Should Churches Pay Musicians? Gospel Music Acts Share Their Views

MIKE ABDUL - He is one of the four powerful voices of the famous and respected Midnight Crew {MNC} known for the widespread song IGWE! So...

MIKE ABDUL -

He is one of the four powerful voices of the famous and respected Midnight Crew {MNC} known for the widespread song IGWE! Songwriter and producer, the pioneer of the record label- Spaghetti Records.
His music has taken him round the globe and he has made several appearances on videos, featured in singles, and conducted different music workshops.




HIS VIEWS:
Thank you for having me.
The place of the musician in church is vital and needs no ‘wracking’ the head over as worship is to-a-large-extent music driven.
Good music is directly proportional to good congregational worship experience.
Music is the musician’s trade; he definitely should be paid when he renders his service except he chooses to render his service for free.
Whether the musician should be paid is not something to think about, why would anyone not pay for service rendered? Free service is the choice of the labourer, anyone who is forced to render free service is under slavery in the hands of a wicked person or system!
When a musician requires a change of system from the hands of a master who refuses to pay, that musician will simply be perceived as rebellious. SHIKENA!


WOLE ONI

An accomplished producer, hit maker. Music lover, synthesizer, programmer, songwriter, arranger and sound engineer.

HIS THOUGHTS
First, I will start by explaining who a church musician is: A church musician is a person who sustain the church by providing musical services, especially as a performer of music who plays an instrument.
Also a musician (or instrumentalist) is a person who is talented in making music or performing music creatively, or one who composes, conducts, or performs music.
Musician can specialize in any musical style, and some musicians play in a variety of different styles. Examples of a musician’s possible skills include performing, conducting, singing, composing, arranging and the orchestration of music.
Musicians act as a carrier for a particular message or suggestion.
As I meet and talk with church musicians from all backgrounds, our conversations inevitably turn to some of the difficulties of working in the church. And we usually agree that the root of those problems is less of a musical one than one that is spiritual.
I have tried to zero in on what the spiritual difficulties and challenges are for musicians who work in the church.
The church musician must first understand that our work is also a form of worship.
Secondly, we should develop the mental discipline to concentrate on our job per time, and listen to the sermon during service.
Our major role is to set the tone for an atmosphere of Praise and Worship in God’s presence each time which is probably one of the most spiritually challenging jobs anyone can have.
· Church musicians should be appreciated or encouraged which boils down to being paid or not. However they should not be dependent on the church for survival. They should be creative, versatile and diverse in many ways that money can flow to them.
· Being over-ambitious when you feel you can attain a height without passing through normal procedures can brew up rebellion.
· When there is a mutual agreement and balance between the church musicians and the church itself regarding the values and their views being respected in contributing to the value of the church progress there won’t be any cause for rebellion.
Being Paid is relative and should be an individual’s decision, if your spiritual life is strong and your faith in God is such that you absolutely depend on His sustenance then being paid in a church should be a personal decision.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?