Cedarville Magazine, Spring 2014

ARE YOU READY BEST SUMMER EVER? CEDARVILLE.EDU/SUMMER Art and Design Camp Athletic Training Camp Criminal Justice Camp Engineering Camp Enterprise Process and Innovation Camp (for students considering a career in business) Foreign Language Camp Forensic Science Camp Geology Camp Innovative Design Camp Music Camp Nursing Camp Pharmacy Camp Politics and Policy Camp Psychology Camp Theatre Camp Worship Camp Writing Camp Cedarville Hosts Fifth Annual Worship 4:24 Conference On January 24–25, more than 580 worship pastors, musicians, praise teams, bands, tech crews, and Cedarville worship students attended the Worship 4:24 Conference featuring Travis Cottrell, worship leader for BethMoore’s national conference.Worship 4:24, co-sponsored by the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio and Cedarville’s Department of Music and Worship, takes its name from John 4:24, which instructs Christ-followers to worship God “in spirit and in truth.” According to Dr. Roger O’Neel, Associate Professor of Worship and Music, the conference is designed to equip local churches to effectively lead worship. Because effective worship looks different to different church bodies, the conference included numerous breakout sessions. Some addressed foundational concepts about worship and why we worship. Others addressed practical issues such as multigenerational worship, congregational singing, how to find and train musicians, music licensing, and how to integrate video and other forms of technology. This year’s conference included Cottrell, Worship Pastor at Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee. For the last 15 years, Cottrell has also served as worship leader for Beth Moore’s Living Proof Live conferences in all 50 states and abroad. He was joined by his Senior Pastor, Ben Mandrell, and together they spoke about cultivating a dynamic pastor- worship pastor relationship. The Worship 4:24 Conference has become the largest conference Cedarville hosts during the school year. O’Neel noted that more videographers attended the conference this year than ever before as more churches are considering the ways that well-planned lighting, audio, and video components contribute to an atmosphere of worship. The diversity in attendees reflects the interdisciplinary focus of the music and worship program. “When the program was designed six years ago, we brought 12 worship pastors together to form an advisory council,” O’Neel said. “We asked, ‘What skills and competencies do you need to do your job today, and where is this field headed for the future?’ With their input, we designed a flexible degree that begins with 12 hours of theology — this is in addition to students’ Bible minor. Students take additional courses in music, worship, audio and video production, and theatre.” Among the conference highlights was the opportunity for Cedarville students to hear a wide range of perspectives about how different churches approach worship. Eric Stigall ’15 appreciated the session he attended on transformational worship with Gary Jennings, formerly with Lifeway Christian Resources. Stigall left the session inspired by Jennings’ vision that transformational worship points people to God beyond the Sunday morning experience. “Powerful worship should transform us as believers and reorient our lives toward God throughout the week,” Stigall said. “The biblical emphasis on worship and experiential learning from professionals in the field makes this conference one of the best.” O’Neel is encouraged by t he professional relationships that have formed as a result of this conference, and he sees it as a win for all involved. “Worship 4:24 not only exposes our students to some of the best worship leaders in the country, but it also exposes us and our worship program to them,” he said. Cedarville’s Worship program was named “Best of the Best” in 2012 by Worship Leader Magazine . spirit + truth W O R D M A R K L O G O