KNCSB Worship Ministers Recharge At Retreat

By Eva Wilson

February 2008

People skills, not technical skills, ultimately make the difference in ministry.

That is what David Manner of the KNCSB staff reminded worship ministers when they met for their annual retreat Jan. 18-19 in Topeka, Kan.

Manner is KNCSB’s director of church worship and administration. His office handles resumes for all staff positions in Kansas-Nebraska Southern Baptist churches. During his nearly eight-year career with KNCSB, Manner has seen how people skills can make or break a ministry career.

As he began discussing “10 Suggestions for a Lengthy Tenure” on that bitterly cold Friday night, Manner acknowledged, “Many of you could be teaching this.”

Some of his suggestions were:

  • “Place more focus on the person than on the project.”
  • “Look out for No. 2.” This is difficult for music ministers who are accustomed to being on center stage, he acknowledged. “Constantly praise, both publicly and private—real heart-felt praise.”
  • “Don’t compare your place of ministry,” Manner continued. “Minister with an attitude of contentment, not comparison.” He challenged the group to follow Hebrews 12: 1-2 and fix their eyes on Jesus.
  • “Be a lifelong learner. The moment you stop learning, you stop leading.”
  • “Move tables,” or “don’t afraid to do the dirty work.” Manner reminded, “Jesus called his disciples to be servant leaders. What menial task in your congregation can you think of that everyone hates to do?”
  • “Your family is your ministry.” In ministry, “there’s always more to do,” Manner said. “There has to come a point when you say, `I need to spend time with my family’.”
  • “Lighten up” and have fun in ministry. “Back off, enjoy it and have a good time, or you’ll kill yourself,” he aid. “We arrogantly assume that God can’t get it done without [us].”

During other sessions, Manner focused on some of the technical aspects of worship. He urged his listeners to look beyond worship style and help their congregations find their unique “worship voice.”

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