tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830627504555318986.post1149555499651201740..comments2018-08-18T22:59:57.590-04:00Comments on WRITER'S BLOCK: The Virus Of The StageCharlie Hineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05684296597681018271noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830627504555318986.post-63173000485537334342018-04-22T22:53:05.673-04:002018-04-22T22:53:05.673-04:00Bro, I love your honesty and transparency... '...Bro, I love your honesty and transparency... 'when the music fades, and all is stripped away, and I simply come...' that's worshipCrisbajhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11026973492742615776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830627504555318986.post-46333926706277166952018-04-22T17:31:29.084-04:002018-04-22T17:31:29.084-04:00I have gone through what you went through, in a di...I have gone through what you went through, in a different setting. <br />It is really hard, when the stage is not there...<br />Dealing with that, can be very confusing!<br />Evah GachanjaEvah, from KENYAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12386887539743959191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830627504555318986.post-28975767522207888572018-04-20T09:40:54.264-04:002018-04-20T09:40:54.264-04:00Charlie,
After teaching high school music for 22 y...Charlie,<br />After teaching high school music for 22 years and then teaching Music Ministry in a Christian college for 6 years, and all that time leading worship at various churches as a volunteer, I decided to go into full-time worship ministry at a church. After 15 years of that, I retired from a large church 4 years ago now. And while I can understand what you wrote, I did not have that experience (nor would anyone else really - because we all are unique and different from each other). After several years of me as the lone worship leader, plus some volunteers we hired another worship leader (younger of course), but I stayed on. That whole first year I kept saying to him, "What do you want me to do now, boss." He was leading the team now not me. As the changes came, and they DID, the one thing I kept reminding myself was, I needed to hold on to things 'loosely'. Where did I learn this concept, I learned it from the lead pastor and other ministers in the church. I see a lot of your experience in other churches also. I see this as the main fault of the church leaders. It seems like they are not wanting to as you put it "to facilitate a God-focused worship experience and stay out of God's way." While that may sound like it is a worship leaders job, in reality it is the responsibility of every leader in God's church. I see the problem as methods got in the way of principles. And I see this problem in a lot of churches. <br />I went from full-time to part-time, so how did I handle that? I was always in on the planning and programming part of the job. I saw my job as becoming more of a servant-leader. What could I do to help others do their job better. But all that, (that way of thinking, that way of leadership) I believe comes down from the lead pastor and the elders of the church. <br />So what am I doing now after 4 years retired? Still playing and singing, go to a planning meeting when I want to, and with the experience I had at being a worship leader and teacher, I started a ministry to help worship leaders and their teams become better at what they do. And help the church become more aware of what true worship is. <br />What do I tell older worship leaders who may find themselves in a similar situation? <br />Hold on to your gifts loosely.<br />It's not about you.<br />Be a servant-leader by helping others do their job better.<br />Be an encourager.<br />Be a listener.<br />And then find a hobby! :) <br />Blessings,<br />John<br />Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16223574094377519262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830627504555318986.post-13531764334681737952018-04-17T19:21:31.364-04:002018-04-17T19:21:31.364-04:00Great words, Charlie. Beyond proud of you and am ...Great words, Charlie. Beyond proud of you and am right alongside of you. Went from big to small and back to big and have seen and experienced it all over a 24 year Worship Pastor "career".<br /><br />Now being a Lead Pastor (2 years into it) I am leading like I was never led. Leading from a position of exalting the team. Pushing for their very best while avoiding the "appearance of" or a performance style. Genuine, inspirational, connecting to God first and then others. We can't lead where we have not been. This is where God has led me and this is where I lead my team to. <br /><br />From afar you have been an inspiration to me and I am sure many others. You responded to a random email I sent years ago and I have respected you and your leadership before and especially because of that response. You were genuine and humble. It meant a lot to me. <br /><br />Excited for you and praying for you. May God bless your future greater than you ever had in your past and may God bless your family like never before.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15560186848493057947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830627504555318986.post-85235206410281846182018-04-16T23:08:01.368-04:002018-04-16T23:08:01.368-04:00Charlie,
I am so sorry for the struggle you have...Charlie, <br /><br />I am so sorry for the struggle you have endured. I moved away before Dave and Joe left, and I called that big church my home church for many years after I moved. God finally got through to me and I stopped listening to the messages about a year ago (I didn't miss a single one before this). That church was a very big blessing that transitioned me into an incredible new part of my spiritual journey, and it breaks my heart to know even the small amount I know about events and "transitions" since I left. <br /><br />Charlie, I was there when you became the worship leader, and I hope you know that your heart was visible then and you blessed me - and countless others - over the years. And I know your heart is visible again now. Please protect that no matter what, because it's a heart that loves our Lord. I pray for continued healing for you.Angela Moyers Glickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12552184610789786750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830627504555318986.post-65180843665603717012018-04-16T19:31:58.924-04:002018-04-16T19:31:58.924-04:00Well said. Thank you for sharing. I would add that...Well said. Thank you for sharing. I would add that tech team leaders often go through similar experiences and the heartfelt emotions that go with it. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05117216738152093455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830627504555318986.post-50693584338192576932018-04-16T15:00:55.028-04:002018-04-16T15:00:55.028-04:00Thanks Charlie for your transparency and for shari...Thanks Charlie for your transparency and for sharing your story. We were at VCC when you first became worship leader. I always was so blessed by your humility and sincere worship of our loving Father. You also sought to encourage others to use their talents. The Lord did use you in my life to lead my heart to worship. Thank you for that gift! Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02238713861283477631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830627504555318986.post-21598020214120379332018-04-16T14:35:23.069-04:002018-04-16T14:35:23.069-04:00Great words Charlie. I think many of us look aroun...Great words Charlie. I think many of us look around and wonder what has happened to the Church. I have never been in a really large situation as you were but many of us from smaller place know we cannot compete with the big productions...and that is a problem. We are not supposed to compete by consumerism drives church growth...not an experience with God. Just an experience...I remember being with you at a small conference and I saw the frustration of a worship leader that really wanted to lead worship...not perform. Good stuff..I will be looking for more...billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09216496135236072067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830627504555318986.post-63529647401513655952018-04-16T00:33:00.548-04:002018-04-16T00:33:00.548-04:00Wow, Charlie. Thanks for sharing your heart and yo...Wow, Charlie. Thanks for sharing your heart and your story.Mark Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10632379230860291668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830627504555318986.post-44938374052986138032018-04-15T23:42:37.934-04:002018-04-15T23:42:37.934-04:00Hey Charlie,
Mike here... I have lived out every d...Hey Charlie,<br />Mike here... I have lived out every detail you shared. It hurts my heart to see so many pushed aside that poured out their hearts for years.<br /><br />For me, Having to lead worship and constantly wonder if it was acceptable to the pastors in the front row made my stomach curl. It was all intended for God in the first place.<br /><br />It broke my heart to be brought into the office and told that I was not to sing any songs that spoke of shouting or dancing because the pastors didn't want to deal with what may happen. <br /><br />I was later told that he wanted the songs to be exactly like the record. (where is the atmosphere of worship when you have to perform a song?)<br /><br />After being removed from the post of worship pastor, because of aging out, I was allowed to lead worship, but I wasn't allowed to applaud my Lord because I was being distracting to others who needed to be able to hear the click track. I was also told not to free worship or sing anything during the instrumental parts because I was interrupting the little voice that told everyone when to sing the verse and chorus.<br /><br />My last time leading I was confronted with being totally disrespectful for not wanting to use the click for one of the songs (because I wanted to just play one song without the click to actually be able to worship).<br /><br />Any sense of "worship" had been removed for the "show" and I honestly felt a sense of the Lord leaving the building...<br /><br />I since have moved away and have found a new home where the Lord comes first, the Spirit of worship reigns and I've been able to freely express what God has poured into me in the first place... to lead people to His throne (and using your words that have been my own words for 20 years) and get out of the way. Worship is alive and well and His Spirit is breathing in this new found home...<br /><br />Thank you for sharing your heart, which so many of us have felt and lived through and had no voice to share. Bless you, man of God. <br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15661293471934966636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830627504555318986.post-52633150211977057482018-04-15T22:31:03.592-04:002018-04-15T22:31:03.592-04:00Charlie, I am a member of that very big congregati...Charlie, I am a member of that very big congregation. I still love it there. It is God who sends the peace down into my heart when I sit down in that North balcony. But, it was you who sent him there 8 years ago when I came in on a whim, just looking for peace. I miss Joe and Dave. I REALLY miss you. I volunteer at the Healing center and that does my heart good. But, I need to go into church on Sunday and feel that tingle and cry. The holy spirit sustained me and kept me excited about getting to church again next Sunday<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17682374743247470813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4830627504555318986.post-76715129049517334052018-04-15T22:10:21.734-04:002018-04-15T22:10:21.734-04:00"The corporate office" can be found in t..."The corporate office" can be found in the most unlikely places. Will always be glad to call you friend.MLBobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06146934532780940804noreply@blogger.com