Be Real and Show Up: Advice for Molding Leaders Through Music
The Salvation Army has a long and storied tradition of music-making and raising up leaders through excellent music programs. David Delaney, divisional music director for the Potomac Division, and Darryl Crossland, assistant divisional music director for the Florida Division, both participated in those programs as children and young adults and now serve as divisional music leaders, running the same programs that helped shape them. Majors Matt and Jamie Satterlee, southern territorial youth secretaries, had the opportunity to talk with them about how The Salvation Army’s music programs continue to shape and develop strong leaders in our corps and communities.
“Music is the medium that we [use to] try to teach people about Jesus and love on folks,” Darryl shares. “And we get to do the coolest stuff ever: fun, music, camp, all of that… We have the best jobs in the world.”
David wholeheartedly agrees, sharing that being brought up through The Salvation Army’s youth and music programs was pivotal in helping him discover his love of music. “It gave me an avenue of ministry…where I could go out and experience what it is to just tell people about Jesus.”
“Those programs really helped shape who I am,” Darryl declares, adding that he found community and formed lifelong friendships through participating in The Salvation Army’s music ministries.
Most Salvation Army brass bands, especially corps bands, are multigenerational. Many a retired officer has shared a music stand with a grade school cornet player. “For these young people to grow up under the guidance and under these mentors, it’s not just that they’re a teacher,” David says. “They’re actually involved in the grassroots ministry together. They’re side by side.”
“Intergenerational ministry is so vital,” Major Jamie notes. “I think music programs…have such a natural inclination towards this. It’s not just about mentoring in the craft, but it’s about mentoring in life and walking alongside kids.”
When asked how they are molding leaders through music, Darryl says that modeling integrity and transparency are his two focus points. “If I say something to a young person, then I’m going to do it.” He wants to make sure the kids under his leadership see that he’s the same person with them as he is in his family life and in his Christian Walk. “I think a lot of the time as leaders we don’t let young people see who we truly are… They think that everything you’re saying is false, so they don’t want to be a part of it.”
“If you want to teach people to be good leaders, teach them to be good followers of Jesus,” David adds. “Between imparting scripture on them and imparting music education on them… They learn discipline, self-control, humility, all of these things that are paramount when it comes to being a leader in The Salvation Army.”
Darryl advises other leaders that a huge part of successful ministry with youth is to know the names of every child in your program. “And a big thing with our youth department in Florida is show up… they need somebody to be a cheerleader for them.”
“When you’re present, be present,” David counsels. “Figure out what’s going on at school; be goofy with them. Don’t say anything at all and just listen to their conversations. All those sorts of things can lead to a lot of really neat places in your relationship with them.”
“Discipleship is relational,” Darryl continues. “You have to have a relationship first before you try to disciple or admonish.”
David builds on this idea, saying, “It’s just like our own relationship with the Lord. The closer we are with Him, the deeper the relationship is with the Lord, the more apt we are to hear Him and listen to Him and be obedient to Him. And that’s the same thing with young people, with the mentors and leaders.”
David and Darryl recommend the following books and podcasts as great resources for your own personal leadership development:
- “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek
- The book of James in the Bible
- “Jesus Centered” by Steve A. Brown
- “Jocko Podcast” with Jocko Willink (focus on leadership and understanding people)
“Feed your leaders… Make sure we’re feeding the people that we say we trust and respect,” Darryl urges. “A lot of times we lose great young leaders because they’re not being fed, and not just spiritually, but financially or relationally.”
David concludes by saying that people can sometimes get nervous or uptight when it comes to working with youth, but “Jesus says, ‘do not be anxious about anything.’ So just be obedient to Him and allow Him to move and work.”