for our lives/ministry and entrust it to Him, He will absolutely blow our minds with the way in which He desires to use us in and out of what we could have EVER imagined!

So, in light of Psalm 37:3-5, May you be reminded to ‘BE WHERE YOU ARE’ and watch God blow your mind as He works in and through your faithful life!

Brian Wurzell | Slingshot Associate

The second installment of the monthly podcast from Group is HERE! This month’s episode features David Kinnaman, President of the Barna Group and author of You Lost Me: Why Young Christians are Leaving the Church…and ReThinking Faith. Thought provoking, balanced, with multiple generations represented, this is a MUST LISTEN for those  concerned with  reaching the next generation and sustaining the Church through the 21st Century.. Listen/Download now on iTunes and spread the word by using the social media tabs on the left!

Believe it or not, this was the first version of the iPhone Apple came up with way back in 1983.

The idea wouldn’t reach market fruition until 2007, but when it did the result was cataclysmic!

Just think about all the industries one invention alone has created – from cases, and screen protectors, to apps and credit card readers – the iPhone is living proof that innovation begets innovation.

But what eventually changed the world began as a clunky, “out-there” prototype, a dream that seemed ridiculous to many… implausible to all but a few.

At Slingshot Group, our deepest desire is to see the Church ebb and flow its way through the 21st Century, healthy and thriving. When it comes to strategy, staffing, and sustainability, the Bride of Christ is most beautiful when it shifts from a finite perspective to an eternal one. Apple had the foresight to see a product through from clunky concept to culture-shifting fruition that lasted over a  twenty year period! They developed it, molded it, adapted with it, failed over and over again, but  patiently trusted  the process. When we are willing to begin a journey in tandem with the Spirit that considers the clunky, the weird, the new, the youthful, and, yes…even the contradicting,  we really embark on God’s mission to usher in his Kingdom past relevancy and toward sustainability.

Today’s misfits are tomorrow’s world-shapers.  Where do you see them and what part are you playing? Shaper?  Nay-sayer? Developer? Ignorer? Adapter? Lets ask these kinds of questions often. Our sustainability depends on it.

I’ve also noticed that the Believers in Jesus I know that are energized, about the work of the Kingdom, and diligently listening to the voice of God to lead them every day, aren’t nearly as worried about these trends as I once thought they should be.

Then, and hopefully now, I, am more rooted, less inclined to step off the trail to chase a rabbit and more about keeping my hand to the plow.

“Here’s a Len Sweet word for me today:

“Some of the most relevant things are not the most recent, but the most ancient. Without a historical sense, or the spiritual discipline of historical context, there’s confusion between keeping relevant and just keeping up. We have to be in touch with the culture, but in tune with the Spirit.”

Michael Adler | Slingshot Associate

In most cases, worship leaders don’t get hired because they have great management skills. They get hired because of their musical gifting, their ability to connect with a congregation and perhaps some special skills important to any given church. (I’m fairly certain cool hair is hidden on every worship leader’s job description.) That being the case, it only makes sense that most novice worship pastors experience a decent amount of frustration and difficulty when it comes to certain areas of ministry. This article is about the ministry responsibility I shirked for the first five years of my ministry:  confrontation.  I hope those of you who share my “conflict-a-phobia “ will take these words to heart and understand that loving confrontation can set you FREE!

I’ll pick an example every worship pastor can relate to—the grumpy sound guy. I’ve had one at every church.  He knows a lot about “tech” stuff.  He could probably dismantle and reassemble your soundboard. His mixing ear may not be the best, but he’s been a sound guy at your church for the last twenty years, so what can you do? When he’s on sound, he barks at the musicians, especially the drummer. Sound familiar? I wouldn’t know what to tell the guy. My only options seemed to be to ignore him and pretend like it’s not a problem or ask him to stop being so grumpy and risk having him quit along with four other families in the church who are already disgruntled.

I wasn’t more than a year into my most recent ministry, when I stumbled upon another grumpy sound guy.  One Sunday, my guitarist was having a hard time hearing himself. In sound check, he kept requesting to boost his level, and the sound engineer was seemingly unresponsive. I finally went back to see what the deal was. The engineer was furious.  “The stage volume is too hot. I can’t turn him up anymore and the mix already sounds like garbage.” Trying to calm him down, I asked him to zero out the monitors in order to re-build the monitor mix with stage volume in mind (sometimes volume perpetuates volume). We tried, but after about ten more minutes, he threw his hands in the air, left his station, and sat down on a chair. Needless to say, the whole band and vocal team was shaken.

After this display, I was forced to deal with a problem I had been hoping to avoid forever. As I walked into our meeting, I remembered a tactic for confrontation that my uncle (a therapist) offered me—always ask for permission before confrontation. I started with these words: “Can I be perfectly honest with you or would you prefer I sugar coat it?” Of course, he told me to be honest. He added how much he values true honesty. “It seems like every time you are on the board, you’re unhappy.“ I said.“Why is that?” 

After that, I resisted the urge to talk and just…listened.  It turned out he had a few reasons for being upset, but the biggest reason was he felt like he wasn’t enjoying it anymore. His hearing was going and the new music wasn’t fun for him to mix. He was used to choirs and electronic drums.  After he had finished, I said, “It sounds like this ministry isn’t a good fit for you anymore. Would you agree?”  And he did.  Thinking about that guitar player, I realized something.  By not confronting this issue, I was putting this one sound guy above everyone else on my team. I was sacrificing the all for the one, and not even for his good, but to pacify him. Not a good leadership example, by the way.

We walked out of that meeting on the same page. He felt better and a weight on my shoulders had been lifted. He was freed up to do things that were more in line with his gifting and I was free to pursue someone who was passionate about sound engineering. Why did I ever run from this? Two years later and I’m running the best sound crew I’ve ever had at the smallest church I’ve ever worked for.

Healthy confrontation should be a normal part of ANY church leader’s life. If used in the right context with a good amount of love, confrontation can be one of the most effective leadership tools in our bag. Don’t run from it. Strive to be as loving and honest as possible and your ministry will reap the benefits.

When was the last time you had to confront someone in leadership? How did it go?

 - Brandon Pasion | Worship Leader

Brandon Pasion started leading worship more than 10 years ago starting at 18 years old. He currently leads worship events around the nation in addition to his local church in Brentwood, CA. As a young leader, he has had the challenge of leading volunteers and staff members far beyond his own age and experience. Now well into his career as a worship pastor, Brandon continues to hone his skills as he “leads up”. For more information on Brandon, please visit brandonpasion.com