November 9, 2026
Some of my earliest memories of music involve sitting beside my Mimi at the piano. My grandmother was the church organist at Hoboken Baptist Church, and when I was about four years old, she would get me home from church on Sunday morning and, before we had lunch, sit me down at the piano. She would show me the melody of a hymn we had just sung in worship and then encourage me to find those notes for myself.
I certainly didn’t understand everything she was doing at the time. I was just a little boy learning to pick out familiar melodies on the piano. But looking back, I realize she saw something in me long before I had any idea what music might eventually mean in my life.
As I grew older, her encouragement continued. When I was in my early teenage years, she would occasionally say, “Let’s play an offertory together tonight at church.” Now, I’m fairly certain she knew she would be carrying most of the musical weight. I was still learning, and there were probably plenty of notes that didn’t land exactly where they were supposed to. But she would smile, help me along, and make me feel like I belonged there beside her.
Nearly thirty years of serving in local church worship and music ministry have given me a greater appreciation for what she was doing. Mimi wasn’t simply teaching me to play the piano. She was helping me discover something God might use in my life, and she was willing to invest in the process.
I wonder how many of us can look back and identify someone who did something similar for us.
Someone Saw Something in You
I’ve spent a lot of time talking with worship leaders across Georgia about the challenges of recruiting musicians. I often hear, “We just need more people.” Sometimes it’s even more specific: “If I could just find one person who could play the piano, it would make all the difference.”
I understand that feeling. When someone leaves, a choir section gets smaller, or the same faithful volunteers are carrying most of the responsibility, recruiting quickly becomes a priority. We make announcements, mention the need from the platform, and hope someone responds.
But I’ve been wondering whether our approach to recruiting sometimes causes us to overlook the people God may already be preparing.
When we have an immediate need, we naturally look for someone who can fill it. We want someone with the right experience and ability who can step in and help. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that. But if we only look for people who are already prepared, we may miss the opportunity to help someone become prepared.
That’s what my Mimi understood.
She didn’t wait until I was a capable pianist before inviting me to participate. She recognized an interest, encouraged it, and helped me take the next step. Years later, I can see how those seemingly small invitations helped shape my life. Oh how I wish she was around now to see all that she taught me has come to such a blessing.
One of the greatest privileges of leadership is recognizing potential in another person before they recognize it in themselves. Sometimes that begins with a simple conversation: “I’ve noticed something in you, and I’d love to help you explore it.”
Think about the people in your church. Is there a teenager who plays an instrument in the school band but has never considered using that gift in worship? Is there an adult who sang in choir years ago but hasn’t participated recently? Maybe there’s someone who has demonstrated faithfulness and teachability but has never been invited into greater responsibility.
Sometimes the people we’re praying for are already sitting in our congregations. They simply haven’t been invited into the conversation.
An Invitation Is Only the Beginning
There’s another part of Mimi’s story that has stayed with me. She didn’t just invite me to play. She continued investing in me after I said yes. It’s one thing to recognize potential, but it’s another to create opportunities where that potential can develop.
I’ve wondered whether our pursuit of excellence in worship ministry has occasionally made it more difficult for beginners to find a place. We want musicians who are prepared, confident, and capable, and we should value those things. But when every opportunity requires someone to already be accomplished, where does the next generation learn?
I certainly believe in musical excellence. I’ve spent much of my ministry encouraging musicians to develop their gifts and offer their best to the Lord. But I also believe excellence should be something we help people grow toward, not simply a requirement they must meet before we begin investing in them.
Mimi understood that a young pianist needed more than lessons. He needed someone willing to sit beside him, encourage him, and occasionally let him participate in something he couldn’t yet do very well.
That may be one of the greatest challenges for leaders today. We have to think beyond what will make this Sunday’s ministry run smoothly and consider what will strengthen the church years from now.
And it raises a question worth considering: Where can someone be a beginner in the ministry you lead?
Maybe it’s inviting a student to observe rehearsal, allowing a developing musician to play alongside someone more experienced, or giving an emerging leader a small responsibility with encouragement and feedback afterward. Not every opportunity needs to happen on the Sunday morning platform. There are countless ways to help someone grow before they’re ready for that responsibility.
As you prepare for this coming Sunday, I’d encourage you to look around your congregation with a different perspective. Instead of focusing only on the people who are already serving, consider who might be waiting for someone to recognize their potential.
Then extend an invitation. Not because you desperately need another person on the schedule, but because you see something in them worth developing.
I don’t know that my Mimi ever imagined that those Sunday afternoons at the piano would help shape a lifetime of ministry. I do know that I’m grateful she took the time to notice, encourage, and make room for a little boy who was still learning.
Perhaps one of the greatest contributions we’ll make as leaders won’t be something we personally accomplish, but someone we encourage to take their first step.
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As the Worship and Music Catalyst for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Rhon Carter aims to encourage worship and music leaders to lead their ministries effectively within their local churches. You can read more of his writings about worship, music, and leadership on his site.
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