There are 150 psalms in the canon of Scripture; 150 songs to the Lord. And yet, the church is a living, breathing example that our song to the Lord continues. How does a congregation live – or “sing” – in the midst of sorrow, hope, and joy? Centered on worship ministry, this pathway provides some conversations about leading in crisis, as well as practical tips on developing young leaders, leading in multicultural settings, and working with teams.

Hosted by Sam Souder, this pathway took place in ACU’s Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building on Tuesday, September 17, 2019.

Sessions

Lessons Learned: Words of Wisdom for Young Worship Leaders (Randy Gill)

Drawing on two decades of adventures in full-time worship ministry, Gill shares practical tips on dealing with people, politics, and preferences without losing your passion for praise.

Worship: From Diversity to Inclusion (Stephen Maxwell)

God calls worship leaders to take into account his beautiful diversity and to inspire the church to become inclusive when preparing worship. Using North Atlanta’s story, Maxwell discusses how a wonderfully diverse community of people is using corporate worship to become the inclusive body God intends us to be.

Leading in the Dark (Laura Burnett)

What does it look like to lead worship when your heart is breaking? How do you encourage your congregation to be strong when your world is crumbling around you? Look at what Scripture says about trial and heartache and discover practical steps to stay strong, yet transparent, when faced with the trials of life.

Let’s Go Team! (Taylor Belt)

Learn what it takes to build the foundations of a strong ministry team, with resources you can use to determine how different personalities blend. Discover different ways to assess gifting for your worship ministry, along with a variety of ways to lead these teams into a season of growth, production, and peace.

Reflections on We Are 151 (Pathway Presenters)

A recording of this panel discussion is not available.

Speakers

TAYLOR BELT

Taylor Belt is the worship arts and media minister at the Vancouver Church of Christ. Taylor has a music education degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, and before going into ministry he spent 10 years teaching band in Texas. He is a lifelong musician and loves to worship through creative media. He and his wife Kristi have two boys, Carter and Jackson.

LAURA BURNETT

Laura Burnett is the worship minister at Montgomery Church of Christ in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Laura and her husband Jason have four girls, ranging from 2-18 years old. During the gender reveal of their last pregnancy, they learned their baby was missing a leg and potentially had many other issues. Through this dark season in their lives, Laura and Jason fought through the struggle of being present and transparent with their congregation, all while struggling to define their “new normal” and pressing in to the Lord.

RANDY GILL

Randy Gill is an associate professor of worship ministry and the assistant dean of the College of Entertainment and the Arts at Lipscomb University in Nashville. Before coming to Lipscomb in December 2018, Randy served as the worship minister at the Otter Creek Church in Brentwood, Tennessee; Campus Church in Atlanta, Georgia; and Woodmont Hills Church in Nashville. Prior to that Randy worked for 13 years at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, where he served as an associate professor of music and associate director of church relations. He has also served on the faculties of Rochester University and Oklahoma Christian University. Randy is a successful songwriter and arranger whose work is used by churches across the United States. In addition to his activities as a worship leader, teacher, and musician, Randy is a popular speaker at churches, conferences and retreats. He was a founding member of the ZOE Group and remains active in their annual conferences, recordings, and publishing projects. Randy has degrees from Rochester University, Harding University, University of Michigan, and the University of Southern California. He has been married to LaJuana Case Gill since 1976 and they have an adult son named Christopher.

STEPHEN MAXWELL

Stephen Maxwell serves at the North Atlanta Church of Christ as a worship and communications minister. He is passionate about worship and sharing the good news of Christ through singing, speaking, and teaching. Stephen has served in local congregations in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, and Tennessee, and holds a Master of Arts in Christian ministry from Harding School of Theology in Memphis, Tennessee. Stephen has worked with the internationally-known Christian music group Acappella for the past 19 years, touring Europe, Africa, South America, and the continental United States. Stephen and his family share a passion for worship and ministry with young adults and college students. They have worked closely with universities in Arlington, Texas; Portland, Oregon; Florence, Alabama; and Memphis, Tennessee. Stephen is married to Alasha, his wife of 19 years, and they have three boys: Jonah, Judah, and Josiah. Stephen loves to sing and spend time with his family.

SAM SOUDER

Sam Souder serves as the worship minister at the Monterey Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas, where he and his wife Tara have lived for the last several years. He graduated from ACU with a degree in worship ministry in 2010 and is currently working on his master’s in worship studies from Dallas Baptist University. An avid musician, Sam has arranged songs that are sung in churches of Christ all over the country. He is passionate about worship and the church and how our corporate worship services can have lasting impact during the week.