Christianity Today reports that churches are facing a real shortage of worship leaders. An SBC Worship study found that 70% of worship leaders near retirement haven’t picked a successor, and it estimates the Southern Baptists alone will need 20,000 new worship leaders by 2040.
One researcher says he gets calls every week from churches looking for singers, pianists and guitar players. Choirs have faded out, and so have many of the old ways churches found their next musicians. Some leaders now want residencies and structured mentoring.
The story opens with a young woman who planned to be a teacher. A college ministry leader invited her to try leading worship. Three years later she felt called to full-time ministry and now leads at a church plant that’s grown to 1,000 people.
My take
That’s how it’s always worked: somebody saw a gift and said “come try this.” Worship leading isn’t just a performance. It’s helping a room make space for God’s presence. Pastors, look around for the teenager with a guitar and a hunger for God, and invite them in. “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully” (Psalm 33:3).
God Bless, and May the Source Be with You!
