Should musicians get paid to travel to other church programs

[organistlady]

I am a musician, and I only get paid to play for worship service.  I don't get paid when I travel to other churches during the week or on Sunday evening programs.  Musicians what do you think?   Last week I went to 3 programs during the week and a Sunday program.  It is a lot of work.  There is no other piano, organ or keyboard players.  What do you guys suggest I do? Should I quit? I have a family and a small infant at home.  I get paid $230/ sunday

[Rashad]

Sister on that one I do understand what you are feeling. However, the best logical advice is to go with what is in your heart. I was playing for a church at one point and was not charging anything. At one point I was down and out due to job problems and they offered me not  a penny and I did not miss anything but however when the minister preaches a second sermon at a guest church or what have you, he recieves a love gift. Musicians play a  major role in the church especially today. However, if you really are dedicated and really teach, spend a lot of time coordinating music for services, putting on seasonal concerts, and conducting as well as being in workshops then you at some point deserve an extra gift.  It amazes me how the church loves to say "you'll get your blessing in heaven," to get out of giving humble servants pay. However, being a musician in a church is very stressful and time consuming as well it ties you down.  So once again, go with what you feel in your heart and pray about it. Moreover they may be thinking that is part of your salary for the week---all services and programs for that scheduled week. God Bless!

[blessedone]

I think musicians should get paid for other services other than your  own church.  Unfortunately, a lot of church officers feel that the money they give you, is for everything you do. Sometimes it is just not enough money to cover all your expenses. Not to mention, the IRS getting you at the end of the year for taxes. Well that is another story.
I live about 45 minutes from my church.  I have to attend other churches in evening services. I don't get paid for my travel to other evening egagements and also I have to eat in between services. It gets really expensive. The pastor get paid for his sermons in the everning but I don't.
I feel every part of what you are saying.
Maybe you have to ask your pastor about it. I don't know what he would say about it. Musicians play a big part in church services and we are looked over. I probably spend more money on CD's to get songs for my choir, then the money I make. I know God will bless me so that is why I stay so faithful. Pray about it. Only God has the answer.

[jonesl78]

In my personal situation, God laid on heart about two years ago to be faithful to the music ministry regardless of pay and he will bless me in other areas of my life financialy.  I perform minister of music duties as well as drive about 45 minutes to church for little to nothing in comparison to other musicians in the area. Sometimes the money that we want to be paid is a limit to the financial blessings that God has in store for us. BELIEVE ME!

[BBoy]

I definitely would not quit without much prayer and talking with whomever is in charge of the decision.

Depending on your duties and the size of your church, $230 / Sunday is a nice salary.

Pray and talk with your pastor, but there is also something else.

I don't know if this is the case with your church, but when a church is in a season of growing or changing, then everyone might sacrifice.  When there is church growth, then everyone benefits. But who put in the sacrifice when growth was nothing but hard work and sacrifice?

Again, just a general thought . . . not saying this is the situation at all. Just something for all of us to think about.

Be Blessed . . .

BBoy  

[cherrysoda]

I played for noting for one year although my family was being taking care of when we had to stay for a program or to go to a visiting church I was satisfy, then my appetite grew and I seach for another church. They came to me offer me 300 and 50 more for occassion. When trouble came to the church. ( meaning everone wasn't paying tithes like they use to or extra bills came in this usually happen every third of fifth Sunday I told them not to worry about it) Just give me enough to fill my gas tank and twenty for my pocket. When they were able to give it to me I gave it back.  I am glad that I can help the church. But I really playing for the Lord. This is how I worship him.  If your church can paid you, you are bless if they can't  and you love that church think of it as playing for your Lord and Savior who gave you that gift.   :roll:   :wink:   :lol:  God will Bless you. He blessing me.

[T-Block]

If you in it for the money then get out.  If you in it to play to the glory of God, then stay no matter what.  If you making a living off of music ministry, then God will see to it that you are taken care of.  The church don't have to be the only one supplying you with money.  God could just send checks in the mail and you don't even know where they from.  As long as you got a roof over your head, clothes on your back, food to eat, and you alive, that is all you need.  Sometimes, yall complain about money cuz you don't have enough to buy things that you WANT, instead of realizing you have everything you NEED.  You don't need name brand stuff cuz the no name brand stuff is just as good.  The Bible says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall  be added unto you."  Just my opinion!

[funkyfingaz]

230/week? Thats good to me, being that I dont get paid at all!! But I dont have a family and my father is the Pastor, so you know he not paying me. Over the years Ive gotten better and churches have offered to pay that much but I gotta stay faithful. We must understand who we're doing it for and God will supply for his workers. Humility is always the way to go. If you would like to get a little more for the extra work tho, let them(Pastor, trustees etc) know in a written letter (seem professional) and if they are willing, they should give accordingly. Hope this helps! God Bless

[JoyCH]

I believe musicians should get paid but it shouldn't be their motive.  :wink:

Joy

[themouse]

This is interesting, if it was not for the Lord, Lord, Lord, tell what would I do...the gift is given from God...glorify him...when the time comes, if this is what He wants, it will happen...He does what He wants when He wants to.  No to sound harsh, but as the book "Purpose Driven Life" states, it's not about you.  Who gave you the gift, and when you play, who do you play for, regardless.  Do you believe the choir should be paid?  When the church goes out so do we, you play, we sing, etc.  Well, I am getting on board because I really believe these money issues are taking away from the reason the gift was given to you in the first place.  Don't shoot the singer for commenting!  It just an opinion.  Jesus pid it all!

[musiq16]

You know,
Lately I have been seeing alot of posts about money issues.  Now when God says WHEN PRAISES GOES UP BLESSINGS COMES DOWN.  He ment that.  If you give God all the glory and praise that is due to him, my sister he will bless you.  So don't worry about your financial status, because after the praise is received then your blessing you will get.  I understand you have a little infant, and a family at home, but God will provide.  It seems that sometimes we worry so much about getting paid that we forget who gave us the gift that allows us to get paid.  
  Just a little testimony from me.  Last week I played at a revival W-F.  Now we all know that right now gas is a killer.  I'm 17 yr old male, no job, but the church does give me 25 a sunday just to keep me going.  Now I went W-F, 50 minutes out of the way.  The last night, a producer came up to me and said he wanted me in his band to play at concerts.  Now that was a real blessing.  Later on that night the church tried to pay me, but I wouldn't take it.  God had already gave me my reward.  I didn't even have to worry about puttin gas in my car, the tank stayed at the same level the whole time.  Now that is a blessing.  
  You see, when you make effort to give God the glory, inspite of your troubles, God will bless you.  You just have to be ready to receive.  So my sister, I am encouraging you, don't worry about the money.  If God see's fit for you to receive extra you will get it.  Just pray about it, God will answer your prayers.  And also,  when you ask other musicians should you get paid you will get different answers.  Because most of them consider it as a job.  And some play to glorify God.  So your best bet is to go to God in prayer.  


Brother-in-Christ
musiq16

[louieII]

Sis.,  I was only gettin' paid 130/ sunday to include all other events and I would do something that the decon board thought was strange.  Every single Sunday that I played when they would bring the check to me I would tell them to only give me 100 back but what i was doing was giving back to God and even on pastor Annversary i would give freely.  Ialso had a family with 1 kid.  I was never in it for the money, but I always had a ride to church, I always had running hot water, I always had heat and air,  just all the necessities. I also played at a church that didn't give a second thought to pay musicians. That is how I was raised in the church it was just the thought that I was their to praise God through music not to be an employee.   Just remeber this one thing Jehovah Jireh( I guess that is how you spell it)

[csharp35]

I feel you organist lady. Actually, you get more than I do. I get $250 a month and that includes everything rehearsals, travel, etc.  I don't even see it by the time I give offerings, love offerings, and special offerings. But, I do feel that something should be given for travel...whether its gas money or being treated to dinner. Aside from this being a ministry, musicians are expected to be at everything at all times and then your told its for the Lord so you shouldn't expect to be compensated. I don't know of any preacher's who have been invited to speak to at churches and the host church says "We want you to preach, but we can't give you an offering". Its just automatic.

Also there are times when the pastor goes and the choir doesnt sing, but he still wants his musicians there. If you think about it, noone in the church has the expectations that are made of musicians. Its amazing how we are so important and needed, but not deserving of compensation.

My church takes an annual trip out of state every year and the musicians are expected to lug their equipment, play/minister through the whole service, break down and pack up the equipment and still pay for the bus and give an offering. Its almost like, well you have to do what the other members do, plus a whole bunch of other stuff. Last year, I didnt press to go. I went on vacation.

Maybe you can talk to your pastor about providing at least providing gas for travel. Or the alternative is to play for other functions at different churches. But pray about it first.

The bottom line is whether this is your source of funding as a primary job or not, its a ministry. My fulltime job is not a musician, but it is a ministry. God placed me here to minister as well. So we shouldn't throw around that playing is our ministry as a preface not to be compensated. My pastor preaches and thats is a ministry too, but he gets paid.

that's how I feel about it. Pray first and ask God to give you the right time to speak to your pastor and wisdom in handling this whole situation.

[ElectricFingers]

The laborer is worthy of his/her higher.  I do not understand why church feel that they do not have to pay the muscian.  They like to say the Lord will bless you especially Pentecostal COGIC.... It is a shame that they would have you do all of that playing and not compensate you.  I can go and play at a Baptist church and they hand me the envelope before the service is over.  You know what they are singing and you are appreciated.  Do not stop playing where are you at?  Trust there are churches out there who would welcome you with open arms

[BBoy]

Yes, ministers do have a right to get paid . . . the Apostle Paul clearly says this in Corinthians. He said, "What soldier goes to war at his own expense? What husbandman plants a vinyard, and doesn't est of the fruit of it?" Of course, musicians should be compensated if possible.

However, the Bible also talks about being a hireling. The Bible says that hirelings run because they don't care for the sheep. Do we care that our church has music or not?

Now, if we are going to look at this we need to look at it from both sides. When you start to talk about musicians being paid, then some people want to hold quitting over their pastor's head. You don't pay me, I quit. Wrong. You play where you are assigned by God to play.

We want to say that music is a ministry. Well, how much respect would you have for a pastor who leaves a church who needs him just because the money was what he expected all the time? Or a pastor who insisted on giving himself a raise when he knew very well that the church needed a new roof?

Let's not say we are ministers just when we want to get paid, folks. If we are going with the comparison, then let's go all the way with it.

We expect our ministers to be motivated by a deeper, holier motive, right than satisfaction with their pay, right? Then why shouldn't we be motivated by a holier motive?  

I agree with Sis JoyCH. Musicians should be paid, but it shouldn't be their prime motive. If we feel we are being mistreated, then we pray about it and then go to our leaders in a holy manner, like the Bible says to do when someone offends us.

Just my two cents. And again, depending on the size of the church and other duties, some of the salaries musicians get are really pretty nice!

Be Blessed!

[ddw4e]

I get paid $230/ sunday

I not fussing about money here but I only get paid $100/sunday and they want you to do sooo much for that...I was talkin with my MOM about this and we don't mind playing and all but we have to bring stuff in cause the church don't have very good musical equipment and we have to deal with the choir and u know the usual things...

But I think you shoud not quit...You just never know what the Lord has ahead for you (I am talkin to myself too)...Yes, we all deserved to get paid more and with your situation I think I asked for a bit more....but we can't be having money on our brain when it comes to playing for God...Then we have to also think about this...Do we deserve more when we can only handle half the job??  I think in my situation if I knew how to teach parts to choirs then I would be asking for more...but I don't think I should be getting 400 a sunday when I only play (now unless u at a mega church that's a different story...but I hope u understand what I mean :lol: )...

Now for me...I usually get paid between 25-75 when goin somewhere (depending on how far I have to go) If we have to go outside a radius of 50 miles, $75...within the radius, 25-50...U can suggest that to your pastor and see's what's up. Revivals I usually get 25 for that. But just follow your heart and pray on it.

[JoyCH]

I agree. Otherwise, it will show in your playing and that frown you will be wearing.  :cry:

Joy

[catty]

At one of the churches I play for (Methodist) they pay me extra for all outside engagements, revivals, funerals, weddings, or if the choir has to sing on a musical program. $200/Sunday morn, $25/ per rehearsal, $50-75/outside engagement , etc.

MY church (Pentecostal Holiness) is not able to pay like that so I accept $100 on Sunday which includes rehearsal and whenever there is an outside engagement.  Weddings and funerals are extra.

I agree that there are other ways God will meet your need if you be faithful in the ministry he has anointed you for.  "Just take care of His business and He will take care of yours."You can't beat God giving and that means not only in your tithes and offering but in your service to Him.
God always honors faithfulness.

[jamaicanbaan]

In my OWN opinion I think that Playing music for any church SHOULD NOT become a job......Any musician should be honored to play in the house of God. On the other hand , there are plenty of musicians out there that would feel differently about my opinion , but what can I say some people value money more than blessings of being able play by the will of the Lord......................