Kim Gentes

I've spent the last 15 years evaluating and recommending resources for worship ministries, churches, leaders, musicians, vocalists, audio/video techs and pastors. I've even written a book highlighting the best of those resources that I've found relevant to worship and music. But in that time and search, I've yet to recommend a resource that completely covers the topic of how to lead worship. There are several books and DVDs and resources that drill down on specific details, skills, issues or ideas- all of them good and needed. But what I was looking for was the one book that could serve as the manual or textbook for those with a calling to leading worship.  My search has ended.

In "How To Lead Worship Without Being a Rock Star", Dan Wilt has crafted a values-based approach to the calling, development and practice of worship leading. As the title indicates, Wilt is as concerned with answering the question of why to lead worship as he is to how. Right from the start, the author identifies the 800lb gorilla in church music: the fact that leadership of sacred worship has collided with the "American Idol" pop-culture on the Sunday morning music platforms of churches around the world. Wilt's pithy phrase brings these tensions into crystal clear focus in his introduction:

Excitement and danger - that is the privilege of worship leading.1

From that place, the book takes the reader on an eight chapter course that will engage all the necessary components of development to bring a person through detailed information, study, evaluation and questioning- all as a means to growth into worship leadership. The first chapter drills deep into the subject of why we worship and why leading is a part of local church expression of worship. This flows nicely into the second chapter which continues to carve out the foundations by addressing the core values that we must have undergirding our understanding and practice of worship leading. The final foundation stone of his book comes in chapter three, which is titled "The Character of the Worship Leader", in which the reader is made to face the hard questions of motivation, calling and desires in their hopes of participation in leading worship. These first three chapters are worth the cost of the book on their own, and as someone who has worked for years at developing other worship leaders the importance and value of these foundations can't be overlooked.

Chapters four and five kick into practical guidance on the skills, planning, practices and thinking behind great worship leading. Chapter four focuses on the functions, techniques and skills of the worship leader and chapter five drills down on the leadership of a worship band. Chapter six deals with the pastoral relationship and the role of mentorship as you help others in growing in worship leading. Chapter seven culminates this practical guidebook approach by articulating excellent points to helping you in "Becoming a Great Worship Leader". The final chapter revisits the main points of the book and returns the reader to foundational concepts of values that undergird this book.

Dan Wilt's book is as virtual "course in a book" on worship leading 101. If you are looking for a rock solid manual to help with teaching the foundational values of worship leading along with the essentials of practical worship ministry, you have struck gold with "How To Lead Worship..." by Dan Wilt. I would especially recommend this to those of you who may be training, mentoring or leading other worship leaders (whether Sunday morning or small groups)-- this is the one manual that can help you and those that you are mentoring! Because the book is laid out in eight distinct sessions (including salient points, chapter discussion questions and summaries), you can use it as you "ready-to-use" study that both you and your trainee will learn from. Wilt has used his years as a local church worship leader, pastor, college professor and mentor to worship leaders around the world to inform his very practical approach to creating and developing this manual- and it shines through.

There are certainly more things to learn and technical concepts to be drilled down on as a worship leader develops, but this book should be at the starting point as a foundational course text for churches, worship departments, and Christian colleges everywhere. It is practical, readable, honest, values-centered and encouraging! Get a copy of this physical printed book in your hands now! While it will be life-changing for the beginner, it can also serve as a great structural inspection for the values and operational architecture of those already operating in the call of worship leading.

Book Link: http://bit.ly/1a3U5w9

Review by Kim Gentes

1. Wilt, Dan (203). How To Lead Worship Without Being a Rock Star: an 8 week study.  (Page 4). Wild Pear Creative.

The first 45 years of the 20th century was a revolutionary time for economics- literally! The transformation of much of Europe, two world wars, the rise of American commercial/industrial supremacy and the creation of the first major socialist state- Soviet Russia. All of these things were (at least in part) results of change in how people viewed economics. From university professors, to political power brokers, economics had become the testing ground for the philosophies of Smithian capitalism to Marxist socialism. The results of all those theories attempted to be "proven" in real world situations meant that success and failure stories were strewn across the globe and time.

During the first half of the 20th century, economic theories and teachers were seen as "prophets" in a world of uncertainty. From philosphy to math, economics promised to help us understand our world. But much was confusing about this discipline. Into this world comes Henry Hazlitt.

Instead of creating a new school of economics, confronting the various theories and gurus, Hazlitt wrote a book on a single principle. "Economics In One Lesson" is that lesson, and it has become the most popular economics textbook in history. His secret? Follow the money.

Hazlitt describes the issue with most economist failures as the short-sightedness of looking only to a single group in the short term, rather than to all groups for both short and long term effects. From this single truth, the entire book explodes with explanations and examples that are easy to understand, but explore the root of almost all economic idiocy that hampered the markets of the past (and still plague the economic systems of the present). Hazlitt takes no political or idelogical swings at others, though he stands clearly in the capitalist river of economic thought. It's an excellent book for people encountering economics for the first time, and very good for experienced economic "experts" who tend to forget this seminal counterbalance to so many new theories of economic prediction.

Amazon Book Link: http://amzn.to/TyM111

A classic book that makes an often confusing subject clear for everyone. Though it was originally written in 1946, it has been revised with a second edition update and this text remains a test to its timeless application for anyone wishing to learn about economics.

Review by Kim Gentes