Worship Musician October 2018 | Page 62

BETTER BY SUNDAY TENT-MAKING: BE GOOD AT SOMETHING ELSE | Paul Herman As part of my job here at CCLI, I get to interview positions, until finally the ultimate door opened To get a realistic sense of the worship leader the writers and artists that visit our office. (Yes, I - a marketing role here at CCLI. That was 16 positions know. I have the best job in the world!) Typically, years ago, and I’ve treasured every moment conducts an annual survey of our churches. my last question is, “Any final thoughts for our since. We asked the question, “If your church has a available, each January, CCLI worship leaders and teams?” Their responses Worship Leader/Music Pastor-Director, what is are always insightful. But so far, no one has the position?” yet said what I would say. If I were to interview myself, here’s how I’d respond: “Be good at something else. Good enough to make a living at it—even if you don’t think you’ll need to.” Everyone’s path is different, and I don’t want to burst anyone’s bubble. But I have a lot of reasons for my response, and they’re probably best illustrated by telling my own story. And relaying the stories of others. I grew up in church and around church music all my life. I remember playing piano at our “lit tle country church on the edge of town” while my Dad led hymns. I also love writing, and I earned Here’s the response breakdown: “Be good at 15% - Full time (paid, on staff) something 26.8% - Part time (paid, on staff) else. Good 17.8% - We don’t have anyone like that 40.4% - Volunteer enough to All this to say - have a backup plan. Have make a living something else that you’re good at. In Acts at it—even if Priscilla for a season, while every Sabbath he you don’t think you’ll need to.” 18:3-4, Paul made tents with Aquilla and spoke in the synagogue. Here’s the current chapter of my story. I play keyboards every week and serve as the volunteer music director on our church’s a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from worship team. I sing harmonies and I’m thrilled George Fox University. After college, I was a to support our full-time Worship Leader any copywriter at a couple of different ad agencies, way I can. He’s one of my best friends, and then I became the Communications Director at a church, where I was also a worship team What’s heart-breaking is to read and hear member and backup worship leader. stories of worship leaders who have no I remember dreaming about the opportunity a wife and small children). They have found of being a full-time worship leader. That would be the ultimate! A few years later, the dream came true, when a team of us decided to plant a church. For a while it was the ultimate - and then, it wasn’t. After five years, and numerous behind-the-scenes “church stuff” episodes, I experienced a fatigue unlike anything I’d ever other training or marketable skills (and often themselves in a situation where their worship leader role has turned sideways, and they are stuck, with seemingly nowhere to turn. Even the full-time leaders who are in good deserves what the church can pay him… and then some. But honestly, for me, I love the feeling of being able to tithe and contribute into the ministry rather than needing to receive from it. That’s my story. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts. situations talk often about the dynamic that exists when they are solely dependent on experienced or imagined. leading worship “well” to put food on the table. Thankfully, God was gracious, and He opened noticed, turnover happens. Sometimes, a lot. It’s a vulnerable place to be, and if you haven’t the doors to a couple of other Marketing 62 he’s amazing at what he does. He absolutely October 2018 Paul Herman As a songwriter, worship leader and team member, and serves as CCLI’s Content Creator in the U.S. Service Center in Vancouver, Washington. WorshipMusician.com