Growing Your Own: Developing Worship Leaders in Multi-Site Ministry (Part 3)
Let's talk about one of the biggest challenges facing multi-site churches today: finding solid worship leaders. Here's the thing - your next great worship leader might already be sitting in your congregation. (This is part 3 of a series on multi-site worship leading. Part 1 and Part 2 can be read first if you would like).
The Heart of the Matter
Let me be real with you for a second. Finding a worship leader is tough enough for one campus. When you're trying to staff multiple locations? That challenge multiplies quickly. But here's where it gets exciting - some of your best future leaders are already in your midst. This isn't just my opinion; according to a 2023 survey by Leadership Network, 72% of successful multi-campus churches prioritize internal leadership pipelines for their staff and volunteers. They've learned what I've seen firsthand: developing from within works.
Take Payton, for example. She was getting her degree in piano from a local college and faithfully serving in our church when I noticed her unique gifting. Through intentional investment - first as an intern, then as a resident - she's grown into a powerhouse worship leader and songwriter for our church. Her story isn't unique; it's a testament to what can happen when we take seriously Paul's charge to "fan into flame the gift of God" (2 Timothy 1:6).
The Path Forward: Internal Development
Before you start posting that job listing or reaching out to your network, take a look around your church. I firmly believe in looking internal before external, and here's why: these people already love your church, understand your DNA, and you won't have to coordinate a cross-country move. But most importantly, it fulfills our calling to develop the gifts within the body of Christ.
John Maxwell says, "Leaders create other leaders, not followers." I'll take it a step further - one of the best metrics of a really good worship leader is their ability to replicate themselves. If you're leading worship ministry in a multi-site context (or headed that direction), you should be constantly praying about who you can invest in and how to create the infrastructure for their growth.
The Reality Check: Timeline and Expectations
Let's get practical for a minute. People often ask me how long it takes to develop a campus worship leader. In my experience, you're looking at 2-3 years, depending on their starting point and maturity. That might sound like a long time, but here's why it's worth it:
You're not just developing musical skills - you're cultivating a shepherd's heart, leadership capacity, and theological depth. This takes time, and that's okay. Remember, we're building for the long haul.
Building Your Development Pipeline
Ministry is caught more than it's taught. The best approach I've found combines both formal structure with plenty of hands-on experience. Here's what that looks like in practice:
Start with an internship - 10 hours a week where they can shadow you, lead with you on Sundays, and get their feet wet leading youth worship. During this time, we focus on three key areas: head (theological understanding), heart (spiritual formation), and hands (practical skills). They'll read through worship-focused books together, participate in planning meetings, and gradually take on more responsibility.
Give them a capstone project, like leading a full rehearsal by the end of their term. This provides a clear goal to work toward and helps them integrate everything they've learned.
If that goes well, consider a residency program. This is where the real growth happens. They take on more responsibility, lead at other campuses to give your campus leaders breaks, and sit in on all the planning meetings. Weekly feedback becomes crucial here. We're not just looking for musical growth - we're developing their pastoral instincts, their ability to lead volunteers, and their understanding of how worship fits into the larger mission of the church.
The Growth Journey: Embracing "Failing Forward"
Here's a truth for you: your developing leaders will make mistakes, and that's actually a good thing. But it's how you handle those mistakes that makes all the difference.
Trust me, I've seen it all. A worship leader forgets to communicate arrangement changes to the band before rehearsal, leading to a chaotic practice session. Another misses important cues during the service because they weren't properly prepared. These moments can feel like failures, but they're actually golden opportunities for growth.
The key is creating an environment where these "failures" become stepping stones. After that chaotic rehearsal, the leader learns firsthand why clear communication matters. When they miss those cues, they understand why preparation is crucial. We call this "failing forward" - where every mistake becomes a lesson that moves us in the right direction.
But here's the crucial part: you have to give trust away freely while providing the guardrails of consistent feedback and support. Meet weekly to review services together. Watch recordings of their leading. Ask good questions: "What did you learn?" "What would you do differently?" "How can we make this better next time?"
Making It Work: Practical Steps
Pay attention to your volunteers. Your next worship leader might be that faithful backup vocalist or acoustic guitar player.
Create clear growth paths. Have documentation ready for what you'll walk them through. (I'm happy to share our internship content with anyone who reaches out.)
Delegate incrementally. Start with "I do, you watch," move to "you do, I watch," and finally "you do, I'm out." One responsibility at a time.
Be patient. Too many worship leaders (and lead pastors) rush this process. Growth takes time, but it's worth the investment.
Remember, if you're patient, prayerful, and intentional, you can develop worship leaders right where you are. Even if you have the budget to hire externally, developing from within builds something special - a culture of growth, investment, and multiplication.
Your worship ministry becomes stronger when you invest in raising up leaders from within. Yes, it takes time. Yes, there will be growing pains. But watching someone like Payton grow from a gifted volunteer into a strong worship leader who's now developing others? That's worth every minute of investment.