By Lindsey Williams
Writing Specialist
Nearly 100 churches were represented at the annual Mississippi Worship and Media Conference (MWMC) where 150 attendees congregated on February 27 at First Church, Brookhaven. As technology continues to improve as a tool for creative and effective worship experiences, the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (MBCB) Worship Ministries Department and Communication Services Department offer MWMC as a comprehensive service to the local church.
In the past, three different events achieved their focus on church music, worship leadership, and media, but in 2022 the two departments combined their annual conferences to create the MWMC.
“Since so many of our church leaders wear multiple hats — leading worship while also handling media,” said Kris Smith, Director of the Worship Ministries Department, “this combination just made sense. MWMC is designed to be a one-stop shop where leaders can get the training and encouragement they need in both areas.”
Every year, the conference expands and adapts to better harmonize with the needs of worship and media teams. This year, added breakout sessions offered more opportunities for connection and training.
Breakout leaders included: Andrew Causey, Founder of BiVoWorship.com; Andrew Hicks, VP of Sales and Design for Sound and Communications; Brad Stevens, President/Large Format Division of Hederman Brothers; Brian Hanna, Associate in Media at Morrison Heights Church, Clinton; Eric Busby, Director of Media and Technical Ministries at Morrison Heights Church, Clinton; Ginger Fowler, Minister of Music at First Church West Point; Dr. Jonathan McKenzie, Worship Pastor; Lorie Hanson, Director of Communication at First Church Madison; Matt Bell, Senior Product Manager of Multitracks.com; Ryan Capell, Production Director at Temple Church, Hattiesburg; Todd DuBose, Associate Pastor of Worship at First Church Biloxi; and Dr. Will Bishop, Associate Professor of Church Music and Worship at Southern Seminary.
“One area of my ministry I continually try to consider,” said Tanner Cade, Director of the Communication Services Department, “is giving MS Baptists a chance to try equipment options across the media landscape. This year, we were greatly pleased to include groups that work with audio, video, lighting, and printing avenues that give attendees a chance to see what they can try in their worship spaces. It’s often difficult to demo products, and I hope to use gatherings like MWMC to always provide those opportunities.”
Meaningful Connections
“Our goal as a department is to resource, equip, and encourage MS Baptist churches, and MWMC is an extension of that mission,” Smith affirmed. “This conference is all about helping worship and media leaders grow in their calling. My hope is that those who attended walked away feeling better equipped for ministry — whether through the training they received, the worship they experienced, or the meaningful connections they formed with others in similar roles.
“One of the things that makes MS Baptist churches unique is the strong sense of community and collaboration among our leaders. That was on full display at MWMC. You could see it in the conversations happening in the hallways, the connections being made during sessions, and the way people were eager to learn from each other. It was a blessing to witness, and I’m grateful to have played a role in bringing our leaders together for this event.”
Nick Wolfe, Associate Pastor of Worship and Media at First Church Brookhaven, shared his unique perspective as the lead minister of both teams. “It is awesome that we have two directors at the state level, Tanner Cade and Kris Smith, who can work together to produce a conference of ministries which intersect. Worship ministry cannot be done today without some technology, and I have learned over the years that technology is an art and an expression of worship. To see those two very important ministries come together is really a testament of the cooperation of MS Baptists at the state level.
“At the church level, this conference is a great one-stop shop. I don’t have to attend multiple conferences to gear up as a worship and media leader. I could spend my day choosing from a variety of breakouts necessary for my particular ministry.”
Effective Partnership
“In order for a worship team and a media team to effectively partner together, as I have learned from my position,” said Wolfe, “we need to make it very clear to the media team that they are needed. I cannot do what I do on a weekly basis without the sacrificial help of media volunteers. It’s important that the media team know they are vital and that their work is recognized.
“I try to dote on my team of volunteers by taking them to lunch and buying them Christmas presents — things like that. I want to make sure they know that the church not only appreciates them, the church needs them. So it starts with mutual respect. Teamwork thrives when everybody is humble.”
Nick Wolfe and Dr. Greg Warnock, Pastor of First Church Brookhaven, led the general session in worship and preaching.
“My senior pastoral role starts with preaching and teaching the Word of God to the flock under my care,” said Warnock. “I am called to equip them for their ministry of sharing the Gospel and making disciples. Their ministry role though begins as authentic worshipers. I work with the Worship Pastor who then works with his worship and media teams to fashion purposeful worship experiences.
“Most of our churches (75% in MS) have bivocational pastors and volunteer or part-time worship leaders. Expectations often are unrealistic and frustrations can build unnecessarily. I hope our focus as church members is to come having already worshiped during the week and desiring to express gratitude and praise to God in song, with our church family; to confess our faith congregationally as the worship leaders guide through the songs they select.”
In the evening, the MWMC worship concert featured Crescent City Worship, “a collaborative team of students, faculty, alumni, and friends” from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College.
“After experiencing this conference,” said Warnock, “the fellowship and the worship was so much more than I expected. The evening worship was so powerful. I needed that opportunity to worship. I was truly helped to be a better worshiper because of it.”
Months before the conference, the staff and volunteers at First Church Brookhaven, and the staff of the Worship Ministries and Communication Services departments, began to prepare for the collaborative event.
On a church campus always lively with activity, the church hostess, the kitchen staff, and pastors blessed the conference with careful preparation and caring presentation. Volunteers helped serve meals, take out trash, set up tables, and much more. The MBCB team was able to set up rooms and stations with their detailed dedication thanks to the church’s assistance.
Additionally, Wolfe’s wife, two daughters, and two sons were able to help serve. “For my family to come out and support not just their dad, but their church and the ministry, was a blessing to me for sure,” said Wolfe.
Looking Ahead
“Kris and I greatly enjoy the opportunity to bring together folks within worship arts,” said Cade, “and we would love to see this conference continue to grow and reach a larger audience. We had an attendee from Louisiana this year, which tells us there are those beyond Mississippi that desire to grow through events like this.”
“I have really enjoyed seeing continued cooperation between Kris and Tanner,” Wolfe remarked. “Both of these guys are respectively new in their positions, and it is refreshing to know the next generation of leaders are coming together to make this big event work. People are becoming more aware of the conference, and I look forward to next February. I can’t wait to go wherever the next location will be and even offer my help. I would even come up a day early and get a hotel room to help out because it was such a beneficial time for me.”
For more information on Worship Ministries, contact Kris Smith at 601-292-3276 or ksmith@mbcb.org.
For more information on Communication Services, contact Tanner Cade at 601-292-3290 or tcade@mbcb.org.
Comments are closed.