Creating Community VS. Recruiting Bodies; a Better Way to Build Tech Arts & Worship Teams

Recruiting artists (musicians, singers, techs, etc) is not effective using the traditional methods churches have employed for decades. Announcements from the stage, volunteer drives or bulletin blurbs might get a person or two occasionally, but rarely do you get qualified or trainable people from those appeals. Recruiting creative or technical artists requires more than a simple "we need you, please serve."

Instead of simply trying to recruit artists to perform a function, focus on the heart and the desire of artists in order to get them to join and stay with me.

Nearly all artists want four things:

1. They want to be personally loved and connected to other artists (even introverts need this).
2. They want to feel like their art is making a difference.
3. They want to contribute to a great cause (but with a clearly defined role and time commitment).
4. They want to feel that their art is accepted (as in an acceptable sacrifice).

These four concepts literally changed how I did ministry and how I brought others in to come alongside me. Once I understood the impact of these four concepts, I had to implement ways to infuse those concepts into my creative and technical arts ministry.

Concept 1 – Create a Community of Artists

There's something about the Bible, food and praying together and for one another that really helps create that sense of community. Meet as a team 30 minutes before service to have some breakfast and do a short Bible study and pray for one another. Do a short meet up after services to discuss anything that needed to be addressed, but mainly to pray over the team before leaving. With regular, quality interactions as a group your team will grow closer together. Don't only serve together, but share your lives, spiritual lessons and each others burdens. Your team will become its own community of tech artists living life together.

Concept 2 – Making a Difference

Artists have a longing within them to make a difference. Christian artists share a desire to make a difference for God through art. As arts leaders we need to not only encourage artists to serve God with what He gave them, but help them see the difference they make in church. As leaders we often forget to encourage those serving alongside us with the stories of lives that have changed because of the work we do.

All artists, not just leaders, need to hear of changed lives, whether it's an email to a Pastor on staff, a baptism service or simply a time of testimony. Share these wins with your artists as it will provide motivation and inspiration for even better and more impacting art.

Concept 3 – The Cause

With your team, brainstorm everything that your ministry currently does and wants to do in the future. It is important for the team to know what the whole ministry is already doing and where the whole ministry needs to go. It isn't just about the video people, or the audio or the lighting. This is the grand vision for the entire team.

Next, discuss what the minimum commitment from every person on the team should be, and what staff and leaders have to commit to for volunteers. This volunteer commitment covers things like expecting to serve once every three weeks, being on time for the production meeting, replacing yourself if you have to cancel, attending occasional full team social gatherings, etc. The discussion of what should be expected of the leaders included training, effective communication of changes/needs, job descriptions for each position and leaders that aren't too busy to care for team members.

Then, chart out how many people it will take to fill every role of both the current and future/dream needs if everyone serves once every three weeks. With this vision and organization chart nailed down and communicated, grow your team time to meet those needs. Your people will know exactly where you are short-handed, see the job description of the needed spots and can quickly step in. Anytime someone asks about involvement, have this information ready to share and find their fit within your ministry.

Concept 4 – Being Accepted

Artists in general, and technical artists for sure, tend to have difficulty accepting and encouraging each other. Whether tech or musician, writer or singer, we tend to be judgmental perfectionists who are quicker to point out the faults than we are to encourage, thank and love on each other.

If you have someone committed to the cause and vision of your ministry but they feel like they are getting beat up or aren't good enough, they will not last. If someone is not working out in a role that's one thing, but it's much better to see a leader lovingly help them find the role they can fit into instead of coming down on them. That's not to say we should simply be happy that people show up. It doesn't mean that we ignore fixable mistakes. We want people to learn and grow. They must have grace, the world is already critical enough of artists. We should be willing to love and accept artists for the gifts that God has given them regardless if we agree with or enjoy their art. This is an atmosphere that artists will want to be a part of.