Resourcing Worship Virtual Conference to feature Mississippi Baptist worship leaders
Mississippi Baptists will join with 16 other Baptist state conventions on August 1 to host the Resourcing Worship Virtual Conference, a virtual training opportunity for church leaders involved in worship ministry.
The conference is the fruition of a conversation between worship ministry consultants of many different state conventions at the onset of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The group was searching for ways to provide resources in a safe environment.
This large-scale ministry training event is believed to be one of the first partnerships between so many state conventions and other Southern Baptist ministries for the purpose of worship ministry training.
“With practically all worship conferences and events canceled nationally this year due to the pandemic, the Resourcing Worship Virtual Conference brought to you by Baptist state worship leaders is a fantastic opportunity for all leaders of worship in the church with top names in the worship world,” said Tom Tillman, director of music and worship for Texas Baptists. “I’m excited that this can fill so many needs during a time when our worship leaders need some encouragement.”
Slater Murphy, director of church music for the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (MBCB), was involved in the planning.
“Several months ago, as we began to understand some of the serious implications of COVID-19, the Southern Baptist state worship consultants met together online and pondered this question: “in what ways could God use this pandemic for good?
“We prayerfully began to collaborate and as a result of this discussion, the Lord directed us to create a first of its kind.
“It’s been exciting to share in the development of this unprecedented cooperative effort to provide encouragement, inspiration, and training.”
Mississippi Baptist worship ministry leaders leading breakout sessions at the conference include:
• Wyndy South, MBCB keyboard consultant.
• Allison Powell, coordinator of the Katangello music and worship arts ministry at First Church, Houston.
• Jessica McMillan, director of the doctor of musical arts program and music instructor at New Orleans Seminary.
• Murphy and his wife Marsha.
• Brad Brand, minister of music and pastoral care at Park Place Church, Brandon, and his wife Bethany.
“Those who sign up for the August 1 webinar will have access to seventy different breakouts, plus enjoy the large group worship times,” Murphy added.
Three main conference sessions will be hosted by:
• Keith Getty, a Northern Irish Christian singer and songwriter, best known for co-writing the modern hymn, In Christ Alone, in 2001.
• Matt Redman, an English Christian worship leader, singer-songwriter, and author best known for co-writing the 2012 modern hymn, 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord).
• Matt Boswell, pastor of ministries and worship at Providence Church in Frisco, Texas.
• Shelly Johnson, worship leader at North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Ga.
• Mike Harland, associate pastor for worship at First Church, Jackson, and former director of worship at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville.
The vocal group Veritas will lead in times of worship throughout the day-long event.
In addition to the main sessions, over 65 breakout sessions will be led by speakers and artists familiar with worship ministry. The schedule is being updated regularly as more speakers are added.
Matt Freeman, associate director of worship and music at the South Carolina Baptist Convention, celebrated the expertise and training that will come from having such skilled leaders present at the conference. He was particularly excited about keynote speaker Matt Redman and the unique insights he could bring to all levels of worship leadership.
“For the last three decades, Matt Redman has impacted the global church through leading worship, writing songs, teaching on worship, and writing worship books. We are looking forward to him speaking on discipleship and development, songwriting, and the future of worship in the church.
“We’re blessed to have him partnering with us for this conference,” Freeman said.
The breakout sessions will cover a variety of biblical, theological, practical, and technological aspects of worship and local church ministry. Several sessions have also been designed for senior pastors.
Registration for the online event is $15 per person through July 18 and $20 per person after July 18. Groups of five or more can register for $10 per person through July 18.
Group members do not have to be from the same church, but a distinct e-mail address for each individual must be submitted at the time of the group registration.
Following the conclusion of the conference, participants can access and view all of the conference content for an additional 90 days.
For more information and to register, go to resourcingworship.com.
Editor’s note: Adapted from an article originally published by Texas Baptists.