changes…

June 18, 2007

To everything, turn, turn, turn
There is a season, turn, turn, turn…

-The Byrds

After months of prayer, conversations, interviews, etc., God has called me to leave Grace Church - where I am worship pastor - and join the staff at Missouri Baptist University as Worship Arts Coordinator to help them build the brand new Worship Arts program starting July 1. I will be teaching upper-division classes on worship history and leadership and emerging worship trends, traveling/speaking at regional events in the Midwest on behalf of MoBap, giving oversight to all of the ministry groups, as well as directing some of the ministry groups.

It is truly an honor to have been considered and ultimately offered the job. This new major is unprecedented in the Midwest region and I believe will be a trendsetter for the region. We are going to be intentional about being progressive - yes, we are going to talk about the emerging church - while at the same time being grounded theologically.

One thing that I have begun to work on is putting together a state-of-the-art website that will include this blog, Worship Arts student’s blogs, as well as podcasts and vodcasts of personal interviews with local and nationally-known worship pastors/leaders/experts. This will serve as an internal communal tool at MoBap as well as an external promotional tool.

Additionally, this summer, I will be going back to school and beginning a Masters of Arts in Theological Studies from Liberty Theological Seminary via long distance education. I’m really looking forward to more school in this new season - I know, that sounds crazy…

In many ways, this is a major shift for me, away from the local church and into academia. But my affiliation with the local church will continue. Holly and I will be calling The Journey our home church. And I will still be leading worship frequently at Missouri Baptist, as well as at local churches as I’m asked.

Stay tuned in the next few weeks. I might have a major announcement to let you in on for the fall.

Above is the amazing postcard that MoBap’s publication department put together - kudos Lisa and Bryce - and below is the press release about this new major.

MBU appoints Brad Andrews as Worship Arts Coordinator

June 11, 2007

After a yearlong nationwide search, Missouri Baptist University has appointed Brad Andrews to lead the University’s newly created Bachelor of Arts in Worship Arts major.

As MBU Worship Arts Coordinator, Andrews will be responsible for the overall cultivation and recruitment of this unprecedented academic program, which seeks to prepare students to lead emerging congregations in meaningful, highly contextual worship. Andrews will assume his position on July 1.

“I have a passion to mentor young people to reach emerging generations for Christ and to see worship and the arts as vital catalysts in the church to do so,” Andrews said. “I believe we are living in a transitional time in the life of worship in the church, where the look of worship is morphing into an experiential and more organic encounter.”

Andrews, a 2000 graduate of MBU who is pursuing a Master of Arts in Theological Studies at Liberty Theological Seminary, is a vastly experienced worship leader, songwriter and recording artist.

Since 2005, he has worked as the Worship Arts Pastor at Grace Church in Saint Louis. At Grace—one of the largest churches in Saint Louis with more than 3,500 people in attendance every weekend—Andrews acted as the primary worship leader, oversaw a staff of twelve ministry professionals and served as creative director.

Andrews has written, recorded and performed original music with Dove-award winning producer Joey Candaday. He has regularly sung background vocals and assisted with pre-production work on a number of Christian albums. In addition, he has showcased for Christian music labels Sparrow and Rocketown Records.

About MBU Worship Arts
The Worship Arts major—the first of its kind in Missouri—interweaves a host of practical courses in music, communication, and theology disciplines, giving students a solid platform to lead congregations in contemporary and emerging music trends.

Worship Arts students receive practical training through seminars and internships from some of the most dynamic worship leaders in Saint Louis.

For more information about MBU’s Worship Arts major, contact the Office of Admissions at 877.434.1115 and visit www.mobap.edu/worshiparts.

Posted in apologetics, blogging, education, emerging church, theology, web, worship