Liberty University
Study Response 1
An Assignment
Submitted to Dr. Kimberly A. Martin
Principles of Leadership for the Worship Leader
WRSP 530
By
Rachel Morway
Morway
For the last decade, I have called it an honor and a privilege to lead the worship ministry
at my church and, most recently within the last two years, our amazing choir. Through all the
ebbs and flows of ministry and its constant interactions with people and their various
personalities, I have learned over time that my attitude, countenance and leadership qualities
affect the overall morale of the team and how we all interact and strive for our ministry goals as a
team. Over the past ten years, I can think of multiple instances where I made wise decisions in
my leadership, therefore creating an atmosphere where unity and growth can take place on our
team, but also times where my lack of judgement and poor choices caused friction and conflict
between some of the team members and the staff. We do well to remember that when we pick up
the mantle of ministerial leadership, we are no longer responsible for just our own lives and
living them in a way that pleases the Lord – we are responsible for the members of our team to
treat them well and to provide them with a safe place where ministry can take place without
being worried about personal emotions and setbacks.
In reading Sam’s story in Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership, I felt as if I was
reading a page from my own journal. I so identify with his innate sense to please people and to
win the approval of others. Even though one of my life verses has always been Galatians 1:10,
“if I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ,”1 I feel as if I have to
continue to work hard at pleasing both people AND God. As Rima says, “I thought I simply
needed to work harder to maintain the successes that would result in the words of approval that
had begun to drive my life and motivate every decision. But there comes a time when you can’t
rake any faster and the leaves just keep falling.”2 I deal with these thoughts on a very personal
1 Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the New International Version (Grand
Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995).
2 Gary L. McIntosh & Samuel D. Rima, Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership. (Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Books, 1997), 32.
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Morway
level, and some seasons are harder than others in dealing with these overwhelming notions that
seem to take shape into “the dark side” over time.
In saying all this, I have learned to look to my mentors for guidance and wisdom over the
years to gain perspective and push past these feelings. Our previous Student Ministries Pastor at
our church was an incredible pastor and definitely dealt with a terrible amount of darkness in his
ministry. He used the power of Scripture to rise above the darkness, putting to use passages like
“taking your thoughts captive”3 and “for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but
against… the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
realms.”4 As he would quote these Scriptures and attempt to live his life by them, he slowly but
surely made his way into the light and operates in his ministry with victory and a powerful
testimony. Just like Jesus did when he was tempted in the desert, we too can use Scripture as our
most powerful resource against the darkness, for, after all, it is the only offensive weapon listed
in Scripture that we can use against the enemy’s schemes.5
Bibliography
3 2 Corinthians 10:5.
4 Ephesians 6:12.
5 See Ephesians 6:17.
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