How to Use Music in Ministry
BY HYOIK KIM
Introduction
“Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious” (Psalm 66:1-2 KJV).
By God’s grace, I was able to study theology and church music together. Fellow pastors often ask me for the “secret” to using music well in ministry. Because churches have varied realities and regional, ethnic, and generational differences, I don’t have a one-size-fits-all answer. However, I would like to share a few practical insights I’ve gained through my experience in pastoral and music ministry.
Music through which the people of God offer glory to God in spirit and in truth is a beautiful and precious expression of faith unlike any other music this world can offer.
1. Learn an Instrument!
Through elementary, middle, and high school, most of us picked up a basic foundation in music. Many pastors have taken piano lessons at some point. When a pastor understands music, it is easier to use music in ministry. But if that’s not you, there’s no need to hesitate, wondering whether it’s too late to learn an instrument. As the saying goes, “starting is half the battle.” As long as you have the will to learn, it’s never too late. Take the piano, for example: even if lessons aren’t realistic, YouTube offers courses that can teach you the basics of piano in two to three months and basic hymn accompaniment in a similar timeframe. The piano and guitar are the two instruments most useful and accessible for ministry. Even if your church already has an accompanist, being able to play these two instruments yourself is a great asset. I highly recommend learning them. This is especially true when leading a funeral, where an instrument often isn’t available. A pastor who can pick up a guitar and lead a hymn in that moment becomes a channel of comfort and grace.
2. Learn to Sing!
Leading hymns is an important part of pastoral ministry. In worship services, home visits, and various church gatherings, it’s the pastor who steps forward to lead the singing. Most pastors, I believe, lead hymns graciously and with above-average skill, but there’s still room to grow as a singer. It’s worth learning to hit pitch and rhythm accurately, the basic building blocks of music, and the proper vocal technique suited to each piece. For pastors serving multiethnic or English-speaking congregations in particular, it helps to work on English pronunciation as it applies to singing. This is called “diction in singing,” and you can find excellent lessons on YouTube. Getting your diction right is essential for delivering the lyrics clearly. Breathing technique, vocal production, and diction also carry over remarkably well to preaching; I highly recommend learning them.
3. Practice! Practice! Practice!
If you’ve ever put your children in music lessons, you’ve probably said “practice” more times than you can count. That raises the question: “Have you practiced the hymns you’re going to lead this coming Sunday?” And practice isn’t just for Sunday worship. Home visits, funerals, and seasonal services bring unfamiliar hymns your way. When a piece is unfamiliar, it helps to record it ahead of time and listen to it repeatedly. If you have an accompanist, run through it together before the service. Here’s a personal example: my father was never a strong singer, but once he entered ministry, he’d ask me to accompany him, and he would always practice the hymns before Sunday. Remarkably, while other songs remained difficult for him, he was able to lead hymns without much trouble. As I emphasized above, pastors serving English-speaking congregations should review even familiar hymns before leading them in English. A hymn the pastor has prepared in advance makes worship noticeably more comfortable and grace-filled for the congregation. A prepared leader makes for a prepared service.
4. Use Music in Your Preaching!
Once practice and effort have built your musical confidence, you can put musical elements to effective use in preaching. Remember that hymns originated to convey Christian doctrine effectively and without resistance. I encourage you to use hymns that resonate with your sermon. It’s hard to find a member of the congregation willing to hear the same sermon ten times, but singing the same hymn again and again isn’t nearly as hard. You can use this in several ways. You might open the sermon with a line from a hymn to introduce the day’s theme or quote a verse from a hymn the congregation knows well as an illustration to help the message stick. I sometimes close a sermon by singing a short passage a cappella—a single verse or refrain that fits the sermon’s content is enough. Just remember that doing this every Sunday or too often will dilute its effect. When a sermon’s message rides on the melody of a hymn, the congregation carries that truth in their hearts throughout the week.
5. Build It Together!
Music isn’t something one person completes alone; it’s something built together, by many hands. If you have an accompanist or choir director, treat that person as a valued partner and communicate proactively. Listen carefully to their input, share the hymns planned for Sunday ahead of time, and set aside time for a shared rehearsal. Even a simple word of thanks after worship can noticeably change the relationship. Tempo and the flow of a hymn fall under the accompanist’s domain, so if a pastor has a specific request, coordinate it beforehand. If your church doesn’t have anyone in that role, look for someone within the congregation gifted in music or singing and raise them up. Members who can play an instrument, those who love to sing, even a children’s special song—the more you widen the door to participation, the richer the worship of praise becomes. Even if things are clumsy at first, the process of preparing together builds community, and members learn the joy of serving worship with their own gifts. When pastor and congregation build worship with one heart, that harmony carries through directly to the congregation. Always remember: in the end, the whole church builds praise together.
Conclusion
There’s a Konglish expression, “case by case” (케바케), meaning that everything can play out differently depending on the situation. Playing off that, I often use the phrase “church by church” (쳐바쳐). It means there’s no single right answer in pastoral ministry; every church applies it differently, depending on its situation. That’s exactly why the pastor needs to know the church’s circumstances better than anyone else. Keep a regular eye on the congregation’s musical level, tendencies, and preferences. When a pastor is newly appointed, using a simple survey to find out which hymns the congregation loves can be tremendously helpful. Music through which the people of God offer glory to God in spirit and in truth is a beautiful and precious expression of faith unlike any other music this world can offer. I hope that the beauty of praise will overflow in every church.
Korean –목회를위한음악활용법
Rev. Hyoik Kim
First United Methodist Church of Toms River, NJ
