What’s in this Episode?

In this episode of the Church Tips podcast, Dick Hardy and Jeff Deyo (former lead singer of Sonicflood) discuss ways to show appreciation for the worship team.

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Read the Transcript

Dick Hardy 0:06
Hey friends, great to have you here in the church tips podcast. I am so excited to be with my friend, Jeff Deyo, the former lead singer with Sonicflood back in the day. And now he’s a professor at North Central University in Minneapolis. And Jeff, great to have you with me here today.

Jeff Deyo 0:23
Hey, man, it’s great to be here. Dick, thank you so much for having me.

Dick Hardy 0:26
You bet. You know over the last number of months. Well, actually, man has been almost a year ago that we got acquainted. But for the last number of months, we’ve really been full on in creating the new Worship Leadership Course inside of Church University. And man, that has been so much fun. In fact, I gotta tell you, your viewers, just sitting there and listening to the content. This is a full on course that the Lord gave Jeff was absolutely phenomenal.

Dick Hardy 0:55
But anyway, we want to take some time and talk today about celebrating your worship team. So this podcast is for anyone, but we’re zeroing in on lead pastors and worship leaders. So what would you say to lead pastors and worship leaders on the subject of celebrating your worship team?

Jeff Deyo 1:16
Well, I mean, there’s a lot of things obviously, we can talk about, but we want to hit a few that will be practical for people. I think one of the biggest issues here that we face, is that sometimes musicians and singers can feel that they are used, they can feel like they’re just a cog in a machine, you know.

Jeff Deyo 1:31
Because we’ve got the people who are on staff, they’re just running, they’re going, they’re doing everything, and they kind of just like, okay, let’s throw the band up there. They’re doing their thing. And we’re trying to get so much accomplished, that sometimes the relational aspect of it, the work that needs to be done, the Great Commission, you know, we’re trying to do all the things the Bible is called us to do, right. And it’s sometimes it feels like the band musicians can get run over. I don’t think anybody’s trying to do that.

Jeff Deyo 1:31
And I’m also not trying to make it sound like the musicians need to be, we need to, you know, pitter patter around and walk on eggshells, or anything like that. But we are trying to keep them around for a while. So I think that’s one of the things we want to we want to accomplish in this episode is trying to help people not just, you know, encourage them because they’re so sensitive, but hey, how can we build relationships? How can we keep these people around? How can we keep them growing spiritually? How can we, you know, all those types of things?

Dick Hardy 2:24
Yeah, absolutely. Well, you know, in a specific sense, how do you celebrate or show value to worship team members?

Jeff Deyo 2:34
Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, some of that has to happen publicly. And then some of it needs to happen privately. Right? And you have to use discernment as to when and how it all that works, right? There’s certainly some moments where we can celebrate the worship team publicly. I don’t think the senior pastor or the lead pastor has to every Sunday morning, you know, like, Wow, can we give it up for the worship team this morning, what an amazing job, you know. But you know what, sometimes that could be as led by the Holy Spirit, that can be a really great thing just to say.

Jeff Deyo 3:04
And you know, it’s one thing I will say this to lead pastors, sometimes those little encouragements, number one, they go a long ways, but you got to be careful with how you do it. Because sometimes it can feel like you’re just kind of saying words before you get started with your sermon. It can feel like hey, give it up for the worship team…they’re great, aren’t they awesome…okay, as we get to this Bible verse. Really think about it, be led by the Spirit and be like, Okay, what can I say that would be authentic. And just like, point something out specific that you love it. That’s probably the key right there is to point something out specific that you loved about the worship that morning. Ah, I just feel like you guys are so anointed, or man, you guys just sound so great. I love the way you guys work together as a team. Stuff like that.

Dick Hardy 3:57
What about, you know, you said publicly and privately, and what you just referenced was publicly. I mean, what kinds of things would you do privately?

Jeff Deyo 4:04
Yeah, you know, obviously, and this has a lot to do with a worship leader, probably. I think there’s a few things you can do. One, you could just schedule some times to get together with your worship team, either as a whole, where you’re having some team nights, you’re having a fun getaway, or a retreat, or something like that. You can also just text these guys, you know? One of the things that I talk about a lot is you really need to know when their birthdays are, you know, maybe even go as far as to know when their Anniversaries are, that type of thing. And just be able to say, Hey, man, I just want to wish you happy birthday, wanted to be the first one to wish you happy birthday today, you know? Just send him a quick text message.

Jeff Deyo 4:43
But then, as I mentioned, with the public encouragement, these private encouragement are the same, in the sense that, when you walk off the stage and you come into the greenroom, pulling someone aside. I don’t think you have to do this every week with every person, but you just feel something that someone did that was special and give it 30 seconds and just pull someone to the side and say, Hey, man, I want you to know, I’ve seen so much improvement in you. And it’s blessing me. It’s killing me. I love it. I’m so proud of you and excited about what you’re doing. Those types of little encouragements can go a long way.

Dick Hardy 5:14
You know, when you do that, you know, I picture you know, pulling them off in the green room or the side room. It’s not a big show to everybody else.

Jeff Deyo 5:26
Yeah.

Dick Hardy 5:27
It’s it’s you and that person.

Jeff Deyo 5:28
Absolutely. Absolutely.

Dick Hardy 5:30
You’re up close. You maybe lower your voice you. You’re just really, it’s heartfelt.

Jeff Deyo 5:38
Yeah, it’s very personal.

Dick Hardy 5:39
So you know, when I’m listening to that, and your your thoughts earlier on the publicly. I mean, all of us are human. How do you, how do you not sound generic in what you’re doing?

Jeff Deyo 5:54
Well, I think it’s a really important point. You know, I mentioned the idea of being authentic. And it is challenging, because we have so many things going, right? I remember when I first understood this is probably 15-20 years ago, I started sort of had this revelation that I needed to be a better encourager. And so my first like, year of trying to be a better encourager, was, I just felt like such a fake, a phony, you know. So I’m going, You are doing such a good job team. Congrats, way to go, bro. I was just like oh, my goodness, I’ve got to get this thing. But what I didn’t do is I didn’t quit. I knew that because I didn’t want them to feel like I encouraged them because I knew I was supposed to, right?

Jeff Deyo 6:38
And that’s what you gotta watch out for guys, worship leaders, lead pastors, you don’t want to just be that guy who’s always giving, Aw man love that hat, just because the book told you you’re supposed to say I love that hat. You know, you really have to, I think the key is listening to the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit will put things on your mind, on your heart, that you might not have thought of before. And you didn’t say it this way before, but he’ll give you a specific way that’s unique, that will come across as genuine and real.

Dick Hardy 7:08
Genuine to that person.

Jeff Deyo 7:10
Exactly.

Dick Hardy 7:11
Wow. That is so good. Okay, now let’s go to, now I’m sure you never dealt with this, but in my years, you know I got the gray hair to prove it. And there are, from time to time, there are difficult team members to compliment. They’re just, they’re very talented, but they’re just difficult. How do you genuinely bring that kind of person along?

Jeff Deyo 7:38
Yeah. Well, I mean, I think part of the issue there, I’m assuming, is that there might be some tension between some things are doing really well, and maybe some things that they’re not doing so well, you know? So you’re kind of walking that line between, hey, I want to bring some correction, or I want to help them do better in this area. Maybe it’s a relationship thing, maybe it’s a pride thing, an arrogance, or something like that. But, I think what we have to do is we have to, again, be able to find some genuine things like I get it, sometimes it is difficult, because you might have seven things that you’re thinking I need to talk to them about this, I need to get with them, because they gotta fix this, this, this and this. And so you’re gonna man, what can I say?

Jeff Deyo 8:19
But you got to look at them and even pray about this. Okay, I know, I know, this is lost on us sometimes, like, Lord, help me to understand how I can encourage this person? What are some things that I see them doing that they are genuinely, they’re genuinely doing it well, but I just haven’t said anything? I think that’s part of my issue, Dick is that I used to always overemphasize the negative. And I mean, we do have to get to the negative, right, we have to talk about those things. We shouldn’t shy away from that. But we do want to be able to encourage them. So you have to really say, Okay, what is something that this person is doing, that I really, genuinely, appreciate? And then you can, it’ll be real, because you actually really are encouraged by them?

Dick Hardy 9:00
Yeah, no, that’s good. You know, this goes a little bit, a little bit of a shift here, but how do you make rehearsals and sound checks enjoyable for people? So I mean, these people, you know, day jobs are coming in, in the evening or Saturday, but you know, how do you make that fun for them?

Jeff Deyo 9:20
Yeah. Well, I mean, there’s a lot a lot of things that go into a rehearsal, right? I think the number one thing that you’re going to want to do to help and fun, you know, and it’s part of it, right? Because we want to have a good experience. But I think the best experience you’re gonna have is when you have planned out your rehearsal, right? Where you you have actually have it all together and you’re ready to go you’re organized all that because the thing that people get upset with when there’s all this downtime. Like, oh, real quick, let me run and get this thing or oh, hold on for just a second, we haven’t figured this out yet. Oh, we don’t know the chords for this song. Oh, you know, that’s where it gets frustrating for people. So if you can streamline and get ready to go with your rehearsals, that’s gonna make it more fun, because we’re actually doing what we came to do.

Jeff Deyo 10:06
Now another part of that is, is the culture that you build. You’ve got to build a culture where people understand what they’re coming to. We talked about this a lot between the difference of rehearsing and practicing. Like a lot of people, they might come to a rehearsal, and they’re actually practicing a song. And what we mean by that is that they’ve never actually played it, but they’re reading the chart for the first time, or trying things for the first time. But we’re asking people to practice at home so that we can rehearse together. That makes it a lot better for everybody else, because the one guy who did prepare and the guy who didn’t prepare, they’re not going to be on the same page.

Dick Hardy 10:43
Well, I’m telling you, I’m glad you you mentioned that on being prepared and ready to go. Because there’s nothing worse, well I’m sure there’s something worse, but you know, to be a volunteer, and give of your time to show up, only to have potentially the paid person.

Jeff Deyo 11:01
Yeah.

Dick Hardy 11:02
Be not together.

Jeff Deyo 11:04
Yes.

Dick Hardy 11:04
And it’s like, it’s like, what is what is my time worth? I mean, I just sit here. So I’m so glad you said that.

Dick Hardy 11:12
We’ve got to respect their time. Honor them.

Dick Hardy 11:15
Absolutely.

Dick Hardy 11:16
So how do you? How do you compliment? worship production people? Now they’re a little bit. I know, we’ve been talking in a broad sense, I think most of us in our minds have pictured the people up on stage, on the platform. But you’ve got these production people, how do you really celebrate those people?

Jeff Deyo 11:35
Yeah. Well, and sometimes their temperaments can be a little different. It’s definitely a different world. But we understand that your production team is part of the worship team. And I want to make that point too because sometimes we think of each other as two different worlds. And yes, two different worlds. But we are also we’re in the game for the same purpose. We all want people to connect with God. Now part of that is that you as the worship leader, you have to actually tell your sound team that. You have to tell your production team say, hey, we, you know, we actually consider you guys worship leaders too. Like some people only think of the singer as the worship leader. Right? But, then they go oh, maybe we understand the band is also worship leaders. Yeah, but what about the lyric operator? I mean, if the lyrics aren’t right, how can we worship God, right? If the sound is like, all messed up, and the lead vocals off, and the drums are super loud, it’s gonna mess up the worship.

Jeff Deyo 12:29
So all of us are leading worship together. And so communicating that the lead pastor and the worship leader need to actually say those things to the production team, which I think brings them into the group, and it makes them feel like they’re included, because they are, you know. So but helping them, not only does it encourage them, but it also helps them understand their responsibility, because you’re also raising the bar on responsibility. You know, I had one guy that was one of my, my sound engineer that traveled with me, and I’ll tell you, I prayed about this for years, but this guy would lay his Bible out on the sound console. And he would be, you know, doing his faders. But then he’d be like, praising God singing, and then go back and do his work. And then he’d be praising God and praying for everybody while it’s happening. I felt like we had everybody surrounded, you know, like where we were getting it from the stage and then getting it from behind too. So I encourage that type of development.

Dick Hardy 13:27
That is so good. You know, this whole topic of celebrating your worship team is so critical for both the lead pastor and the worship leader. I just thank you for all that you’ve given us on this. Jeff, give us give us a hitch up. Is there any parting comment you want to make on this topic?

Jeff Deyo 13:45
You know, I have an idea that I encourage lead pastors in and I know that, hear me out on this, but on Sunday morning, and worship leader can do this as well, and hopefully you already are, but on Sunday morning, lead pastors have a lot going on. But if you could take three to five minutes and go meet with the worship team in the greenroom, and just like. Number one, your presence there is a big deal. It makes a difference, right? And so you come in and everyone’s like, oh, okay, there’s something serious happening here.

Jeff Deyo 14:15
And you’re able to come in and, and maybe give them cast a little vision, you’re able to bring some encouragement, I just want you guys to know and again, you got to find that genuine place, right? But, I just want you to know that I’m so excited and I want to release you worship team because he’s the authority, right? He or she, lead pastor, authority. I want to release you to move the way that the Holy Spirit is calling you to move. Wow, okay, that’s amazing. That gives us freedom. And then to be able to pray with them and call them out and call them up to a higher level. I think that is going to be a huge encouragement to them.

Dick Hardy 14:49
Wow, that is so good. Jeff Deyo, thank you very much. This has been great, Loved hanging out with you as always, just chatting on worship leadership. You know, for the viewer or listener, be sure to go into the show notes, you’ll see a variety of things in there that are going to take you around to the different podcasts on worship leadership. As well, Jeff has been so kind to create two, worship leadership PDFs for us. One is on navigating generational and cultural gaps in worship. And the other is the worship leaders guide to honoring their lead pastor.

Dick Hardy 15:32
And so here’s how you access those, it’s really easy. Go to Leaders.Church/Gaps for the first one, and Leaders.Church/Honor for the second one. And again, those links will be in the show notes. You can take advantage of those and jump right in. So thanks for hanging out with us on the Church Tips Podcast. Jeff, thank you very much for being with us. We’ll look forward to seeing you next time.

Jeff Deyo 16:24
Thanks.

Show Notes:
Worship Team Effectiveness Blog

PDF’s:
The Pastors Guide to Navigating Generational and Cultural Worship Gaps
Honoring The Lead Pastor

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