Play me a song Mr. Pianoman

“So what is your vision for the future of the music ministry?”  I looked up from my latte just in time to make eye contact.  Too soon.  He caught the glimmer in my eye and the slight smirk that had just betrayed my heretofore stoic facade.  I’d been asked this question before… and he knew it.

Six months ago our Music Minister told me he was leaving.  It was a late summer evening and we were in the building alone.

“I know.” 

The surprise was clearly evident on his face.  He had tried so hard to keep it under cover but ultimately had failed.  I’d actually known for months.  The reality is, most people have a hard time hiding a job search from employers and coworkers.  He’d done admirably, but like most of us, the truth soon catches up to us.  It would be nice in church work if we could be more honest and open about these things, but the reality is that typical church climate doesn’t really allow for such unabashed honesty… so we hide such things for as long as we can. 

This event catapulted our church into a nationwide search for God’s next man. 

And here I was, several months later, interviewing the young man we’d chosen out of an overwhelming number of applicants as the most promising candidate.  The question hung loosely in the air between us.

“So what is your vision for the future of the music ministry?”

It was one of the easiest questions I’ve answered in a long time.  I’d been asked that question a lot lately by those with a vested interest in our music search, and it is a great question.  It drives directly to the core issues that need considered in a staff search such as this.  While staff transitions offer an opportunity to make changes to the status quo, it also opens a church up to the possibility of straying from morings that should instead be held fast.

Often, it is the best of times and the worst of times.

Yet, I dream…

I dream of a music ministry that is less interested in leading in worship and more interested in being lead worshippers.  I dream of music that creates a vibrancy in the church, drawing all those who hear it closer to the God who can be known.  I dream of a music minister who’s references speak of his character and heart above all else.  I dream of music that is both cutting edge yet rooted in the rich history of church tradition.  I dream of a worship experience where I lose myself in the message of Christ and the overwhelming love of the father, a place where the prodigal is always welcome and the older brother is softened to repentance.  I dream of a music ministry that doesn’t take itself too seriously but is willing to open itself up for guidance and direction.  I dream of a music ministry understands it is ‘one of many’ in the ministries of the church.  I dream of a music ministry that other churches look to and long to model themselves after.

In short, I dream of a church music experience led by those who would rather follow, but allow God to use their talents to be a part of crafted worship experiences that bring people closer to the transcendant Father in Heaven who is always seeking to redeem and repair his fallen creation, drawing them ever closer unto Himself.

THAT is my dream.

So I broke the silence with the young man who would soon accept the offer we were about to make, “Funny you should ask that question… I’ve been getting it a lot lately…”