For the past month, I've made a conscious effort to be off the stage from leading worship. I've had some people ask me what's going on. So here are my top ten reasons why it was good for me to be off-stage...
1. You can help the sense that the worship experience isn't personality-driven (by me).
2. You can meet more people in your congregation off-stage than on-stage.
3. You can get a rare glimpse by hearing and seeing what the worshippers hear and see.
4. You can sit with your son for his very first 'big church' experience.
5. You can help your wife with the kids, because she's a "single-mom" the other 51 weeks of the year on Sunday morning.
6. You can develop leadership letting others lead in your place.
7. You can make sure the ministry still works, you know, just in case you get hit by a bus someday.
8. You can talk with the off-stage who supports the on-stage ministry (techs, security, ushers, recording techs, lyric operators).
9. You can learn an off-stage tech position for some cross-training (house audio, recording studio, etc.).
10. You can come back to the stage with a greater appreciation for all of the off-stage ministry that happens.