What Taya Smith of Hillsong knows about leading worship

 If anyone knows anything about leading P&W, Taya Smith does! The following is what she posted to the Hillsong Worship Website:

1. The difference between preparing and not preparing is MASSIVE.
Apart from knowing the songs and learning the lyrics, setting aside time to prepare my heart before God is the most important thing — it allows the Holy Spirit to speak, puts a verse on my heart, and gives me ideas.

Setting aside time to prepare my heart before God is the most important thing...

2. Receive constructive feedback.
From those around you who have been doing this for longer than you. I want to lead people the best way I can each time, plus I don’t know everything so I need to remain humble and teachable. SEE ALSO: 10 THINGS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT LEADING A CREATIVE TEAM (#11 IS MY FAVOURITE)
3. Have a plan.
If you don’t play an instrument, grab the Music Director, or a musician and together, figure out the keys of the songs you’ve chosen, any potential creative moments you might have, specific transitions, etc. That way you have a plan in place that has been practiced, but you also have flexibility to change if you feel to do so.
4. Have an opinion.
Especially if you’re a co-worship leader. When the senior worship leader asks you what you think of a song, idea, or moment – have something to contribute! You could have a great idea that no one has thought of yet.
5. Run your song list by someone else.
I always get a second eye to look over my list, just to make sure it’s the strongest and most relevant it can be. This can mean you may need to tailor a song list to a specific service and then tweak it slightly for the next one.
6. Don’t strive when you lead, but don’t step back either.
Lead with the authority that has been given to you. Yes, there is a spiritual weight to the platform, which includes the responsibility we have to lead people to Jesus, but lead confidently knowing you’ve been given the platform and entrusted by your pastors.
7. You will have a train wreck and you will be okay.
A close friend and mentor told me this and a week later, I had a beauty! Don’t stress – it keeps you humble and you learn from it, plus they make for great stories!
8. Watch, listen and learn every chance you get.
We never graduate from learning.
9.  Your primary service to the church is to lead them to the presence of God.
Don’t think for a second that worship leading is your moment to shine or preach, especially when you are taking ‘the gap’.  If it adds to the service and allows you to arrest the atmosphere, then do it; but if it takes away from Jesus and what your primary purpose is, leave it out.
10. Be yourself.
You are unique and God speaks to each of us differently, so lead accordingly. God has put something on your life, so lead from that place.
love, Taya

 

Going Hillsong

Since my post about the Hillsong movie seems to be pretty popular, I thought maybe I'd do a little series related to the Hillsong phenomenon.

To be honest, I know the name Hillsong, I know a little about the churches, and that the worship band is extremely popular, but I couldn't name one of their songs. Nonetheless, I'm very excited about their upcoming movie Let Hope Rise because I think its wonderful that a documentary about a worship team with a great message is going mainstream.

Surely, Hillsong has been mainstream for years and I have been a bit oblivious to it. I decided to listen to some of their songs just because I should, as a worship leader.

Their vibe is reminiscent to Coldplay. It sounds like liquid gold. It's contemporary, but not especially trendy. It's lyric-forward. It's worship-forward. It's rock-star-like without the rock-star showiness. It seems sincere and humble. I kinda love them.

Even though I love what I've heard, it's hard for me to picture my uber urban congregation embracing the songs wholeheartedly without force-feeding it. Our congregation, when they listen to Christian music at large, primarily listens to gospel. But maybe this is just my brain going straight to all the reasons why something won't work.

Yes, that's exactly what just happened!

I think what I'll do is find a song that I think will work and give it a try. I'll update you guys later in the year on this.

Blessings!

P.S. Before anyone thinks or says it, I'd just like to add that there are a lot of people who attend small churches, living in their own niche who are not up on a lot of music in the Christian genre. Conversely, there are a lot of people who attend large/popular churches, living in their own niche who are not up on Gospel music. It's all love! We are one!

Hillsong goes Hollywood... check out the trailer

Typically praise and worship, gospel, and christian music is enjoyed in a car, at a church, at a music festival, or via outlets like YouTube or Pandora. Sometimes there's a concert at a small venue (typically a church). But, for the first time ever, christian music is hitting Tinsel Town!

Hillsong United is coming to the big screen later this year in Let Hope Rise. Fade to Black director, Michael John Warren, is flipping the script to cover the christian band and its rise to christian music stardom. 

Grab yo kids, grab yo wife... make it a church field trip. Let's get out and support Hillsong United!

Coming to a U.S theater near you September 30, 2015.