Let’s be honest—most of us are leading worship teams made up entirely of volunteers.

While some churches are able to pay every worship team member, that’s the exception, not the rule. Most of us are working with people who give their time, talent, and energy for free every single week. And while that’s beautiful… it can also be tricky.

Having led both paid teams and fully volunteer ones, I’ve noticed something: the biggest difference in team excellence and commitment has nothing to do with a paycheck, and everything to do with leadership.

One of the biggest traps leaders fall into with volunteers is settling. We start thinking, “Well, they’re not being paid… this is probably as good as it gets.”

But here’s the truth: volunteers will rise to the level of culture and care you create.

So let’s talk about how to take your team—from wherever they are right now—and start shaping them into a group marked by unity, excellence, and joy. Here are 4 simple (but powerful) shifts that can transform your worship team.

1. Know Your People

This one thing alone can determine whether your team thrives or struggles.

Do you know your team beyond their instrument or vocal part? Do you know their families, their passions, their stories? Are you the kind of leader more focused on relationships than lights, setlists, or how trendy your stage design looks?

Connection is the currency of volunteerism.
Volunteers don’t show up because of a paycheck—they show up because they feel valued.

When your team knows that you genuinely care about them, they’ll walk through fire for you. But if all you ever talk about is where they need to grow, then don’t be surprised if that’s all they think you see in them.

Start today. Ask questions. Have real conversations. Make space to listen.

When people feel known, they stop acting like volunteers—and start acting like family.

2. Make Time That Isn’t “Stage Time”

If the only time your team is together is for rehearsals and services, you’re missing the heart of what a team actually is.

Yes, schedules are tight. Yes, people are busy. But intentional time outside of Sunday builds unity faster than a thousand perfect rehearsals.

And it doesn’t have to be complicated. Back when I led a youth worship team in New Jersey, we’d head to the local Italian ice shop after rehearsal. It wasn’t fancy. But those summer nights, laughing together over dessert, created memories that still stick with me more than any setlist we ever played.

Worship together. Eat together. Hang out together.
Because when people feel like they belong, they’ll show up more prepared and more passionate.

3. Give Them Ownership

One of the greatest leadership myths is that you have to do everything.
But when you invite others into the process, they start taking the team personally—and that’s where transformation happens.

Got a background vocalist who wants to lead someday?
Let them shadow you while building a set. Help them prep one song to lead. Coach them. Cheer them on. Give them space to grow.

Have someone who’s great with tech?
Put them in charge of uploading lyrics. Assign someone stage teardown. Train different team members to lead soundcheck each week.

The more ownership someone has, the more they invest.
The goal is for every person to walk in thinking, “This is my team. This is my space. I matter here.”

4. Don’t Forget to Have Fun

This may be the simplest point… but also the most overlooked.

Rehearsals should have laughter.
There should be smiles, jokes, moments of joy. Not chaos, not sloppiness—but fun.

Too many leaders feel like they have to choose between fun and excellence. But that’s a false choice. The best teams have both.

Create a culture where it’s safe to try, safe to mess up, safe to grow. Music is meant to be joyful. Worship is meant to be freeing.

Remember why we all started this in the first place—because we loved it.

Every team is unique. But these four principles—knowing your people, creating community, cultivating ownership, and keeping joy at the center—can breathe life into any worship team.

If you lead volunteers, never forget this:

Take care of them, and they’ll take care of the mission.

Do you have a story or tip about building team culture? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’ve brought your volunteer team to life!

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You may also be interested in these posts as well:

• 5 Steps To Get More Musicians and Vocalists On Your Team
• Worship Leaders – Why Your Congregation Doesn’t Worship And What To Do About It
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• 9 Worship Band Leading Mistakes: Which Ones Are You Making?
• 4 Reasons Why Your Band Should Stop Practicing and Start Rehearsing