Yves Gashugi 
They forgot or delayed in training the next generation, and now the world has taken them. If they are paying musicians today, we should expect that in the coming days, even choir presidents will be paid.
They forgot or delayed in training the next generation
“In 2020, Pastor Desire Habyalimana, a counselor for premarital and family matters, shared with me: ‘There is a prominent figure in this country who works in the security sector. A ten-minute conversation with him will leave you with enough insights to write a book. The problem is that the church did not take advantage of his talent, but as soon as the government saw him, they took him.’ (Note: it is not a sin that he went to work for the government).”
The greatest gift Jesus left to the world after salvation was His eleven disciples, as everything we have received has come through those He commissioned as His successors. More than that, before His ascension, He left us with the great commission to transform people to be like Him and teach them His commandments (Matthew 28:19-20). The legacy didn’t end there. The same spirit continued through the renowned first-century evangelist Paul, who was committed to training successors like Timothy, Silas, Philemon, Onesimus, and others. This mission was not limited to men; women also obeyed the Lord, as seen when Priscilla took Apollos, an eloquent preacher, and taught him more accurately the ways of the Lord (Acts 18:24-26).
This practice of training successors has continued even in modern times, with teachers who have invested in mentoring future leaders, such as Dr. Myles Munroe, Dr. Antoine Rutayisire, and many others, both known and unknown. In 2020, while conducting research on church growth and survival through leadership attitudes in Rwanda, I found that 40% of the leaders I interviewed admitted they were never prepared to be pastors, and neither had they trained successors, despite having served in the church for over 15 years. While we cannot discredit the work they have done for God, it is clear, just as Jesus devoted His final days to training and teaching, that this should also be a priority for today’s leaders.
If musicians are being paid, we should expect choir presidents to be paid too
I am confident that many musicians who perform in nightclubs and bars, and singers of morally questionable songs, originally came from church congregations. However, due to neglect, they drifted into the world, which ultimately claimed them. I must highlight that these individuals are talents that the church failed to nurture (The issue God encounters with preachers).
I’ve heard stories from various churches about bringing in musicians from bars to play for their services and choirs. While there’s nothing wrong with this—since people should earn a living—the problem is that it has led those who were already serving in church to desire payment as well.
I fear that if musicians are now being paid, in the future, even choir presidents will demand payment.
In my view: In the first century, Jesus instructed His disciples to break bread in remembrance of His body and to share wine as a reminder of His blood shed for them. Later, some began placing statues of apostles in their congregations as symbols of remembrance, but this eventually led to the worship of those symbols.
Reflecting on what happened in the past, I would say that if musicians or even choir presidents are paid after negotiating with church leaders, there is no problem. HOWEVER, I FEAR THAT: “IN THE COMING YEARS, THE HOUSE OF GOD WILL BECOME A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COMPETE FOR POSITIONS IN MINISTRY FOR THE SAKE OF MONEY, RATHER THAN SERVING THE KINGDOM OF GOD. AS A RESULT, SOME WILL BECOME WORKERS FOR CHURCHES, RATHER THAN SERVANTS OF GOD.”
What God wants
For priests and others in the house of God: “He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 31:4).
For everyone else: “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you” (1 Thessalonians 4:11). “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need” (Ephesians 4:28). “Even a child is known by his actions, whether his conduct is pure and right” (Proverbs 20:11).
As I conclude, I want to remind us that believers should not ignore the problems of church leaders but instead pray for them (Ephesians 6:18). And we should inquire about the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it so that we may find rest for our souls (Jeremiah 6:16).
