LifeWay Christian Resources unveiled its latest developments in curriculum resources during the Education and Music Association annual meeting Nov. 17 at Dauphin Way Baptist Church, Mobile.
For the first time, LifeWay is offering interactive DVD/CD literature in its youth curriculum as a new method to spread the gospel. The literature will be out in the spring of 2004.
“This is very cutting edge material that will reach the youth and show them how they can be Kingdom-focused Christians,” said Sharon Smith, LifeWay network specialist for the south and south central region.
Smith also announced a positive initial response to LifeWay’s “G-Force,” an interactive combination Sunday School and worship material for younger children. G-Force is designed for use during revivals, worship and for cell group churches. “This is very different from what we’ve done in the past,” said Smith.
She also encouraged ministers of education to participate in “M.E.s Across America.” The program organizes ministers into regional teams that meet to discuss the needs for training, lifting up the role of these ministers and helping them to reach out beyond their individual churches.
With the initiation of the program, LifeWay now reaches more than 5,000 ministers of education across the country, Smith reported.
Education and music ministers also heard about worship in the 21st century from John Chisum, worship pastor of Christ Anglican Church in Mobile and Integrity Music artist.
‘Intimate worship’
“Pursuing intimate worship is about leading others into the joy of a relationship with God through praise and worship,” said Chisum.
“There are people in our congregations every week who are suffering,” he said.
“They need to know the love of God in a very real way. We never know where they are; so, it’s important for us to reach out to them and lead them to the Father.”
Chisum said that without a “heart testimony” of what God has done personally in a life, all the “head knowledge” of how to lead worship is useless.
“If we’re to keep going as worship leaders, we can’t burn out. Our individual intimacy with God is essential,” he said. “Worship is just our response to Him. Unless that vertical relationship is there, we won’t be able to share that with others.
“Corporate intimacy is about moving from a perfect musical service to experiential worship,” Chisum said, noting that corporate intimacy will look different in different churches because it depends on the culture of the church.
Chisum said the three most important things about worship ministry are:
1. Worship is first personal, then corporate.
2. Renewing musical style is not spiritual renewal.
3. Worship ministry is much more about serving as pastor to people than performing music.
“I believe that the Lord is calling us to a new role in the church not just as a music minister but as a worship pastor,” Chisum said.
In other business, new Education and Music Association officers were elected.
They are Larry Armstrong, Eastern Hills Baptist Church, Montgomery, president; Don Campbell, First Baptist Church, Birmingham, president-elect; Johnny Kilgore, Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Birmingham, vice president; Charles Shaddix, First Baptist Church, Hartselle, secretary; and Jim Simpson, Golden Springs Baptist Church, Anniston, treasurer. Vial Fontenot, First Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, is outgoing president.
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