by Joe Palvado

Created on: October 15, 2009   Last Updated: October 18, 2009

Any Christian ministry must of necessity begin with prayer. Music is first and foremost God's gift to his children and God's children are readily recognizable as people who pray. Beyond prayer, one must be predisposed to perform the ministry well. I say this as I reflect on an instance early in my own music ministry whereby a small group of young and enthusiastic Christians came together and practiced in order to provide music for our church's worship services. Four out of five could carry a note, play instruments fairly well, follow the written material and generally compliment one another harmoniously. The fifth individual, filled with love for God and others, was obviously well intentioned and definitely out of place. The discordant voice was such a distraction that congregants and musicians grimaced once the singing began. Ministry of any sort must be performed by prayerful and competent ministers. One would do well to recall that while humanity may desire only God can truly inspire.

Next, music ministry must be understood as a divine gift to be revered and the music minister, after having discerned the calling to occupy such a position within the body of faithful, would do well to reflect upon the direction or path upon which God would be most pleased. Some considerations the Christian music minister must evaluate will be contextual. For instance, should the minister lead worship services or provide inspirational solace to the poor, the infirm or the elderly who are otherwise deprived of congregational worship? Should the ministry include like minded individuals or is the calling a solitary avocation? Is the minister called as a musical evangelist who serves a broad spectrum of audiences or is he or she called to support a little flock? Is the ministry to be more liturgical or informal? Is the minister spiritually prepared to meet with success if called to a larger stage or is the minister spiritually mature enough to understand that Christian music ministry exists principally to support and affirm the gospel proclamation?

Beyond the critically essential elements of competence and discernment, the Christian minister should be well disposed to practice and wait. God's gifts oftentimes grow through devotion and devotion requires patient endurance. God will open the door only when the faithful is prepared to enter. Rest assured, authentic Christian ministry of any type or kind is orchestrated by Almighty God. The loss of vision regarding this all important reality will most assuredly diminish the gift.

Finally, the Christian music minister is called to holiness. Christian music ministry is a wonderful calling. Not only does the minister experience personal satisfaction in the sharing of the gift. The body of faithful, called to worship, praise, and plead with their sovereign Lord, respond to the music sometimes with exuberance, sometimes with tears, sometimes with jubilation and sometimes with inexplicable sorrow, the music minister having fulfilled his or her role. By serving God and neighbor, the Christian music minister has assisted in the facilitation of bringing heaven and earth together to sing and play harmoniously.

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