🎚️ The Fake "Thank You" vs. The Real Work

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Thanksgiving is tomorrow.

In the church world, this is usually the time for the generic "Thank You" speech. You know the one. The leader stands up in the green room and says: "Hey guys, thanks so much. You're killing it. Great job today."

It's polite. It's expected. And honestly? It's often meaningless.

Flattery is easy. Authentic gratitude is hard work. Scripture is blunt about this: "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good" (Romans 12:9). Faking it isn't just annoying; it’s a failure of Christian character.

Today, I want to challenge you to move beyond the obligatory "good job" and do the real work of building a team that actually trusts each other. Because here is the hard truth: You cannot have a great mix without great relationships.

You can have the best gear, the best ear, and the best chops in the world. But if you are disconnected from the people on stage—or worse, harboring secret resentment toward them—your mix will suffer. The atmosphere will suffer. And ultimately, the mission will suffer.

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SUNDAYMIX MAIN LESSON

Main Lesson: The "Spartan Unit" vs. The Body of Christ

Too many tech teams operate like a middle school basketball team: one star player hogging the ball (maybe you behind the console) and everyone else just standing around.

But an elite team operates like a Spartan unit—or in biblical terms, like the Body.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:21: "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,' nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.'"

• The worship leader (the mouth) needs you (the ear).

• You need the drummer (the hand).

• The whole team trusts that if something goes wrong, we solve it together, without blame.

This kind of trust doesn't happen by accident. It happens through intentional rapport. If the only time you talk to your worship leader is when you need something, you don't have a relationship; you have a transaction. Transactional teams fall apart under pressure. Relational teams survive.

Deeper Dive: The Audit of the Heart

This week, I want you to do something difficult. I want you to actively think about the people on your team—especially the ones you struggle with.

• The eccentric bass player.

• The absent-minded ProPresenter operator.

• The worship leader who threw you under the bus last month.

Stop looking at their flaws for a second. Look for the redeemable. As Peter commands us: "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8).

• Maybe that bass player is socially awkward, but he is a virtuoso on his instrument. Be grateful for his talent.

• Maybe the slide operator misses cues, but they have the most welcoming, kind spirit in the room. Be grateful for their attitude.

This isn't about ignoring incompetence; it's about choosing to see the Imago Dei—the image of God—in the human being behind the function.

Elite Pro Tip: The 5-Minute "Rapport Build"

You might be thinking, "I don't have time to take everyone to lunch. I have a job and a family." I get it. You don't need to be best friends with everyone, but you do need to be human with everyone.

The Fix: Use the "dead time" before soundcheck.

Instead of hiding behind the console on your phone, walk up to the stage. Find that difficult musician. Ask one question that has nothing to do with the service.

• "How are your kids doing?"

• "Did you survive the work week?"

• "What are you doing for Thanksgiving?"

Spending 5 minutes treating them like a human being buys you 5 years of trust. When you inevitably have to give them hard feedback later ("You're dragging the tempo"), they will listen to you—not because you're the boss, but because they know you see them.

The Big Takeaway

We ask a lot of you. You are expected to be an elite technician, a master artist, and a spiritual leader. It's stressful.

But remember the mission: To create an environment where people can encounter Jesus.

Jesus said, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). He didn't say they will know us by our kick drum sound. He said they will know us by our love.

If you are harboring anger, resentment, or indifference toward your team, you are bringing that spirit into the booth. You can't lead people to a place you aren't willing to go yourself.

So this Thanksgiving, skip the fake "good job." Choose to actually see your people. Choose to build trust. Choose to care. Because the truth lives in relationships, and the mission depends on it.

Action Steps for This Week

1. The Gratitude Audit. Sit down for 5 minutes. Write down the name of one person on your team you find difficult. Write down one specific thing they do well or one redeemable quality they have. Thank God for that quality.

2. The "Hello" Tour. This Sunday, go out of your way to say a genuine hello to everyone. The systems engineer you never see. The new greeter. The shy musician. Don't be the "cool sound guy" who ignores people. Be the leader who connects.

3. Join the Fellowship. We're building a place for real, authentic relationships between techs. No flattery, just real talk and real help. Join us in the SundayMix Skool Community. It's free, and it's for you.

--> Click Here to Join the Free Skool Community

Quick-Reference Glossary

• EQ (Equalizer): The tool on your console used to adjust the tonal balance of a sound by boosting or cutting specific frequencies.

• Frequency: The specific "pitch" of a sound, measured in Hertz (Hz). Low numbers are bass, high numbers are treble.

• Gain (EQ): The amount of boost (+) or cut (-) you apply to a selected frequency, measured in decibels (dB).

• Q (Bandwidth): The "width" of your EQ adjustment. A narrow Q is like a surgical scalpel. A wide Q is like a broad paintbrush.

• HPF (High-Pass Filter) / Low-Cut: A special filter that removes all frequencies below a set point. It's your primary tool for eliminating low-end "mud."

• Headroom: The amount of level between your average signal and the point of distortion. Removing useless low-frequency energy with an HPF increases your headroom.

• Pre-EQ: A "tap point" in the signal path that sends a copy of the audio before any of the channel's main EQ has been applied, crucial for creating independent monitor mixes.

Happy Thanksgiving, team. I am grateful for the hard work you put in that nobody sees.

—Madison Jonas, Senior Editor

Lord, give us eyes to see the people behind the instruments, and hearts that are willing to build trust for the sake of Your Kingdom. Amen.

Quick-Reference Glossary

• Rapport: A connection based on mutual trust and understanding. Unlike "friendship," which implies hanging out socially, rapport is a professional necessity that allows for honest communication under pressure.

• Transactional Relationship: An interaction based solely on what you can get from someone (e.g., "I talk to you only because I need you to play drums"). These relationships are fragile and break easily during conflict.

• Imago Dei: A Latin theological term meaning "Image of God." It reminds us that every person on our team, regardless of their skill level or personality, possesses inherent dignity and worth.

• Spartan Unit: A metaphor for an elite team where every member protects the person next to them. In audio, this means the FOH engineer, worship leader, and band all take responsibility for the final sound, rather than acting as solo performers.

• The Body (1 Corinthians 12): The biblical model for church teams, emphasizing that seemingly "weaker" or less visible parts (like a slide operator or greeter) are indispensable to the function of the whole.

About the Author

Madison Jonas is an Eagle Scout and U.S. Navy Reserve veteran with a diverse background in music and business. A multi-instrumentalist musician with training in piano, voice, violin, percussion, and guitar, he also brings 10 years of experience from the auto sales industry. He began his audio career as a volunteer in 2017, which ignited a passion for technical production. He is Pro Tools Certified and has professionally helped elevate the sound for multiple churches. Outside of his media and advertising company, he is a dedicated athlete and passionate about living a life devoted to Christ.