By Megan Young
Editor
Often more focused on the worship experience of others than their own, worship and media leaders from across Mississippi were given the opportunity to come together for a day of fellowship and learning during the annual Mississippi Worship and Media Conference at Morrison Heights Baptist Church in Clinton on Feb. 24.
More than 180 people attended the event, co-hosted by the Worship Ministries and Communications departments of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, that provided an environment for training, networking, encouragement, and resource sharing for Mississippi Baptist worship, production, and communications volunteers and staff.
Jon Daniels, pastor of First Baptist Church, Flora, led the general sessions by recentering the gathered crowd on a definition of worship built on the person of Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the presence of God.
Worship, said Daniels, is simply “extravagant love and extreme obedience.” God demonstrated His extravagant love for us by giving His one and only Son to save us from our sins, and in response to that love, we follow Him with extreme obedience.
“When you give your life as a living sacrifice to Him, then that is your worship,” said Daniels, referencing Romans 12:1. “And that’s what we have to, that’s what we must do as we lead our churches.”
Daniels pointed out that everyone worships something. Whatever we give our “mind’s attention and our hearts affection to” becomes the object of our worship, but that worship is often misplaced in worldly pursuits.
“Our focus is not on all of those pursuits,” said Daniels, “but on the pursuit of the one true living God, the pursuit of Him, and the importance of that pursuit to the life of the Christ follower. And that’s what we have to help our churches understand. That’s what worship is.”
When our focus is fully on the person of Jesus, said Daniels, that’s when the power of the Holy Spirit fills our churches. Using the example of firefighting, he explained that the Holy Spirit is the vital fuel that we must have in worship — the oxygen that feeds the flame.
“Just as a fire is dependent upon its fuel so that it can continue to burn,” said Daniels, “we are so utterly and completely dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit so that we can burn brightly and lightly for the Lord as we gather with His people Sunday after Sunday, and lead them to the Word of God in corporate worship. We need the heat of the Holy Spirit moving in us and through us as we lead them in corporate worship.”
When those elements combine, said Daniels, that’s when the presence of God is truly felt.
“And that’s not because you got, you know, tingly feelings,” said Daniels, “but because you belong to Him and you know He’s there. You know He’s here. His presence. God is here.”
Daniels thanked the crowd of worship and media leaders for creating an environment for their congregations to engage in meaningful worship experiences when they gather together.
“What you do, it is so incredibly important and foundational to the work of the Gospel and the work of the church,” said Daniels.
Participants were invited to attend four breakout sessions throughout the day. Topics ranged from audio and lighting techniques, to website and communication strategies, to training worship leaders and shaping worship gatherings.
In response to the rapidly-evolving field of communications, one new topic added to this year’s conference breakouts was “Utilizing AI for Church Social Media” led by Lorie Hanson, Director of Communications at First Baptist Church, Madison. The session explored practical ways AI can streamline planning, creating, and organizing church social media content for a more consistent and engaging presence.
“As a nonprofit ministry, most churches operate within limited budgets and depend heavily on volunteer support,” said Julie Hollingsworth, Director of Communications at First Baptist Church, Starkville. “The session on leveraging AI was especially impactful. It provided practical tools to help our team steward our resources wisely and maximize efficiency without sacrificing quality or mission.”
Crucial to the future of worship ministry, Alan Cagle, Leadership Development Pastor at Crossgates Baptist Church, Brandon, led a session on “Multiplying Next Generation Worship Leaders.” The breakout explored how churches can train and equip future worship leaders while navigating today’s ministry challenges and opportunities.
The topic was especially beneficial to Matt Hines, Minister of Music at First Baptist Church, Flora, who is currently in the process of developing a program to train young worship leaders at his church.
One of the final breakout sessions brought together a panel of conference leaders for a “Church Communication Q&A.” Participants were invited to bring their real-life communication challenges and receive practical insights and solutions.
“One of my favorite moments was the closing question-and-brainstorm session,” said Hollingsworth. “The collaborative environment created space to share best practices with churches of similar size and structure. It was encouraging to hear how others are navigating the challenges of communicating effectively within a multigenerational congregation—where Gen Z and Gen Alpha prefer digital-first communication, while older generations still deeply value printed materials. That dialogue alone was worth the trip.”
In addition to the valuable breakout sessions, participants benefitted from the community built by bringing together media and worship leaders from across the state.
“I love everything that’s been going on,” said Hines. “I love the fellowship. It’s been a great experience.”
“Last year I attended by myself and enjoyed it so much I brought my whole team this year,” said Hollingsworth. “It’s a valuable resource that the MS Baptist Convention provides for professional and ministry development.”
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