Leading Worship - A DVD Training Experience (DVD)

 Review

Looking at tools for helping us move forward in both understanding and application in a given area, one of the best new tools available is video. Vineyard Music Canada has tapped into this media in digital format with the Leading Worship DVD. Beginning with the host, Dan Wilt, you are walked through what feels like a Canadian documentary/instruction program on the topic of worship leading. Moving from one short interview to another, this 60-Minutes-esque (or shall I say W5-ish) DVD is very well paced and covers excellent breadth of topic. No less than 13 sections cover topics like Worship Leader Role, Choosing Songs, Incorporating Hymns, Your Musical Role, the Learning Process and many others.

What is really delightful about this entire DVD is the different perspectives and input given by the 7 people speaking on the various topics. Each topic is generally treated to 2 or 3 vignettes in which individual worship leaders discuss their perspective on that particular subject. What results is a very good rendering of the overarching principles that drive much of the worship leading in the Vineyard community and the modern worship styled churches around the world.

Dan Wilt does an excellent job as host, showing his own gift in teaching by weaving scripture and commentary throughout the entire DVD, enabling it to have flow and focus as you pass from one topic to another. Then, as you listen to the insights of people like Brian Doerksen and Tim Hughes you begin to get a touch of the passion that God has placed in the hearts of these leaders. From Brenton Brown you hear a young voice of both principle and deep Biblical conviction. Andy Park and Kathryn Scott chime in to render a freshness and stark honesty that keeps the conversations real and applicable to where each of us actually lives.

There are plenty of gems in this DVD, and I am sure that each person will get a number of great things out of it. I had several favorite points in watching this presentation, but a few I want to mention. Brian Doerksen gives an excellent mini-capsule of what the role of a worship leader is- engaging with the local church to answer the psalmist question "when can I go meet with God". Brenton Brown has a very well spoken summation of the worship set, and how a leader can think about it, which can really help maintain a proper focus. I just love the practical reality that Andy Park brings up in choosing songs. But again, what really tie the interviews together are the insightful points made by Dan Wilt. It is clear that you are getting a well-thought presentation by Dan, then given specific personal perspective from each worship leader being interviewed.

The production, videography, editing and pacing of the DVD is top-notch. This was done on a professional scale, not just thrown together, and that really helps make the DVD that much more enjoyable to watch. There is one minor thing that I felt may have been missing, especially noting the Vineyard model of "show and tell" that is present in almost all their other teachings. Specifically, there are no actual live examples on this DVD of either worship leading, or preparation for it. Part of the strength of the Vineyard style and models has been that they can be both explained and expressed in a modeling context that lets people "catch it" as well as understand it. Still, even with the more straight-ahead teaching format here, the content and perspectives are so strong that anyone in worship leadership will benefit from getting this wonderful resource.

In many ways, I think this DVD captures what people would really hope to get in a conference setting for worship leaders-- excellent and succinct teaching from a variety of worship leaders on the "how and what" about their craft. For both the novice worship leader and the seasoned psalmist, the level of excellence and insight in this DVD will be useful to all.

Review by Kim Gentes