One of the most important (and for me, most difficult) aspects of your music ministry is a personal connection with every member of your team. You will have deeper connections with some, but on some level you need to connect with all of them.

I’m not the connection guru, you’d be much better talking to my friend Jermaine Rodriguez about that, but let me give you a few ways that I’m successfully connecting. I’ll present them as ideas for you to chew on.

Ice Cream Social

To be honest, I’ve never called and Ice Cream Social an Ice Cream Social, but I have recently told my team, “Hey, we’re having ice cream for the last 30 minutes of rehearsal this week!” It was a nice touch that they enjoyed, everyone sat around and talked and I have the chance to walk around and be Pastor Jason, not Music Director Jason. This is fairly cheap to pull off. We only provided ice cream, chocolate syrup, bowls, napkins and spoons. If they had a toping they loved, they brought it to share.

Guys Night / Ladies Night

I attend both of these. I have a night that the guys go out after rehearsal and another night for the ladies. It breaks my team down enough to see and visit with just about everyone. Our guys nights are super fun… when it’s just us the men let their personalities shine a little more.

New Music Party

Anytime we introduce a new CD (no more than four times a year) we have cake and soda. NO REHEARSAL. However, we do take the second half of the two hours and listen through the CD while I share some thoughts on the songs.

Regular Communication

You won’t think of this an connecting, but it is! Your team ought to have regular emails from you. This not only keeps them informed, but keeps YOU in their home, on the phone and at their work.

Connecting isn’t always easy, but it’s super important!

Blessings!