Often an overlooked aspect of worship ministry

“Stewarding your voice is not just about sounding good; it’s about honoring the calling that God has placed on your life.”

The Gift of Your Voice

Your voice is a gift from God. He designed and created each voice to be as unique as a fingerprint. That means your voice is unique to only you; it’s the only one of its kind. Quite literally, it’s priceless. It is easy to take our voices for granted because we are constantly using them.

But imagine that you couldn’t use your voice for the foreseeable future. What would you lose? At a basic level, you’d lose the ability to communicate your needs, wants and desires clearly and quickly. Your family would lose the comforting sound of your voice, something that they don’t even realize they need until it’s gone. Most difficult for a singer, you’d lose the ability to communicate an emotion that can only be heard through melody. And as a worship leader, you’d lose the opportunity to lead others to the Creator of all things. Does that sit well with you?

The voice is a vital tool we use every week to lead our congregations in worship. Yet, in the hustle and bustle of ministry life, it’s easy to forget that, just like any other part of our service, our voices require attention, care, and development.

“Your voice is a gift from God. He designed and created each voice to be as unique as a fingerprint.”

Honoring Your Calling

Stewarding your voice is not just about sounding good; it’s about honoring the calling that God has placed on your life.

Ephesians 2:10 says this, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

In the context of our cultural language, we see “good works” and we think of things like taking someone a meal after surgery, mowing the lawn for an elderly neighbor, and so forth. Of course, all these good works are wonderful and necessary. But let’s look at this passage from another perspective.

Every time I read this passage, “workmanship” jumps out at me. The Greek word is poiema, the word from which we get our English word “poem”. It showcases God as our Great Creator, our very original Artist. What comes to mind when you think of the word workmanship? Words like artistry, expertise, skill, or craftsmanship may come to mind. Workmanship evokes the thought of something that was created with great care.

As we go about our calling on this earth, we are works of art literally coming to life while also following in the steps of our Great Creator, creating art and beauty that prayerfully points to Him and his unmatched glory. There is, however, a big difference between God the Great Creator and you and me as artists, musicians, singers. He is perfect in all he does. No matter how much natural talent we have at a particular skill, there is work to be done.

The Greek word translated as “works” in Ephesians 2:10 is ἔργον (ergon), which Strong’s Concordance defines as “any product whatever, anything accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind, with an emphasis on the act of working.” Even the most talented and successful artists have worked tirelessly to hone their craft.

Claude Monet, one of the great French impressionists, painted many series of paintings working on how he translated a landscape to canvas depending on various lighting conditions throughout the day. Each painting of the same scene looks vastly different depending on what time of day or even year he focused on. I’m sure you have seen one of Monet’s most famous paintings, “Water Lilies”.  Did you know Monet’s Water Lilies is a series of 250 paintings? Two hundred and fifty paintings of water lilies – from different perspectives, different times of year, and different times of day!

Before he worked tirelessly, through cataracts mind you, creating one of the most recognized works of art today, he painted a lesser known (unless you are a lifelong fan like me) series of haystacks. That’s right – haystacks. I know, it sounds uninspiring, and maybe it is, compared to some of his other works. However, his series of haystacks was excellent practice and work on how lighting changes everything which led to some of his greatest works, including another favorite series of mine based on transitions of light on the Rouen Cathedral. That is practice, investment, a working in the context of art and beauty that points back to God and his glory. I will not pretend to know anything about Claude Monet’s spiritual life. However, I can speak to how God used Monet’s art to speak to me with gentle encouragement during a particularly difficult time in my life, more than 100 years after Monet honed his artistry.

Each time we sing, we are inputting into the world beauty that should point back to the one who put breath in our lungs. By investing in your vocal health and skill, you are a work of art coming to life, honing your skill “…for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that [you] should walk in them.”

“As we go about our calling on this earth, we are works of art literally coming to life while also following in the steps of our Great Creator, creating art and beauty that prayerfully points to Him and his unmatched glory.”

Key Practices for Vocal Care and Development

Taking care of your voice involves several key practices:

  • Regular Practice: Consistent vocal exercises not only enhance your skill but also help maintain your vocal health.
  • Proper Technique: Understanding and utilizing correct vocal techniques can prevent strain and injury.
  • Rest and Recovery: Just as spiritual preparation is essential, so is allowing your voice time to rest and recover.

Neglecting these elements can lead to vocal fatigue and injury hindering your ability to lead effectively.

A Tool for His Glory

Remember, your voice is a powerful tool that God has given you to bring people closer to Him. Let’s commit to taking care of it together, recognizing that our vocal health is an essential part of our ministry.

As we care for our voices, we not only honor our personal calling but also serve our congregations better. Let’s strive for excellence in every aspect of our worship leadership, ensuring that we can continue to lead with passion and purpose.

“As we care for our voices, we not only honor our personal calling but also serve our congregations better.”

I’d love to hear your thoughts on vocal care and development! What practices do you implement to ensure your voice is in top shape? Let’s share our insights in the comments below or connect directly!

 

Kate Bissinger is a vocal coach with WorshipConsulting.com. She has a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance and participated in all three levels of Somatic Voicework℠, The LoVetri Method, at the Contemporary Commercial Music Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah University. She specializes in vocally coaching worship leaders and worship team members. She lives in a sweet little town outside Philadelphia with her husband, two constantly energetic boys, and one neurotic cat.