When to Say Yes, No, or Wait

Knowing where to draw the line for a potential volunteer is tough! Saying no is even tougher! However, there is a framework that will help you immensely in doing both.

The key here is to make some value-based decisions first, which will help you identify the framework that best suites your ministry. Once you have this framework in place, you can easily evaluate how to move ahead with a potential volunteer.

There are 3 different Team Models used in a worship ministry that guide when a worship leader says yes, no, or wait. But before just picking one, you have to start with the question “What is the point of my worship team?”

Really think about this question, because you may answer differently than another Worship Leader.

Does your worship team exist to provide volunteer opportunities to all who want to serve? Does it exist so that you can provide the highest possible quality during a service? Your answers provide the reasoning to why some Worship Leaders pay their musicians and some don’t.

You may have a lot of pressure to deliver the best quality no matter what. OR you may have more of a heart to develop a ministry that is for anyone who wants to join, and your job is to help develop people in their musicianship and spiritual walk. There is a broad range (that’s not right or wrong, by the way).

Each Team Model has a different goal. 

The Developmental Model’s goal is to develop a large percentage of people who are interesting in joining the team, so that you have a flourishing volunteer community. Of course you can’t let everyone in; however, the cut off is at a different place than other models.

The Progressive Model puts a little more pressure on the quality of Sunday morning. The goal here is less about developing less talented musicians and more about improving the quality of the Sunday service. Of course you can do both; but remember that the point of the model is to help you know when to say yes, no, or wait.

The Professional Model is designed to help you hire the best talent who will accomplish the mission. It’s difficult for musicians to get into this type of ministry unless they are very talented and come prepared. Only a small percentage make the cut. The goal here is to have the highest possible quality for the services. Many people assume that this model means that you’ll have spiritually undeveloped volunteers. However, you can still develop people and have a healthy team. You’ll just say “no” a lot more than “yes.”

In the WL 30 Day Challenge that is unlocked when you become a member, I go into more detail about each of these models and show you exactly where to say yes, no, and wait for each model. Once you’ve defined your model, you’ll be able to build an audition process with confidence. You’ll be able to better recruit, based on your goals. Ultimately, you’ll know exactly when to say yes, no, or wait.

Stephen