Guest Blog: Wade Joye, Service Programming Director

One of the frustrations I tend to hear from other worship leaders or creative directors is that their lead pastor does not give them the freedom to drive the creative elements of the Sunday worship experience.  What most fail to recognize is that they have not earned that freedom.

At Elevation, we have a very unique situation. Pastor Steven used to be a worship leader. He loves the creative process and is extremely good at it. However, he has given us tremendous freedom to take his vision for a series and program around that. Because he trusts us, he his able to focus on preaching the word of God rather than carrying the weight of the other aspects of the service.

Here are a few ways you can gain that freedom with your lead pastor as a worship leader or creative director.

•    Embrace and understand your pastor’s vision for the worship experience: If your pastor’s heart is to have a high energy worship set, and you always bring set lists filled with slow songs that put people to sleep, your pastor will feel compelled to begin picking out songs for you.
•    Present your series ideas as far in advance as possible: This will let your pastor know that you are being proactive and putting significant thought into each set, rather than waiting until the last minute and picking your old favorites. Any great creative element takes time to really plan well and execute, so the last minute doesn’t produce a world result.
•    Don’t grunt when you have to make last minute changes: There will be times when your pastor feels led to change their sermon at the last minute, and the element you were so excited about just doesn’t work now. Or he feels that a certain song (that you may not like) really sets up his message well. When that happens, don’t act like the world is ending. Go with the flow and make it happen. Trust that God is leading them and submit to authority. Doing this joyfully goes a long way.
•    Take chances: If you play it safe, your pastor will feel the need to push the envelope. Our services and the worship of our God should be remarkable, and if your programming falls into a rut and becomes boring, your pastor will feel the need to step in. Push the envelope, take chances and get reigned back in if needed.

It’s amazing how innovative people become when there’s no back door-and no option to quit.

One of the primary factors that contributed greatly to the success of Elevation (particularly in the first year) was the “come hell or high water” commitment of our core team.  We were going to birth a powerful church or die trying.  But giving up and trying something else was never on the radar.

These people had burned the proverbial bridges when they moved to Charlotte to start the church.  No plan B.  No diversification strategy.  No escape route.  No back door.

So we had to make it work.  Which meant we had to innovate.
When you leave yourself the option to quit if it gets too rough, it switches off your innovation mechanism.  Because when you run headlong into the kind of severe frustration that has the potential to spark a breakthrough concept, you start figuring out how to get out instead of how to fight through.

I know sometimes it’s wise and appropriate to cut your losses and move on.
But many people miss the blessings and breakthroughs born only by perseverance because they keep one hand on the back door.

One of the most freeing things a leader can realize and accept is how little control we really have when it’s all said and done.
I think all leaders-whether they’re pastors, principals, parents, or some other profession (preferably one that starts with a p)-live under the illusion that we have more control than we actually do.

Every day something happens to remind me:
Ultimately, the only person I can control is me.  I can provide guidance, prayer, support, or correction in many situations-but in the end, the only constant I am 100% in command of is my response…

At first this revelation will wreak havoc on your control freak psyche.
But give it a minute to kick in, and it starts to feel pretty good.  Takes some of the pressure off.
Since the only thing I can control is me, I don’t have to obsess about the motivations and intentions of anyone else.
In fact, I don’t have time to obsess about these things.  I’ve got to oversee me.

And I don’t know about you, but Steven Furtick is a full time job.

One of my favorite Southern Baptist preachers, Johnny Hunt, once said that the only time he ever gets headaches is when he finds himself trying to fight today’s battles with tomorrow’s strength.
I think Pastor Johnny was quoting another pastor when he said it.
Come to think of it, the idea originated with Jesus:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
-Matthew 6:34

God supplies all the strength we need to do all that He’s called us to do.
But He rations this strength much in the same way He rationed manna to the children of Israel.
He provides sufficient strength each day for the challenges of that day..
and that day only.
This strength doesn’t carry over from one day to the next.  You either use it, or lose it.
And He will not give you enough strength today for the confrontations, obligations, and challenges of next week, next month, or next year.
That strength will be deposited in your account precisely when you need it- not a moment before.

If you’re stressed and overwhelmed today-check your strength supply.
I’ll bet you have enough to get you through this day.
And that’s all you need for now.