How to Involve Your Worship Team in Online Church

How are you doing right now? There have been so many changes to our role as worship leaders lately. Are you handling them okay? The first change was technical. We had to figure out how to do church online well. Then, when we all realized this would last more than a week or two, there was more of a pastoral change. We had to begin figuring out how to continually lead a church well from afar. Now, as we continue with this format, we have a leadership change – we have to figure out how to involve our worship teams in ministry.

In just a minute, we’re going to talk about 9 practical ways to start, but really it begins with worship ministries taking on a new identity: You’re no longer a band of musicians, but a team of ministers. Music ministry can no longer be only about the music. It never should have been anyway. Instead, we should be looking for ways to minister whether we use music or not. Serving as a band may not be an option right now, but serving as a team absolutely is. 

Here are some ideas for where to start:

1. Give Away Sunday Morning

What if you had someone else lead worship on Sunday morning? This might feel odd. Many of us like to keep a tight grip on things in times of uncertainty. I know I do. But it could be great for your church to be led by someone else. It could also be great for you to take a week off! And of course, it ensures that your team is ministering to your church. 

2. Record an Encouragement for Social Media

Is there someone on your team that just makes you sick with how encouraging they are? There is on my team. In fact, there has been on almost every worship team I’ve ever served on. This is a time for that person to shine! Have her record a quick encouragement for your church to post on social media. This could be anything from a scripture to a prayer to just a smile and “I’m thinking about you!” Your church will love to see her face! Do this periodically! 

3. Mid-week Worship

I’m loving seeing worship leaders get on Facebook and Instagram to lead worship. It’s been so much fun! Not only do I think you as a worship leader should do that, I think you should have different people on your team do it too. Throw in the kid who leads worship for you youth group too. I bet he’d love the opportunity! Create opportunities for your church to worship! In doing so you create opportunities for your team to lead! (not sure how? Creating opportunities what THIS POST is all about!)

4. Prayer

If there’s ever been a time for prayer ministry, it’s now. Ask a portion of your team to commit to praying for your church, specific families impacted by COVID-19 and the world every day. Prayer is probably the least flashy, but most effective ministry there is. And prayer and worship go hand in hand! Your worship team should be a prayer team too. 

5. Pastoral Care

A great way to involve your worship team in online ministry is to involve them in pastoral care. In my experience, pastoral care has much more to do with care than it does being a pastor. Ask a portion of your team to commit to reaching out to folks in your church to pray, share scripture, share an encouraging word, or even just to say hello. Have them start with a small group at a time, or a specific volunteer area, or even just let them go at random. Care for your people! I think Jesus’ instruction to “feed my sheep” is an instruction to all of us. Not just those with “pastor” in their title.

6. Teaching Moments Between Songs

If you’re pre-recording worship, this is an easy one! Have worship team members take turns sharing teaching moments between songs. They can be super short and recorded on a phone! Teaching moments are moments between songs where you teach about worship or a particular lyric. For instance, you might talk about why we lift our hands in worship or what the word “Holy” means when you’re singing “Holy is the Lord.” I love having different team members jump in for these!

7. Songwriting

If you’ve wanted to make songwriting a part of your worship ministry this is the perfect time! Ask the writers (or aspiring writers!) on your team to write about certain subjects or submit songs. Set up co-writes on FaceTime or Zoom. I even worked on a song via text and voice memos last weekend! There are all sorts of options. This is a great way to get your team thinking about your church, singing and praying over your church, and sharing with your church! 

8. Team Devotionals

Don’t let your team discipleship stop just because your rehearsals have stopped. Have different people on the team share devotionals every week. They could talk about worship, teamwork, leadership, or what they’re learning right now. This a great way to keep ministering to your team and keep your team ministering to each other. 

9. Lessons

Are there folks in your church or students in the youth group who may want to serve on the worship team later on? They could start practicing now! And your team can help them! Connect drummers with drummers, bassists with bassists, etc. to give lessons. You don’t have to press pause on growing your team! 

Have you found other ways to involve your team in online services? Let me know what they are! I’ll share them!