9 Reasons Your Church Might Need a Choir

Bring Back the Choir

Monday night of the annual meeting, we involved a choir, orchestra, rhythm section (praise band) and vocal team to lead worship. I have heard so many comments about the powerful worship Monday night being probably the best worship experience they have encountered in a convention meeting. Honestly, we spent much time in prayer that God would bring heaven down in that meeting and He truly answered that prayer. I think the power of a worship-leading choir was a big help in getting the congregation actively involved in worship. Maybe it is time to bring the choir back in your church. Check out the excellent article below from Chuck Lawless.

Kenny

By Chuck Lawless

Most of the churches I’ve been a member of over 45+ years have had a choir. I realize that’s unusual now. I understand the various reasons for churches doing away with a choir, and I’m not arguing that every church should have a choir—but it might be the right move for your church. Here are some reasons why:

The problem with some churches in the past was not that they had a choir; it was that they had a poor choir. Any approach to worship music not done with excellence is a problem, regardless of style. A bad praise team is just as problematic as a bad choir.
A choir offers opportunities for members to use their gifts. If church leaders give significance to the choir and then recruit well, they may see members use gifts they didn’t even know they had. Even in churches that have a small worship space, it’s possible to figure out a way to have a choir.
Churches need not choose between a choir and a praise team; they can have both that complement one another. In my opinion, having both groups leading the church only increases the members’ participation in the act of worship. That’s a good thing.
Having a well-designed approach to a choir offers an opportunity to more deeply disciple those members. If any group ought to be continually growing in Christ, it is those who help lead us in worship—and a choir leader should be a disciple maker. Being in a choir should never be about performance; it should be about spiritual growth and humble service.
A choir might help your church fill a unique niche in your community. Every church is different, and every church approaches worship somewhat differently. It might be that your community needs a church with a choir to reach folks who think more traditionally.
It helps produce good congregational singing. A praise team can achieve this goal, too, but it’s easier to worship through song when dozens of people are leading the way.
A good choir sings and illustrates joy. It’s not just the singing that makes a difference. It’s also the smiling. It’s the worshiping through raising hands. It’s the singer who closes his eyes and takes us to God through his own personal worship. It’s the large group praising God together.
It offers multi-generational fellowship. I’ve been to churches where the choir is the only opportunity for several generations to serve together. There’s something God- honoring about an older saint and a teen believer singing next to one another.
It helps avoid the “single star” approach to worship leadership. That’s just naturally the case: get enough people in the picture, and no single leader becomes the star.