The financial stories of CHRIS COLE and artists After The Fall, Pray Naked and Rachel Friend

THE UPSIDE
1. Because worship is not, first and foremost, a musical gift but a spiritual calling, no great level of expertise is needed before the beginner musician can make his or her first nervous venture onto a platform.

2. If an individual receives an anointing from God to lead others in worship this can open the floodgates before in terms of a deeper relationship with Christ and an outpouring of new songs.

3. Probably no area of music ministry has such a tangible effect on the crowd gathered as the worship one. It is a privilege to witness men and women entering into communion with God.

4. Many churches have their own PAs so there's little lugging of equipment and lengthy preparation before playing can start.

THE DOWNSIDE
1. Little money is spent on PA in most churches so poor quality (or even malfunctioning) equipment is common.

2. Even if God is giving you sheaves of new songs most congregations and ministers require quite a lot of familiar material so covers of Kendrick. Richards et al will have to be played alongside any originals.

3. Worship bands tend to be training pools for musicians so most are likely to contain some pretty unskilled musicians and sometimes, some unlikely blends of instrumentation.

4. Although bands as diverse as Delirious? and the World Wide Message Tribe are pushing back the boundaries of worship, much church worship is somewhat formulaic in style and repertoire and may not bring aesthetic satisfaction for more adventurous musicians.

Case History - RACHEL FRIEND
When the Norwich-based singer/songwriter Rachel Friend had her debut CD -After The Dream" reviewed in Cross Rhythms in 1996 it received a rave 9 square review. Since then the sweet-voiced singer has progressed steadily though largely it's been in praise and worship rather than the more performance-orientated material of her album that God has been opening doors.

1. How many gigs have you played?
"If you call leading worship at a service 'a gig" I suppose it would be several hundred."

2. What was your first gig?
"I started leading worship in 1987 at some celebrations in South Moulton, Devon, called "Come Together'."

3. What has been your biggest audience?
"Well, I've been helping with the worship at the Living Water event at Norwich Showground and I sang a song tonight before 3.000 people. But that was only one song! I did a whole set before 400."

4. What has been your smallest audience?
"About 10 people at a prayer meeting. I can't remember where it was."

5. What is the highest amount you've received for playing a gig?
"Last September I was asked to play an outreach event. I took a band and we got paid £160 - 40 quid each. That is the ONLY time I've ever been paid a fee!"