An urgent need became apparent to me through our weekly interactions with congregations. Although we have seen great emphasis on training preachers and youth ministers, education for worship ministers in our brotherhood has been woefully inadequate. As a result the church is experiencing a severe shortage of well-prepared and qualified worship leaders who are available to serve. The problem results from the reality that most active and current worship leaders cannot drop their occupations and stations in life in order to return to university to fulfill the requirements of a worship ministry major. This prompted me to launch the Worship Leader Institute.

The Institute is an intensive four-day bootcamp to teach and develop the important skills of worship leading. The teaching staff is composed of experienced masters in the areas our advanced curriculum. Topics include: stage presence, non-verbal communication, proper voice care, worship planning, transitions, tempo and dynamics, physics of holding pitch, conflict resolution and a host of others. In addition to classroom sessions, practical lab work, video taping and peer reviews are part of the experience. The ratio of staff to student is approximately one to one, ensuring very personalized training.

With the limited class size for the advanced training, we are encouraging those interested to apply right away for the next session before registration is closed. Two or more students from a congregation are encouraged as the benefit will be multiplied by their increased ability to work together. Our next Worship Leader Institute will be held January 2012.

It is our prayer that more congregations will invest in improving their singing and worship by sponsoring their qualified worship leaders to the Worship Leader Institute.

Many congregations in the US and Internationally have within their ranks, passionate and qualified candidates, eager to enroll in the institute, but without the funds to do so. Some have been blessed by the financial gifts of anonymous donors who have become WLI sponsors. If you recognize the need for worship leader training and have been financially blessed, please consider sponsoring one of these talented applicants. Your donation of a full or partial scholarship will be multiplied many times in the future through the gift of vibrant worship.

There is a tremendous need for dedicated worship leaders who will commit to the journey of excellence and growth. I can’t think of anything more important than the time we invest in the Worship Leader Institute.