What Does A Worship Leader Do?
(Part 1)

There’s no question that the role of the worship leader has been exaggerated in recent decades. Some pastors give 1/3 to 1/2 of their meeting to singing, led by a musician who has little to no theological training. Gordon MacDonald comments, “For many young people choosing a church, worship leaders have become a more important factor than preachers. Mediocre preaching may be tolerated, but an inept worship leader can sink things fast.” (Gordon MacDonald, To Find a Worship Leader, Leadership Journal, Spring 2002) In addition, the rise of “worship artists” has intensified the often unhelpful connection between pop music culture and congregational worship.

Ultimately, our worship leader is Jesus. He is the only mediator between God and man, and the perfect man who sings God’s praise in our midst. (1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 2:12) He is our high priest who has offered the perfect sacrifice of Himself to insure our entrance into the holy places. (Heb. 10:19-22)

However, in spite of the all the pitfalls and abuses, musical leadership is modeled in the Old Testament (1 Chron. 15:22 and many Psalms) and can be an expression of wise pastoral care in the local church. Congregations can be taught, pastored, and led as they sing God’s praise. In fact, a pastor is the ideal candidate for leading congregational singing. But in many churches, that’s just not possible. Pastors are put in the position of finding someone to “lead worship.” But who are they looking for, and what is that person’s function?

A few years ago, I was asking myself that question and I found this definition.

An effective corporate worship leader, aided and led by the Holy Spirit, skillfully combines biblical truth with music to magnify the worth of God and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, thereby motivating the gathered church to join him/her in proclaiming and cherishing the truth about God and seeking to live all of life for the glory of God.

Greetings,

Bishop Ronnie Blackmon along with our mime team, “Silent Expressions”, would like to cordially invite you to join us for our first “Interpretive Praise Explosion”!

The explosion will be held at the address noted above on Saturday, April 28^th at 5:00pm.  Whether your team is a Mime, Dance, or Drama team, we welcome you to come.  We are asking that each team is prepared to minister two selections.  We are also asking, for all teams to arrive by 4:30 pm to arrange your musical line up with the sound technicians.

In addition, Team Leaders, we ask that you will please respond by April 3^rd, as it will help us prepare for this celebration! We are looking forward to worshiping with you and we hope to see you there, but in the event you are unable to join us please keep us in your prayers.

For any additional information regarding the “Praise Explosion” please contact us at our facebook page:

WORSHIP ARTS

Thanks and God Bless!

Good Morning!

I know you are getting a lot of emails from the State offices and staff concerning recent and coming ministry events however, I wanted to write to you with a personal note thanking those of you that have already responded to our invitation to the first state Worship Conference.

This conference is not designed like any other you may have attended or read about or maybe even had some of your team to be a part of in the past. We have searched our hearts and believe we have come up with a plan that will pour into your church and your local ministries.
We have designed workshops that will have a hands on atmosphere for your teams.

If you are a percussionist / drummer or have someone who is starting out or has a desire to be one, we have a Drum Clinics designed for them. A hands on experience by a young man who is sought after by not just bands and ministries but by industry leaders who want to endorse his endeavors. Amazing!

Clinics also will be held for keyboard and piano musicians who need encouragement, instruction and assistance in using tools that will enhance your local church Worship experience. They will also be given tools to take back home with them that will continue to teach and encourage even after the conference.

There will also be clinics held for those who play or desire to play the bass, guitar and other instruments.

We will spend time with Worship Pastors and Leaders hearing their hearts and with God’s leading help them to reach their full potential in their calling. As well as talking about ‘team building” and tools that will help lighten the load.

We will have clinics and sessions dealing with Worship through Drama. We have skilled ministers who have worked in the church as well as in the other venues to help us build a vibrant ministry.

I trust you will consider sending those in the Music and Drama ministries to this Conference. We want to partner with you and your churches to help spread the Gospel through effective Ministry. If you have questions, please feel free to email me and I will try to respond quickly. If I can’t one of our team members will get back to you ASAP.

God Bless you RICHLY!

Rolf Woodard
Worship Arts Director

Some have said they are having trouble registering online for ENCOUNTER! When you go to the registration page, click the event. In the window that opens containing the details, click the “Register” button at the bottom. Or, just click the link HERE!

Encounter is just around the corner and we are very excited! This is the first ever conference of this type that is completely focused on assisting Worship Leaders and teams across North Carolina in becoming the best they can be at bringing should to the Throne of Grace in a spirit of Worship!

If you are here looking to see what Worship Arts can offer, you’ll want to check out this weekend of instruction. More than that, this will be a time of more than instruction! Encounter is all about actually having a time in which we as Worshipers will have an experience with the Creator of all things creative. It is He that has created the arts and we are blessed to be able to connect with Him with our senses: visual, aural, or kinesthetic!

Encounter is all about connection.  We will connect with accomplished leaders of worship.  We will connect with the heart of the Creator of worship.  We will connect with others of like spirit and passion.  We will grow.  We will minister.  We will be ministered to.  Over all, we will go deeper into one of the greatest Encounters we will have had in North Carolina!

Words fall short when trying to describe what this event will be.  Encounter is truly what this time will be about!  An Encounter unlike any you’ve had before!  And you will be able to take that Encounter with you to then lead others in an ENCOUNTER with God!

Register today on the Registration Page!  You can do it online, or download the form from our Facebook page and mail it in.  Either way, Be There!

March 1-3, 2012 at Camp Maranatha!

We’ll see you there!