The Worshiper’s Call to Ministry

 It was on a Sunday night in late 1970 or early 1971 at Ballast Point Baptist Church in Tampa, Fla. I was a young boy. A gospel quartet was leading us in worship. I don’t remember the song, but I do remember what I heard: “You are going to do this for Me.” The statement was not a question or a plea. It was a matter-of-fact command.

Two years earlier, I had put my trust in Jesus Christ, but I had no thought of what I was going to do when I grew up. I was 9 years old, and God pursued me! What I heard that night was a distinct call of God. I understood that call to be for me to lead His people to worship Him.

I believe all children of God have been called to be ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ and to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). In the last 60 years or so, churches have hired more and more “professional ministers” to do the work of the church in specific areas. There are ministers of music, worship, education, children, youth, activities, discipleship, senior adults, administration, etc. All of these are very good positions in the church, but many of the “regular members” have employed the excuse that, since the church pays someone to do that job, they don’t have to do it themselves. I don’t believe this has ever been the intention of any church. God has equipped us all with specific gifts that need to be used in the church to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). Vocational church staff members are there to organize and encourage us all in the ministry.

But what about the person who is being prompted by the Holy Spirit to surrender his or her life to worship ministry? The experience must begin with a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ and a desire to follow Him wherever He may lead. Within that relationship should be an urging of the Holy Spirit to focus on a specific area of worship ministry within the body of Christ. (My spiritual gifts are exhortation and administration, and they fit perfectly with my worship ministry position.)

Next, the called person must prepare by studying, rehearsing, ministering, interning and growing spiritually in order to be ready when the time comes to go to work.

My concern is this: Although there are many musicians in the church today who have a lot of talent, some churches mistake that talent for worship leadership. Just because someone can play a guitar, has a nice voice and looks cool, it doesn’t necessarily mean that person should be a worship leader. In many churches, the song leader has simply been the choir member with the best voice. He or she was seldom thought of as the minister of music—just the choir director or the song leader.

I am not advocating that those who do not have a call to vocational worship ministry should not be involved in worship ministry. However, worship ministry is more than just music. As important as musical talent is in worship ministry, it is not nearly as important as the “ministry” part of worship ministry. When I decided to go back to school after earning my master’s degree in music, I was thrilled to find out I could further my education in the area of worship ministry rather than just studying more music. Today, all of our Baptist schools are offering some type of worship ministry degree.

Each person’s call is unique. It may be a Damascus Road experience like the one I experienced on that Sunday night some 43 years ago. More likely, it will be a growing realization that God is preparing one for a life of vocational service in the ministry. Whatever the case, it is important that we be obedient to God’s call (and not a desire to be on stage).

— David Satterwhite is minister of music at Roebuck Baptist Church in Spartanburg County.