Three of my absolute favorite courses to teach at West Coast Baptist College are Hymnology, the study of Christian song, Philosophy of Church Music, and Theology of Worship. I believe all three are necessary for a biblical and balanced worship program. Our biblical theology of worship builds framework for all matters of corporate worship, including music. Philosophy of Church Music then…
Because my primary role at West Coast Baptist College is to oversee the music department, I am constantly asking whether or not we are effectively preparing our students for the work of music ministry. As you can imagine, the skills and knowledge required for this position vary from church to church. In some cases, a music pastor is responsible for other…
In part 1, I discussed some considerations when choosing songs that communicate truth in a powerful way. In part 2, I stressed the importance of congregational participation. There is a third, more practical way to develop the praise of new believers in your church. Create a development plan for your music program. Most churches do not have a systematic program…
This last semester, I was privileged to direct our annual Spring Orchestra Concert. This orchestra includes instrumentalists from Lancaster Baptist School, Lancaster Baptist Church, and West Coast Baptist College. The tireless effort of the music educators in the Antelope Valley Music Academy truly makes this event happen. Each semester, this orchestra performs a concert using seasonal music, film scores, art music,…
When working in Christian education, the work can often seem to bear little or no fruit. Unlike a pastor or missionary who can more readily evaluate the fruit of his labor by measuring the spiritual and sometimes numerical growth of his ministry, the Christian educator will not normally see the result of his influence for many years. In some…