Topic: If your church stop paying you today would you continue to play for free? (Read 36667 times)

JoanHall · « **Reply #60 on:** November 20, 2009, 08:58:06 AM »

In theory, yes. The church where I serve as MOM is also the church where my membership is, and I would continue to work with the choir and/or play the organ if they stopped paying me. But my situation is a bit different. I also do some office work for the church and work as a part of the administration for the school that the church runs, and my compensation for those activities plus being MOM is all rolled into one piddly little salary. So if they quit paying me, then I would still be the MOM, but that's the ONLY part I would keep doing. And yes, I would probably be less effective at it because I would be working a full-time job somewhere else.

kmccray · « **Reply #61 on:** November 20, 2009, 11:58:20 AM »

I would continue to play because I feel that this is a gift to be used for and by God.

THE WOLFMAN · « **Reply #62 on:** November 20, 2009, 04:40:52 PM »

did it.

sonicfoxbody · « **Reply #63 on:** November 20, 2009, 08:24:46 PM »

Yes, I would continue to play for free until I find somewhere else to play. So in a nutshell my answer is no.

berbie · « **Reply #64 on:** November 21, 2009, 05:58:11 AM »

I played for several years at my church for no money and was glad to do so. They started to pay me and now I think I should get paid. (smile). Seriously, if you are already being paid, you'd have to feel somewhat (disappointed)?) if you are told that you will no longer be paid. Especially if the money seemed to be there. I think almost anyone would wonder why and have concerns about it even if they continued to play. If there were offers from another church, one might consider them. Often it would not be the money but a perceived lack of consideration for one's playing skills or one's importance to the program.

I would have to think about it if I knew that the money was there and I was being paid already. I would play for nothing and be satisfied if that was what I agreed to do at the onset and of my own accord. Fr many, it is a job and pay is very important. They would have to change.

smoovekeys · « **Reply #65 on:** November 21, 2009, 08:06:09 AM »

Yes I would definetly keep playing. My main reason for playing was for the up-building of God's Kingdom & a passion for music. The money was just a benefit..lol
Don't worry about the money, if your in God's will, HE WILL PROVIDE.

DREICO · « **Reply #66 on:** December 06, 2009, 12:33:52 AM »

yes i would play for free.. but dont take advantage of me!!!!!

sonicfoxbody · « **Reply #67 on:** December 06, 2009, 06:45:16 AM »

I wonder how many of you say yes you'll continue to play actually would continue to play.........

oooops did I just say that???

churchyreal · « **Reply #68 on:** December 06, 2009, 03:39:06 PM »

Quote from: ferrente on August 29, 2007, 03:02:40 PM

If your church stop paying you today would you continue to play for that church?

For me it would depend on if I had a regular 8 to 5 job, my satisfaction with the church and how they've treat me as a musician. At this point no I wouldn't because of some of the issues I've went through with the music ministry. But at the same time I'm not an "all about the money" type person.

shearkkpsi · « **Reply #69 on:** December 11, 2009, 07:16:54 AM »

Quote from: MrSparrow on September 06, 2007, 05:01:01 PM

I checked Not Sure...

If my church was going through a period of financial difficulty, I would be one of the many people who will take a period of not getting paid or even a pay cut. I wouldn't be the ONLY one. I would ask the Pastor to make the same sacrifice he would ask his "FOLLOWERS" to take.

If the church just doesn't value what I bring and just think that they can get better results from the money that they pay me, then I would leave.

The TITHES went to the LEVITES. The LEVITES had NO INHERITANCE. They lived off of what was brought to the TENT.

Feel me?

MrSparrow

Excellent Point. It's never been about the money for me. I love playing For the God and using this gift I have for his Glory. However, I've often been disappointed with the People that wanted to use me just becuase I have this view. Don't promise me something and then don't give me what you promised. There are churches that I will not play at because of this. It was not because there where hard times at the church......They just wanted to use a lie to get a Musician. I have played for Free (Currently) up to $400 a Sunday. I have never asked for a dime. However, if you say "You will be paid $.001 per service" ...then I expect what we agreed on. I can count Three of Four Churches that have Outstanding Balances with me....lol....

QCdrummer · « **Reply #70 on:** December 11, 2009, 02:58:10 PM »

I would still play, but my responsibilities would have to be lowered as well........
You can't say "Hey, do you mind playing for free?" Then in the same breath say, "But I still need you hear Monday for praise team, Tuesday for youth choir, Wednesday for Bible study and Saturday for choir.....

Gas is expensive, then on top that musicians have to study the songs that the choirs are learning on thier own time, then learn the songs on thier own time. So its not like we are just playing on Sundays and then not coming back until the next Sunday. Most of us are not pros where we hear a song at 2 o'clock and can play it ver-batum by 2:15. A great deal of time and preparation go into being ready every single Sunday of the year. And if you are skillfully ready every Sunday of the year, that is worthy of some type of love token.

berbie · « **Reply #71 on:** December 11, 2009, 04:58:53 PM »

QC, being a non-musician for 60 years, I know how people think relative to musicians. They think that you can just automatically play any song because that is what they see you doing. They think you can pick up anyone singing any song by playing a few notes. They as a rule don't know and can't imagine that a polished musician has to spend hours practicing each week. They understand choir practice, but they think that the musician already has the knowledge and is just teaching the choir. They don't know you spent all week listening to Cd's and learning the songs before you came to choir rehearsal. If you really listen to the people, you will hear some of them say," All he does is come to choir rehearsal and show up for two hours on Sunday". Based on that, they are given to think the musician is overpaid, or at worst, should not be paid. (the smaller the church, the more that thought prevails)

Now there are musicians that are able to automatically play any song, but that is not most of us. Most of us have to prepare and constantly hone our skills. I know that I spend more time working at home than at
choir rehearsal(getting songs together and learning new ones as necessary and practicing overall).

I don't think (since I now know what is involved)that a person should feel at all guilty if he/she thinks that he should be compensated and that if not another location should be considered. Of course, if the money is not there, that is another matter.

You would just have to know why they stopped paying you. The way that the money fit into your personal financial picture would also be a factor. It would be hard to give an uncosidered yes or no. I probably would continue to play in my current situation, but I am not sure.

smoke182003 · « **Reply #72 on:** December 16, 2009, 07:52:52 PM »

i have a job and i make decent money. i dont depend on the church to do anything for me because i do it for God and the love of music. playing for the church is not a career decision for me. i know some people are career musicians and i respect that. i feel that if youre a member at the church then you should continue to do whatever it takes to build up your ministry

G-MAC · « **Reply #73 on:** December 19, 2009, 08:32:40 PM »

I was playing for free at my church. because I was told that the didn't have the money to pay 3 people. I was cool with that until 1 person that was getting paid move on. After she move on the church didn't try to give me anything. But they was still paying the ofter person, I have been playing for them for 2 years and they wont me to play because of my style of play. I got tired of been use by the church so I stop playing. Do you think I'm wrong?

Steelpulz · « **Reply #74 on:** December 20, 2009, 01:19:45 AM »

Quote from: G-MAC on December 19, 2009, 08:32:40 PM

I was playing for free at my church. because I was told that the didn't have the money to pay 3 people. I was cool with that until 1 person that was getting paid move on. After she move on the church didn't try to give me anything. But they was still the ofter person, I have been playing for them for 2 years and they wont me to play because of my style of play. I got tired of been use by the church so I stop playing. Do you think I'm wrong?

No. They were not honest with you.

j_norfor · « **Reply #75 on:** December 22, 2009, 02:07:52 PM »

Yes I would continue to play, but would be watchful on how the ministry is treating me as an important part of the ministry. I am in this position right now. The church I play at is in financial crisis, so they asked that I stopped getting paid. I agreed. On the otherhand, I am not a member there so I can choose to leave at anytime. My church does not start until 3pm, so I have the time to play for the other church at 11am. On the otherhand, the 11am church use to be my home church in which I played and did not recv payment, even when they could afford it. It comes down to one questions, is the church trying to get over on you. If you are doing a service that is typically paid and the minstry is financially able to pay you, then they should. That's my take on it.

makinmusic4God · « **Reply #76 on:** December 26, 2009, 11:35:42 PM »

I came up out of the Black Muslim religion, and one day God touched at a local church one day. God called me to be His musician in that church. Mind you, I said His musician. All 5 of my self-taught years of playing, I never asked for a pay blessing from my church. They did give me a few donations here and there, but I opted to return them as my offerings to the church. As long as I am God's musician, and not my church's musician, I will forever play forever play for free. Ministering with music isn't a "job"!! It's a duty to be carried out by those M'sOM who have been called not as a volunteer. We need money, f'sho, but t's the root of ALL evil. Even as a you collect payments to carryout God's call. Be carefull with not knowng whether or not you've been called. It's a dangerous, hell bound situation to be in. Will He say: "Well Done!", or "I never knew you!"?

I'm New, and this is my very 1st post here.

Steelpulz · « **Reply #77 on:** December 28, 2009, 05:25:55 PM »

Quote from: makinmusic4God on December 26, 2009, 11:35:42 PM

We need money, f'sho, but t's the root of ALL evil. <<<<Are you sure about that??? I don't think so. Do you have scripture that says that?

under13 · « **Reply #78 on:** December 28, 2009, 05:27:05 PM »

lolz, I knew someone would point that out

Steelpulz · « **Reply #79 on:** December 28, 2009, 06:56:12 PM »

Lol!! I thought money answered all things. (Eccl. 10:19)

Poll

If your church stop paying you today would you continue to play for free?

Author Topic: If your church stop paying you today would you continue to play for free? (Read 36667 times)

churchyreal