The Silent KILLER of Church Musicians 

Wow!! Thanks for sharing. When I was 16 a choir from Memphis came to my small hometown. I’ve heard good music before but this choir and band was different. It caused me to start thinking about being Saved. About two months later God saved me and filled me with the Holy Ghost. After the Lord saved me I asked if He would teach me to play music and if He would, I’ll give Him the glory. Three weeks later I was playing music. I ended up studying music in school and earned a Master’s degree in music education. I’ve had a great career in music where I was Minister of Music for a large church for over 20+ years and has taught music for many years. Today I’m working at a hospital teaching music to people who are mentally ill and those with substance abuse. Believe it or not teaching these people is making a tremendous impact on their lives. All of this started because a 16 year old kid heard an anointed choir and band that God used to change my life forever.

Many times the sweetest spirits flow from the most humble singers & musicians. Stay in the word and always pray!

It's all about leadership. The right pastors, the right music director, make a world of difference in your church experience.

Musicians needed to hear that We all got to be humble

Former guitar and bass church musician here. To be honest, there's too much distractions and temptations for musicians. Even when I'm not playing and just.in the pews. Now, I prefer to attend worship services with just piano and hymns and where the Bible is solidly teached and preached.

Being a self taught Multi-Instrumentalist, I didn’t grow up in the Church & @ the age of 18 I became a Christian & joined a Pentecostal Church in Brooklyn NYC. And @ 62 years of age today, with over 40 years of playing music in Church & in the Secular field, I’ve ALWAYS understood & RESPECTED the power of MUSIC!!! And I know that the BEST ABILITY IS AVAILABILITY, coupled with HUMILITY!!! Salute! 🫡 🙏🏽👏🏽🙌🏽

I'm a drummer that has been playing worship for over 25 years. I experienced 2 new musicians on our team. Keyboard and bass player. The first service we played together the bass player was over playing. He was showing his chops and playing on the high register. After the service o spoke with him and suggested in a calm way that maybe he should play less and help me hold down the groove. He was much younger than me. He got defensive and angry. He started yelling at me and swearing right in church. I told him to stop and think about where he is whom he is serving. Then I walked away. This video is important content. God can not use you or move the people in your church if you are using the pulpit to perform. I just felt the need to share on this topic. Thanks brother for sharing this video. May our Lord Jesus continue to use you for his glory. God be with you always.

I never accepted payment for playing. Service and serving God was the payment. The fact that I got to honor and lead people into the presence of God each day was enough. There were times when I had to humble myself if I felt my pride or attitude was becoming off. This is God helping us to stay true to him. What you do matters and allows others to come to God and meet him at the right moment. He never leaves or forsakes us.

Uuhhĥ the word of God is the most important part of the service 🙌

I've been a guitarist for almost five decades. I've been playing at our church for about 20 years. I just can't imagine anyone coming in and being egotistical. This has nothing to do with ego. My job is to be but a part of the whole. That's it. I've had people tell me that they couldn't hear me. Now, I KNOW I'm loud enough to be heard, so I take that more as I'm doing what I set out to do, which is just be one color of the entire music pallet being played. I treat everyone the same, because music isn't a competition or about ego. Especially worship music.

My church has always suffered the misery of diva musicians for 35years. We opted for the beginner musicians. They're more humble and are just plain happy to be given the opportunity to learn and play during service.

the reason we're musicians is to honor the most high with our talents and use it as a tool for fellowship. God speed brothers, this is a spiritual war.

There are church people who happen to do music ministry. Then there are musicians who happen to do church gigs. I did undergrad work in voice and was a professional trombone player for a season. (I also did undergrad work in physics and Bible.) However, my primary axe is keyboard on which I still gig, but out of my role as a Christian minister. I have a graduate seminary degree in theology and do mission work. So I understand the world of musicians. I'm also the lead sound engineer for my church. Many in my position try to make a good sound and end at that. My goal is not primarily to make a good sound, though that's entailed in my primary goal. My primary goal is to facilitate the worship of the almighty God. I need to be invisible. The sound system needs to be invisible. The musicians on stage need to be invisible. I don't want anyone thinking about anything but their Lord Jesus and the Godhead he reveals. The minister of music at my church agrees and he actively prepares the musicians for this task, ministering to them spiritually so that we don't get egos in the music ministry. In the old testament, the musicians would precede the warriors into battle, and we are doing spiritual warfare through music. If we don't fight the battle for our own hearts, we can't fight the battle for the hearts of the congregation.

This message is so on point I want to hug you! I fell into an “ego rut” for a time until the pastor’s wife gave us all a reminder of what role we played in the church and who we were playing to.

The problem is most large and mega churches are a performance, with the musicians looking to break into the Christian music scene, and develop their resume - wrong motives! I'm a bass and drummer, we never practice before Sunday, we show up 45 min early Sunday, listen to each other playing and then play it once, we hope the spirit of the time completes our worship... refreshing!

I've been a musician in church for almost 50 years, I have seen a lot, good and bad but now it seems like many church services and "concerts" are nothing more than a gospel talent show! You have singers trying to show you EVERY run possible from the begining of the song to the end of the song trying to impress other singers and you have bands also trying to show you EVERY lick possible from the beging of the song to the end of the song trying to impress other bands. None of this has anything to do with giving praise and honor to God, this is about singers and musicians seeking praise FOR THEMSELVES!

I am 70. I was in Music Ministry for 35 years. I ran sound. I sang backup. I led Praise and Worship. This message is 100 percent Truth..... Thank you for posting this.

As a singer, songwriter and composer I have been doing this for 58 years-and I have done it mostly as a soloist because I don’t want any part of an ego based competition and I’ve seen it too many times. But for the last decade, I have been blessed to be a part of a selfless God-centered group of musicians that serves a church humbly and worshipfully-and it always blesses me-we merely lead a congregation in worship-to God, be the glory

To God Be The Glory 🙌🏾

Since I started playing for God’s glory that I have asked first to be anointed to minister. I have found through the years that some musicians were jealous and full of pride,which caused me grief. It is for His glory not ours. Just need to keep praying and to keep oneself pure and Holy. Thank you Lord for the Holy Spirit which humbles us,comforts us,gives us direction and purpose. Jesus is the Lord!

I work with a difficult population in the health field. There are days when I get annoyed or overwhelmed. Your testimony reminded me that I have to be careful about how I say things to people because it could be the last straw for them. Thanks!

God bless the abandoned woman, such a sad reality. Having experienced a similar family betrayal myself, it never gos away and you question everything you did in your life. Ill pray and hope she finds a living angel to hold her and be by her side. God bless all.

This presentation is the best one you’ve done by far! This is what it is all about! We are music ministers and people need to be set free by what God has given us. We don’t need to take it for granted! It starts with humility and respect for all of God’s people! Peace and blessings!

As a worship leader, you absolutely expressed truth with beautiful clarity! Good job my friend. N.

Lots of people need to hear this. It isn't just in church. It's everywhere. You might be playing in a bar and be placed there by God to meet someone's need.

Man! That story resonated. I'm not religious, that said, many facets of music save people. It touches them. I'm sure you were at Awww with at statement. Music had saved me and continues to save me. I've had fans come up and tell me that the show or the album saved them. I can't express how I felt, like you said. I just hug them and say that they have saved me too. The love thanks is given back. Great video!

Music is Service. I call TRUTH on That! 👍

Thank you for this man. That genuine honesty and you just sharing that story is everything

I was a member of a little church In West Texas where they used an organ and a piano. It was wonderful as far as the performance was concerned, but there was a problem. While they were excellent musicians, the two women would not speak to each other. I have no idea what their feud was about. I had played piano for church since I was a little girl. I always thought it was a privileged blessing to glorify God in my personal ministry. For the next 50 + years, as I accompanied our congregation, I played the words of the hymn rather than just the technical lines and spaces. I played from my heart. I now 89 years old and found a little church that sings hymns and has a sound Bible preacher. On occasion I play for the church and still rejoice that I can glorify the Lord by singing those words in my head and communicating the wonderful message of the words. Playing the piano is an expression of the emotion I feel as the congregation lifts voices to the Lord.

The most valuable lesson my Organist taught me was to be humble. She is one of THE best organists to do it and she always portrayed that message. Being humble as a musician is the greatest lesson you could ever learn. Being able to play at service is a blessing and a privilege.

Thanks for sharing. I've been drumming Jesus Music / CCM / Worship since the 70s and have been blessed to not run into the ego crowd regularly during that time. My current drumming situation started in '98 and one of the things I've tried to instill in the teams over the years is that we are there to help people enter the presence of God, so we better not get in the way.

This is absolutely right! Ego…Jealousy. Not to mention professionals that tour on social media giving criticisms from a bad place and not out of love. This was definitely a good one Terence

I've been feeling discouraged as a church musician lately. Asking myself does what I do really matter and make a difference. I really needed to hear this and found it very encouraging. I never really cared much about the money and ego strokes. Thank you for keeping it real!

As a 50 year musician, I know longer want any part of the whole worship machine idol and all it has become. I now attend a little church with just a piano and organ which are rarely played together. Such a breath of fresh air ... Simplicity, solitude, reflection.

Wow! You received a rare gift, seeing that you and what you do matters and improves the world. I feel that humility is important for all parts of life, not just musically.

This is good to hear. Thank you. I don't play music that's praise and worship oriented in the traditional sense for services. But, I do long to play with fellow Christians who have a heart for Christ and who want to reach those outside of the church. That said, you're right on the money. No place for ego, just for God's glory.

I really needed to hear this. I am just a solo artist. Just me and my guitar or soundtracks. I really am hard on myself striving for “perfection”. It causes great anxiety in me. One time I canceled out because of my anxiety. I sing at church and community events. I’ve always for the most part sang with some wonderful groups of people that were singing for the right reasons, and I have been blessed by their music. My favorite gospel event is coming up in June. Seems like satan gives me a reason every day to procrastinate practicing. My story is long. I do battle with some egos. Please do pray for me that I stop procrastinating! I know it is a sin that I need deliverance from. Thank you for this video!

What a very touching testimony of the woman saved and the profound influence of your music on her. Excellent points shared and very true.

The singers,directors,Ministers of Music who DON'T play need to hear it too...SERVICE!!!!!

I had a Pastor tell me once that the number 1 problem reported with services around the world was with the praise and worship teams. The musicians and singers caused the most drama etc. His solution was to disband such and use a CD player. Good Grief.

It is key for us as musicians to keep ourselves filled with the Spirit of the Living God (Jesus the Christ). You never know...as you have eloquently stated just how much of an impact the gift/talent God gave to us affects those that come across that moment or moments they hear us. Whenever we are made aware of these tender life altering moments, we must remember to CONTINUE to give God all the glory fr flr! Having a humble spirit will always have a much more positive impact on God's people. Keep holding it sir, love your content!

I was a Worship Leader for 15 years, as a guitarist and vocalist. The first thing i ever said to anyone on my team was, ego is left at the door when you enter the church. I had no patience for showboating or Ego, Worship is not limited to playing music or singing, Worship is a way of life. Living a life of worship is attributing every success, accomplishment, and blessings to God, pointing to the accomplished and perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. I found the message being preached more important then what i was singing or playing. In my opinion, those should be there to support the message being preached. If the message is not the primary focus then it doesn't matter if that woman was moved by the music or not. If the message heard was more about stories then the word of god and it's meaning in context, then the whole service is meaningless. She was moved to the point of saving her earthly life, but Worship is about your eternal soul. I stepped down 4 years ago at the church i was at in a Worship leader/Pastor capacity, because i realized that no matter how much the music meant and was praised by the congregation, if the messages were not in line with exegeting the text properly, it didn't matter how good the music was. The Lead Pastor of the church was an amazingly generous, selfless and kind hearted man. But he would prepare his sermons on Saturday night for the next Morning leaving me with no way to be able to support any text he might be speaking about and most of the time the text was mostly about useless stories like fighting the Goliath in your life kind of story then actually properly presenting the Word of God in context. So, If you don't know the word of God. There is no amount of music that will be beneficial to anyone. In most evangelical churches today, the music is the primary tool to attract people and the Word of God is secondary, if properly exegeted at all. I would challenge any big assembly church to pass around a questionnaire in their service asking questions about the Word of God requiring proper answers in context and have at least 50% of their congregants either answer properly or at all because they never heard the text properly presented and most of them don't actually read and study the word of God for themselves, But that is only one man's opinion. God Bless!

I don't even know if "God bless you!" faithfully conveys my prayer for you, brother. This is so needed on my side of the world (D.R. Congo).

I've been a guitarist since 9 yrs old in Church. Was saved at a tender age but fell away from God for a short t8me. Returned to Him because the world has nothing to offer, especially it's music. I've always played volontarily at church and always experience the presence and glory of the Lord. Never seen myself above anyone else, humility as a church musician is a must, for the hand of God to move in your ministry, it is Christlikeness. I'm 42 now and still play, but always do it as I'm glorifying the Lord. Musicians were placed at the front of the battle at Jericho, as a musician you are at the tip of the battle, live Holy lives pleasing unto God, and everything else will follow...

Something similar happened to me recently in Canberra (capital of Australia). I took up busking late last year with my friend as Arthritis robbed me of the ability to play guitar; and even though we had only been busking maybe 8 or 9 times, a gentleman in his 50s, came up to us after one of our songs and told us that our music had touched his heart and had turned him around (as he had intended to kill himself later that day); he told us that our music had moved him to tears and filled him with a realization that life truly was worth living. The experience humbled my friend and I as we came to realize the power of music to heal. Almost every time we play (at local shopping centers etc); someone will come up to us and share how our music has affected them in a positive way. We don't make much money busking; but to have our music and songs touch the hearts of those who pass by is more than enough reward I think.

Good Word! Thank You! For Helping me Keep the Most Important Thing, the Most Important Thing !

This truly blessed me. Thank you, brother.

Wow. A powerful reminder to keep our eyes fixed on Him and reaching others.

I appreciate your wise words here. For several years, I served occasionally as a substitute singer on our church's worship team, and many people encouraged me to be on the team weekly. Sadly, a person who was the chosen to do administration for the team took a fervent dislike to me. (Long silly story.)After one service when I had been asked to substitute for an absent friend, the administrator came up to me and sharply and angrily demanded, "Why are you singing today?!" I explained that I had been asked to do so. She responded, "We don't have substitutes!" I just stood there in shock. We tried to work it out in a meeting with the pastor, and she admitted that she hadn't been truthful, but wasn't apologetic and kept her position. Of course we have substitutes, but she had her vendetta against me. I never went back to sub again. God isn't served by egos, and as Christians, we need to do better. People are watching to see how we are doing at loving each other.

“Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is the best.” - Zappa

Absolutely beautiful. Im so glad that she shared her her soul with you. Im so glad your music and performance enlighten her.

Terrence The Lord bless you sir. This spoke to my heart and I’m definitely subscribing for more content like this. I’m sharing too with my drummer and piano friends. This is so uplifting.

Terrence! Wow! I’m just learning of ur page. I really appreciate you sharing this information. It really bless me. Thank you my brother.

The thing I learned about playing in church is, you learn a lot more with your mouth closed and have less problems with your mouth closed, (except for singing )

Amen, brother! Thank you for sharing this!

Truer words have never been spoken. May God continue to pour His anointing on your ministry.

Excellent words! Thanks. It's not just musicians but also worship directors and their department. I went to audition to be a Bassist and the directors assistant talked with a cold shoulder to me. First he was like how come you use a pick? I told him I prefer it but can do with or without and he was like, well I just don't think there's a place for you here. I had told the worship leader that the Holy Spirit told me to let him know that I was there to serve and to help him. Then I auditioned playing acoustic guitar for rhythm and while I played with the band the other members were digging my playing smiling and all, and this same director started asking me can't you do this or that and I said sure. I was playing proper for the style of the song and along with the team. He just told me, I just don't believe we can use you. As I walked out, the other guitar player encouraged me by saying, hey I don't know what that guy's problem is, but you're playing was great. Don't get discouraged. Well I was and it totally turned me off of that leader and group director because they worked together and this was unacceptable behavior for leaders to treat someone attempting to do their part in service with their gifting. Their egos were absolutely hurting them and it's interesting that neither of those guys are there any more.

Thanks brother. Wonderful testimony. You’ve got a new subscriber from Sweden 🇸🇪. God bless you even more.

God bless you Brother. I needed this, as I begin my worship drummer journey at my 5 campus Church. I just sat in my wooded prayer spot ,last night, and prayed for God to bless me as I serve the music that prepares hearts to be more open to hear God. I began training at 60 when I retired, and am now 63. My Church has a ton of talented musicians and can be clicky, but us flawed people can be like that. I always say just keep the focus on Jesus, and not on people, and that will take care of any flaws us humans can exhibit.

Brother - thank you so much! I needed to hear this!

Amen! Thanks ever so much for your valuable insights! ❤

It occurred to me that the purpose of the music is to glorify God and to uplift and inspire the listener

What a story man! When you do anything as an act of Worship to God. God shows up, blesses you and others.

Good word, brother. Really gives something tangible to some fairly esoteric ideas we’ve all heard before.

This is so eyes opening. Thanks so much for this message.

This so cool and so TRUE! I’ve been playing in church for almost 40 years. I never look as it like a job, but my praise and thanks to God for the blessings and talents he gave me. It’s all for him anyway. Love the post my brother and God bless you 👊🏾

Thank you so much for this video!!! I recently learned my own hard lesson of this. I write original music for Churches and I had written a song that I was SO proud of. I spent months on the recording process of just this one song. Fine tuning the reverb, the equalization, the panning etc... I took the recording to work to play for a co-worker in order to get her opinion (and honestly, I think that I was seeking her praise.) When she heard the song she began balling. I mean waterfalls of tears. She explained to me she was having a hard times in life, and that she really needed to hear that song. I realized that day that all my practice with piano, time spent engineering and recording, meant literally nothing to her. It turns out it was actually God using me as his tool to deliver a message to her that she needed at that exact time. It humbled me deeply, and today I am grateful that I was able to play my "SMALL" part in God's greater plan.

Excellent message and powerful testimony. Thank you, brother, you've gained a new subscriber.

So good! Thank you for sharing this, it is inspiring. Indeed, music IS service!

You said it! You said it all.

Great message to ALL musicians! Thanks

Well said! Great reminder! Appreciate your insight and wisdom!

God bless you good Elder. We have to Honor God in everything and forget ourselves. God have mercy on our Christian churches for our failings. God help us all be ready for His coming.

Wow just wow! You have no idea how low i have become. You may have just saved someone else. Thank you that was very needed I’m gonna cling to it. The timing is unreal.Wow God bless you.

This is the best video of yours, that I Have watched. Good job.

Good word brother, thank you for sharing. You are right. I live by this creedo. Keep humility in Your Heart play your best in all situations. Learn to be of service to others.

HALLELUJAH..Thanks for your ANNOINTED Presentation. Amen and Praise God 🙏

Beautiful testimony and beautiful lesson. Thank you.

Wonderful message about our purpose!!! 100% agree on how we should play and behave. Where I don’t agree is, I can be that in the pocket guy. People like playing with me, but those calls don’t come. I still believe, though I try to do those things you mentioned as a player, and be there to worship, the others are flashy and looking only for other flashy people.

I'm a brass musician and ive never seen this. For the most part we all help each other. We are here to build each other up. It takes more than one person to make music.

Awesome Video. Thank you so much for sharing. It moved something in me. God bless you brother 🙏

Thanks for this message brother. I‘m a church musician as well. Good for me to listen to your statement. God bless you (and me😊)to be a blessing for others.

Wow! Thanks for sharing this story! Music is definitely service 🙌🏻 God is good 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

I loved hearing this bro. I always try to remind myself to stay humble and to remember that I am using a gift that God gave me to bring His Spirit into the Church. It's not in the service of me, but in the service of Him. I appreciate having another person reminding me to stay humble and remember that what I do up there matters.

Thank you for sharing, brother! What a testimony…

This story was uplifting.....Thanks Terence

Thank you brother for sharing that testimony you literally spoke my heart 🙏👊

This is confirmation for me to keep striving to keep worship simple. Praise the Lord 😊

Amen, brother. Music is a ministry when we, musicians and singers, perform for Hime rather than us. Thank you for this video and the Music is Service message ; I really needed this. Bless you and play on.

Great video, thank you for sharing this

I've always said this. Thank you so much for this.

You are so on point!!!! Music is service!!! Having an ego is also a vision problem. You can't see beyond yourself.

Excellent my brother!

Great video. So glad I’ve found an egoless church. I know exactly what you’re talking about because I’ve been in those situations. It took years for me to find the right church with the right group of musicians who are playing for the right reason, worshiping the Lord.

I’m not a church musician, but this is very helpful. I had an experience recently that was really upsetting. I wanted to just go home, but I told myself no it’s not about you. It’s about the music and I stuck with it even though I wasn’t sure if doing so was allowing this person to trample on me. It was an ego thing with this other person, I think. I don’t know for sure because I’m not in their head. But I stayed and played my part with heart, even though it was very, very difficult and I was very upset. This video had a few messages for me. Yes, it’s not about me. It’s about the music. I’m just the vessel that it flows through. Secondly when other people are having ego issues, I need to just continue to be nice because that speaks just as loud as talent. it doesn’t matter how talented you are, if you can’t work with people, you’re never gonna do anything with it. So I’m going to continue to try to be nice and patient. :-) And thirdly, Music is transformative; every opportunity to play music is an opportunity to potentially help someone else transcend their situation and feel something different, whether it be Joy, community, validation, fellowship, peace,…and that there is a greater purpose behind what they are navigating through, which brings me back to the first point. it’s not about me. I feel a lot better now. Thank you.

This is one of the few times where an attention grabbing video title didnt lie 😃 Thank you so much for the very inspiring and valuable clip. Interestingly, my takeaway is the intention to play with such a heart and love for others and passion for God that passers-by will get touched and can encounter him that way. If you do so, technicalities probably wont matter in the big picture :-)

God bless you sir!!!🙌🏽

Amen, I so agree. I also agree with Gentlerailings, that would be my preference, quiet worship music, not loud ego-centric "me centered" music.

I've been a musician in church for over 30 years. Everything you've said is true. The service aspect of what we do is lost many times in churches. We are in service to God with the talent He has given us.

Thanks. I needed to hear this today 🙏