But the single biggest factor was the “mega churching” of the ministry. I used to play with the same people every week and every church service. It was a creative band and a small group that shared much more than music. We connected with the music, each other, and most of all with God. With the new structure I couldn't have felt more disconnected. The small group was gone, the music became a cookie cutter approach and the structure made me feel more like a cog in a machine than a member of a ministry. I stood playing at a church service and realized how much more I'd be worshiping by singing praise in the congregation with my family. Rather than standing on a stage with people I barely know plunking on a bass.

But the single biggest factor was the “mega churching” of the ministry. I used to play with the same people every week and every church service. It was a creative band and a small group that shared much more than music. We connected with the music, each other, and most of all with God. With the new structure I couldn't have felt more disconnected. The small group was gone, the music became a cookie cutter approach and the structure made me feel more like a cog in a machine than a member of a ministry. I stood playing at a church service and realized how much more I'd be worshiping by singing praise in the congregation with my family. Rather than standing on a stage with people I barely know plunking on a bass.

But the single biggest factor was the “mega churching” of the ministry. I used to play with the same people every week and every church service. It was a creative band and a small group that shared much more than music. We connected with the music, each other, and most of all with God. With the new structure I couldn't have felt more disconnected. The small group was gone, the music became a cookie cutter approach and the structure made me feel more like a cog in a machine than a member of a ministry. I stood playing at a church service and realized how much more I'd be worshiping by singing praise in the congregation with my family. Rather than standing on a stage with people I barely know plunking on a bass.

I have mixed feelings on this topic. We have strength in numbers, but I’m often concerned that mega churches get lost in the details. It takes a huge amount of effort to organize a church of that size. And from my experience, highly organized process always leads to less freedom and discovery. There are so many gears and parts moving at the same time that it limits what people can do. The church has to be set in jello to allow God to mold and form it.

I used to be heavily involved in the music ministry because it was a beautiful place for fellowship, creative expression, but most of all to connect with God. As my church has reached mega proportions it required reorganization to a much more rigid, standardized process to the music ministry. My involvement began feeling more like a job and less like joy. If I’m not filled with joy in my service, my time is better spent elsewhere.

So there is an important balance that is very difficult to achieve. Big church . . . but somehow small at the same time.