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It has been one year. After a little over 15 years of being a worship leader, I "retired" at the beginning of last year.
The majority of WLs are sincere and want to use their gift for God. I've met and known dozens of WLs from UPCI, PAW, Non-Denom and Indie churches who struggle with how to lead the congregation to worship.
When I was growing up, there was no "praise team." There was certainly no large band with a front singer in pegged skinny jeans and boots. In the church my father pastored, there was a man - in his 60s - who led songs. He didn't have a great voice. It was gravely and raspy, and sometimes he didn't even sing. Almost every time, though, he had tears running down his cheeks as he worshipped God in a way I spent every service those 15+ years trying to model.
Years have passed and now there are so many workshops and conferences for WLs, which have caused WLs to lose focus on what matters.
The church is filled with commercialism - from the pre-service videos to the final prayer. There are multiplied dozens of companies just for WLs alone, not to mention products for membership, ministry, teaching, preaching, music, finances, etc.
Being a WL, there were products for audio and video, processors and video backgrounds with text overlays; group messaging/contact; products that stream live set lists - lyrics and chords to singers/musicians - and include messaging systems for everyone to text to each other.
It's hard not to get caught up in the commercialization.
It's also not an easy thing to do, although, I believe it's become more complicated than it needs to be.
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