When They Seem to Stare

Nothing can be more disheartening to a praise team or worship leader than those in the congregation that just seem to stare. They seemingly will not engage in anything much less worship. They sometimes just stand with their hands in their pockets. It's as if they are just watching... judging... waiting to pounce on a mistake. Maybe they are critiquing... 'why are they singing this song' or 'they sang this song just a couple of weeks ago' or 'that guitar is out of tune'. And to make it worse, sometimes there seems be little groups of those who just won't seem to sing or engage in the least little way. Here are some things to think about that may help you as a worship leader.

We all know that folks worship in different ways. Some very demonstrative... some not. What looks very enthusiastic to some may look fake to another. It is very important to remember while we dont want them judging us... we cannot judge them either. We don't know what they are dealing with in their personal lives. They may be trying to come out of a dark place. Our job is to lead the congregation into an experience with God. As we like to say in our pre-service prayer... "Lord we want to worship You this morning, not the music, not the church, not the sound, not the lights... but ONLY YOU!" We know that if we worship in truth... they will worship.

Some churches just have a history of standing and hardly singing at all. And if you try to change that culture, they can resist heavily or even go find another place to 'worship'. We are left to just pray for the individual and the congregation. Often we can be in full worship mode, the music is good, the Holy Spirit is there, and you look and someone is just staring... or looking at their phone! You think "what in the world, are you spiritually dead"? Sometimes the answer to that sadly is yes. It can be heart breaking. We must pray that we can see them as Christ sees them. Then you enter a whole new realm of worship leading. In the end, we must lead and exhort our congregation to experience the Holy Spirit. Here are some ways.

1. Pray for your congregation before the service - Get by yourself and pray for your people. Pray for those who have asked for pray. Pray for those you don't know. Pray for those who just stare. Pray for all who walk through the door. Pray for those watching on line. Pray that God will use your team today to minister to someone in some way. Pray that you will be invisible and that the Holy Spirit will reign in the service. Pray that your practice time will now allow you to let go of the tempos and chords and be free to worship. Pray for the pastor and his message. We also pray as a team immediately following our morning run-through.

2. Let them know you need help! - I will sometimes say lightheartedly as we start our first song, "OK folks remember this is a spectator free zone... NO SPECTATORS ALLOWED... we are all part of the worship team AMEN! Besides.. we need all the help we can get right Pastor?".

3. Read Scripture - We will often have a planned reading during worship. Have someone play softly under the reading. Doesn't need to be long. Here are some good ones... You can offer 2 or 3 of these together to remind your folks. "This is good, this is biblical, this is why we are here, it's ok to worship the one and only living God!"

John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and now is here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him".

Isaiah 12:5

"Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth".

Psalm 95:6 "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!"

Psalm 30:11

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness". And so many more.

4. Pray Between Songs - Again, keep it short and simple. Some on your team may have the gift of prayer... use them. Make sure they are comfortable praying before the congregation. I have often written short prayers down to make sure I stay on point and short. "Lord, we invite your Holy Spirit to be here with us right now. We want to worship You Lord. We ask you to take away anything that my hinder our connection with you right now as we worship You and seek Your way... in Jesus' name".

Remember this also... while they are staring at least they are in church. They may be blocked spiritually right now but you may be the instrument God uses to break chains. Maybe today,,, maybe years from now. We just have to be in tune and obedient to the Holy Spirit. You are there to lead your church in the worship and experience of God. Ask Him to help you do that right where you are. He knows the hearts in that church. He knows the needs. We must be trusting, willing and obedient.

Blessings to you and your team!