We have yet to see in most of our evangelistic efforts the full power and effectiveness of the song service. For the song leader there is an immense field of opportunity for constant improvement. He alone can make the song service all that it ought to be, and to make this phase of evangelism a success, he should have a real vision of the great possibilities of his work. Music will occupy as important a place in the effort as the song leader makes it fill. Therefore, he should give careful thought to every phase of the song service, decide on certain ideals and objectives which he would like to achieve, and set out in earnest to realize greater perfection in every song service.
1. Objectives of an Ideal Song Service
What are the objectives of an ideal song service? First, let us say, it is not to fill in the time while the people are coming in, while the ushers are selling books or distributing literature cards, or while the projector is being focused. It has a higher purpose than to fill in time. My own evangelistic experience, both as song leader and as the speaker following the singing directed by another, has led me to adopt the following simple objectives for every song service:
1. To Create a Friendly Atmosphere. Most people who attend a meeting for the first time are not in a frame of mind to accept the doctrinal teachings of a stranger. They prefer to sit in the audience as an observer. The song leader should strive to win their confidence and friendship. The informal, nondoctrinal nature of the song service gives opportunity to overcome prejudice. If it "breaks the ice," prejudice will more than likely melt away during the sermon.
2. To Prepare the Way for the Sermon. If the sermon is to be on heaven, songs may be sung which express the joy and glory of our future home, and arouse the desire to go to heaven. Songs which stress the idea of full surrender to Jesus, with appropriate remarks by the song leader, help to prepare the heart for a sermon on testing truths.
3. To Interest People in the Meetings. We have known people who attended meetings night after night, and advertised the services widely, because they enjoyed the singing so much—sometimes even more than the sermon. They should enjoy it at least as much as the sermon.
4. To Give Every Person a Part in the Meeting. Every time you get a sinner to open his mouth and sing the songs of Jesus with you, you have pried open the door of his heart just a bit. You have helped him take the first step in Christ's direction, and it is an easy step. After he responds to the appeal to sing, he will respond more readily to the appeal to raise his hand or go forward for prayer.
5. To Touch Hearts With a Message of Love. People respond to love. Whether they show it or not, their hearts are aching for a true expression of the love and peace of Jesus.. Our public services lack this element all too much. Yet it is this very thing that wins men's hearts from sin. The song service should come to the rescue, brimful and sparkling with the love of the Christian for his Saviour, and the love of Jesus for the sinner, with appropriate friendliness, sincerity, humility, and fervor.
6. To Get the People to Sing. This is more important than anything else. No song service can be a success if the people do not sing. The leader will reach no objective if he does not reach this one. Critics may criticize his gestures and choice of music, but every grandiose criticism must be subjected to the practical test—accomplishing the desired results. Whatever his faults, the song leader who gets a good response is of more value to the evangelistic effort than the man whose manner may be flawless, but who fails to put over his part of the service.
The successful song leader does not need to be a great musician, but he should be a real leader—an amiable, winsome leader who loves people, loves to sing, and knows how to sing. He should be an evangelist at heart. Many a song leader is an evangelist in the making, assisting in the effort. It is good training. If he learns to conduct an inspiring song service, creating and holding interest, and getting a good response, it will make him a better evangelist.
II. Planning the Song Service
It takes more planning to move an audience to do something than it does simply to tell them something. This is important to the song leader, because he must have before him always and incessantly one great objective—a response. It requires preparation, just as the sermon and the other features need to be well prepared.
Every song should be carefully selected, and the number written down on the song leader's outline for the service. There are times when the audience might be asked to call for favorites, but even this should be planned for. The song leader ought not to call for selections because he is at a loss to know what to sing next. He should plan for variety—in the type of song, the remarks between songs, the manner of announcing the song, etc. The same song may not appeal to everyone; therefore, he should strive to bring enough variety into the selections so that all will enjoy singing.
Songs with a chorus arouse the most enthusiasm, and the song service is the place for them. Choruses sung from memory are effective if not carried to extreme. People will remember them and whistle and hum them all day at their work. Every song service should have some songs of a spirited, joyful nature, which may be sung with hearty enthusiasm. Then there should be some which are medita-tive, prayerful, quiet, sung softly and prayerfully. The song service may become monotonous unless you plan to break it up somewhat; so change from one line of appeal to another. The human mind remains concentrated on one point but a moment or two. Keep a "jump" ahead of the audience, holding their interest from the minute you step on the platform until the song service is over.
People will sing more willingly if they do not have to sing constantly. After they have sung about two songs through, let them listen to a solo, choir number, or other good music. Every song service should have at least one such diversion planned. Sometimes this may be done by singing the stanza as a solo, and asking the audience or choir to sing the chorus. I have effectively used this plan with the song, "Does Jesus Care?" The stanza asks a question, which the chorus answers. I sing the question,
"Does Jesus care when my heart is pained Too deeply for mirth or song?" etc.
And the audience sings back the thrilling reply, "0, yes, He cares, I know He cares," etc.
Such diversions make the service interesting and spiritual.
There is more to the song service than singing. The inspiration, appeal, and spiritual tone of the leader's remarks help make it what it is. By means of careful comments, he should plan to make the audience feel the spirit of the songs they sing. Remarks appropriate to the message of the song may be made in introducing it, or after it has been sung, or between stanzas. Care should be taken that these comments do not become trite. You can brighten up the service by relating the story of the hymn, reciting a short poem or a personal testimony, or by a direct appeal to hearts.
On nights when there is a large attendance, the song leader can get the best response, and on these nights he should plan to put everything possible into the song service. A half-hour service, with plenty of variety, is best. It takes that long to work in enough songs, with diversions, to make it interesting.
All details of the song service should be planned in advance—choice of songs, comments, and all—and the prepared program outlined on a slip of paper. I always select more songs than I need, grouping their numbers according to their style or appeal. If the audience needs an enthusiastic song to arouse it, extras that have been planned are ready; also there are extra prayerful-type songs to be used if it is felt to be desirable. This prevents the service's being stereotyped, and prepares the leader for the unexpected.
III. Leading the Song Service
Most people love to sing songs that appeal to them, in spite of the fact that a song leader sometimes finds them reserved. This is proved by the great popularity of many songs today, the interest shown in local choral societies, the large number of listeners to certain song periods on the air, and the enthusiasm shown at community sings. Therefore; the song leader may assure himself before he steps upon the platform that his audience is composed of normal, average people who love songs and love to sing them. It is his task, with the help of God, to draw them out in singing the gospel songs. There are a few things to consider which will help in doing this.
The song leader himself should enjoy the songs he sings. Some people are inspired to sing simply because their leader seems to enjoy it so much. They catch the fire from him. His own attitude, reflected in his personality, has more to do with the way the audience sings than have the songs themselves. Before he starts the service he might ask himself : "Does my own heart thrill as I sing these songs ? Do they express the kind of adoration I have and want to show for Christ?" Then he should get the spirit of the songs in his heart, and show it in his voice and manner, just as he would in the case of a solo if he were preparing to sing one. If the song service seems to be a pleasure to the leader, and not just a routine chore, it will he much more of a pleasure to the audience.
Enthusiasm is absolutely essential to a song service. Be alive, alert, interested, aggressive. I once led the singing for an evangelist who was himself an outstanding song leader.
often asked him for suggestions. One night, after I had been leading the song service, he came on the platform and asked if he might lead one song. His enthusiasm was a striking contrast to my customary manner, which was sluggish and lifeless in comparison, and the crowd seemed to suddenly come to life. The people began to smile, the pianist played with more life, and it seemed that everybody was singing. It was a bit hard on my feelings, but it taught me more about leading singing than anything else has ever done. Enthusiasm made the difference. If an audience is to sing with enthusiasm, shouldn't they see it in the leader first?
The song leader's demeanor should be in keeping with the dignity and solemnity of the message, but he should be informal and genial. He should not act like a cheer leader or a circus performer, but he should be pleasant, drawing occasional smiles from the audience. He will find that every person who smiles cheerfully will sing.
The leader's gestures should keep proper time, but should be flexible, and ought to vary with the nature of the song. It is distressing to watch one who merely waves his arms, regardless of the time, and it is almost impossible to sing with him. It is equally painful if he beats out the time with inflexible preciseness, going over the same motions again and again. It is better to leave the baton at home; and, of all things, don't use a pencil. Instead of merely beating time, lead the singing with expressive movements, using the open hand. Some amateurs are humorously officious and affected, while others seem unappropriately sedate, as they swing a baton in the song service.
It is sometimes refreshing to the audience to see the .leader's hand drop below his waist in an occasional gesture, while beating time, sometimes stretched above his head or outstretched, rather than confining his movements to a little area in front of his chest.
Many a song leader, in his desire to make the service enthusiastic, sings too fast. This spoils the pleasure of singing for many. He should not lead faster than the people are willing to follow in unison. If he trains them to watch him and follow his gestures, he can gradually break them of the habit of singing too slowly. He should pause long enough between stanzas for all to catch a breath and start the next stanza together.
It never does any good to scold the audience for not singing, but it is well to praise the singing if it deserves praise. If the people do not sing well, it is because they do not feel like singing at the moment, or because the song leader has not made them feel like it. It is a challenge to him to give hem inspiration to sing.
Some feel that in order to conduct an interesting song service, it is necessary to be supplied with expensive stereopticon equipment, but this is a big mistake. Sono- slides do provide a certain interest, but the world's most conspicuous singing evangelists have made their success without them. Equipped with a well-planned program, a songbook in the hand, a smile on the face, a song in the heart, filled with enthusiasm, the consecrated song leader can win souls to Christ through the ministry of music.
