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
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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