I was twenty-six. Having recently moved cross-country, leaving the long summers of South Texas for the short ones of Pennsylvania, I was learning many new customs in this new culture.

On Sunday, we visited a church we hadn’t been to before. While the eight of us filed in a few minutes past starting time and found our seats in two rows, two leaders addressed the congregation.

I read a job description for a Director of Music and was struck by the first “Core Competency” required.

Today, we highlight the strengths each Fader brings to preparing for great rehearsals.

Many of us hate personality tests because we feel like they box us in.

See creating chord charts through the eyes of each of the Five Faders.

See choosing songs through the eyes of each of the Five Faders.

See scheduling through the eyes of each of the Five Faders.

See auditions through the eyes of each of the Five Faders.

Today begins a series to teach you how each of the Five Faders accomplishes the tasks in our to-do lists.

They didn’t know what was coming. In their wildest dreams, what was about to occur was 100% impossible.

I know. If you’re a Producer Fader, you’re either rolling your eyes at a subject like “Planning Feels Great,” or you’re disappointed because I’m not stronger in my call to action.

How do you show up to rehearsals? Would you describe it as "fully prepared?"

I took stock. I noticed. I paid attention. I realized that I’ve been leading three to four Sundays a month over the past twelve months. That was okay then.

But it was time to change.

Maybe you’re a worship leader who is caught in the unrelenting cycle of leading weekly worship gatherings while managing songs, arrangements, schedules, teams, relationships, and life.

You feel the need for... 

• A deep walk with God (Intimate, Consecrated, Scripture-soaked)

• A deep love for people (Shepherd, Launcher, Encourager, Leader)

• A deep understanding of music (Listener, Craftsman, Fluent)

We ended the song with the entire room singing loudly. It was a reflection of what was happening in their hearts – they were “all in!”

The other night, I was tucking my son into bed and noticed some trash on his bunk bed shelf. It was the remains of an old, burned-up plastic Coke bottle.

Do you know which Sunday marks the end of the Church calendar year? (Did you know the church had its own calendar?!)

• “I guess we’ll go ahead and get started.”

• “Please rise to your feet.”

• “Good morning…um, good MORNing! ...That’s better.”

Today, I’m giving you an outline rather than paragraphs. That’s obvious.

But what’s not obvious is how much what you do impacts congregational engagement. I want to challenge us, as leaders, to grow in BEING: