Resources For Worship

Caleb Nei has been playing in church since middle school and began leading worship in high school. For most of his life, he’s been leading at multiple churches every week. In college Caleb did the early service at the Methodist Church, the late service at the United Brethren Church and the evening service at the Baptist Church.  Caleb has a Church Music degree from Huntington University in Huntington, Indiana. He currently works for Emmaus Church in Berryille, VA. That’s a part-time job so he also teaches piano during the week, plays jazz on the weekends and leads the worship band, Stereoreel. Here is his take on music ministry and the church.

If you could name one bible verse that comes to mind regarding “worship” what would it be and what is the significance of that verse to you and your ministry?

I live by Matthew 18:20 where Jesus promises that if we gather in His name He is there. I have the privilege and responsibility of leading people from diverse backgrounds with different levels of maturity in their faith. On top of that, some have had the best weeks of their lives, others are battling discouragement and questioning God. How can I lead all of them? They’re in such different places.
I guess I do it by point them to Jesus. He’s the source of everything the person with the great week is celebrating. He’s the comfort my discouraged friends need.

How do you spiritually prepare for any given Sunday of leading worship?

The first answer is a bit trite but goes like this: Keep from getting ready by being ready. I’m finding more and more that living as a Christian is less like cramming for a test and more like a matter of being.

What is the one thing you want every one of your worship team members to understand and incorporate into his or her act of worship on any given Sunday?

The relentless pursuit of God. There will be ups, down, feelings, lack of feelings, sin, humanity, struggle, glory, redemption, purity, a veiled heaven, an open heaven.
But whatever the situation, they should show up the attitude: “here I am again God. And I’m just going to keep showing up, trusting that you’re seeing my heart, my attempts at consistent obedience, my complete need. You promised that if I seek and knock, I would find and You would open.”

What is the one piece of advice you would give to a young worship leader who is building their ministry from the ground up?

Find some other worship-leaders to hang out with. I’m so indebted to the leaders I’ve been around all of my life.  Some of them I served under. Some of them simply become friends with. All of them have shaped who I am and challenged me to grow.