Endurance Training

I run.

I run far.

I’m going to be running a Half Marathon on June 4^th. 13.1 miles through the South Bend metro area and finishing (hopefully I make it there) on the green turf of Notre Dame Stadium. As long as the weather cooperates and I remain healthy and uninjured, I will complete the biggest and most demanding physical feat of my life.

So how do running and worship ministry go together? Good question. I’m going to attempt make it through this entire post without making of those cliche' “run the race of life” analogies and rather suggest to you that your ministry has the ability to endure more and more as you become a solid team of individuals committed to accomplishing a enormous feat.

I’m talking about goals. Do you have any?

Worship Ministry is more than playing four or five songs on Sunday, picking four or five more songs for next Sunday, rehearsing, and making team schedules. Yes, those are some of the more managerial duties for keeping the ministry afloat, but it’s not anything that you can post on a bulletin board and say, “We want to get ‘here’!”

Find out where “that place” is for your ministry. Have conversations with your pastor about how the worship in your church would ideally look. Be realistic, but be adventurous too. Cover the entire process in prayer and let God show you where he wants you to lead His people. And once you set a plan to take baby steps toward that goal, maintain the passion, determination and vision until you reach it.

Like the body of a runner, as your ministry pursues its goals it will become stronger. Small tasks will become easier, and the next big test won’t seem so exhausting. When you reach a goal, celebrate… then set a bigger one. God wants to see ministries flourish and become stronger and He'll do all He can to help. He is the best personal trainer you could ever have when running the race of life.

…rats, I almost made it ;)

Cody Collier is a graduate of Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA and serves as Worship Leader at Goshen First Church of God in Goshen IN, and as Midday Radio Host at Family Friendly 104.7/93.7 WFRN.