Churches all across our state are struggling to really engage their congregations in transformational worship. Too often it seems our congregations are spectators rather than active participants–they seem to have lost their passion for worshipping God. It seems this issue has taken on epidemic proportions in churches across our nation.
NC Baptists are launching many new initiatives to come alongside church leaders in combatting this problem and renewing the worship in their churches. One of the primary ways this will be done is through offering practical, proven training that will equip worship leaders with the understanding and tools they need to become more effective in their ministries. Training options include undergraduate and graduate certificates issued by accredited schools. The various options address the core competencies worship leaders need to lead their teams and congregations well.
The training is especially great for part-time worship leaders who have little or no formal training in worship leadership, but is also great for others, helping worship leaders stay fresh in their ministry.
Specifically, the training equips worship leaders to better serve their churches in leading times of transformational worship with multigenerational congregations. In addition to establishing biblical foundations of worship, participants will gain practical insights into leading every aspect of a vibrant worship ministry.
Participants will receive an expansive Worship Leader Handbook that goes deeper into all of the concepts presented at the event. The handbook has just just undergone its seventh revision, having been used by thousands of worship leaders worldwide and has been available in four languages.
It all begins with a 3-day retreat at one of our NC Baptist conference centers.
These intense retreats are designed to refresh and equip worship leaders through an experience covering the essentials of worship leadership, guided by the handbook. The retreats begin at lunch on Thursday and continue through Saturday afternoon.
Those that pursue one of the certificate options will receive additional training in a number of areas through online experiences and assignments following the initial 3-day training event.
Some of the other topics covered include:
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- Planning worship services that really engage the congregation.
- Making disciples through the worship ministry.
- Preparing the entire worship team to lead well.
- Helping the congregation to worship well in all of life.
- Incorporating media into the service.
- Selecting the best songs for worship.
- Planning and implementing smooth transitions in worship.
- Personal preparation to lead worship.
- Leading change in a healthy manner.
The Baptist State Convention of NC is underwriting a significant amount of the cost of this training to make it more affordable to our church leaders.
There are three training options that worship leaders may follow:
#1 Worship Leader Boot Camp: EXTREME plus Additional Content.
This three-day retreat at one of our conference centers will go deep into the areas mentioned above. These retreats will be an immersive experience using the newly updated and expanded Worship Leader Boot Camp curriculum that has trained thousands of worship leaders worldwide in the last twenty years. This retreat and the handbook stand alone as a time of encouragement and training for worship leaders. All participants will set goals for their lives and ministries as a result of the training. After the retreat is complete, participants will have access to additional curated online learning experiences through our learning portal (videos, podcasts, documents, etc.) that will further deepen their knowledge of leading worship well. Dates are available at each of our three conference centers to provide more convenient locations. COST: $200* includes two nights in conference center lodging and seven meals. (Note: Worship Leader Boot Camp training, in its 20th year, has undergone extensive revisions for 2022.)
#2 Basic Certificate in Worship Leadership offered through Fruitland Baptist Bible College. (Undergraduate Certificate)
This is a fully-accredited certificate issued by Fruitland Baptist Bible College, that you will receive upon successful completion of this track. Participants will begin with the 3-day retreat outlined in #1 above and continue with online learning experiences. Participants will have written work to complete related to the content from the retreat and online resources. A final project of planning a worship service with full details is required. COST: $200* (total cost including 3-day retreat).
#3 Class at Southeastern Seminary as part of the Graduate Certificate in Worship Ministry offered through Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Participants who want to earn the graduate certificate will take four courses at SEBTS to fulfill the certificate requirements. One of the classes is fulfilled through the NC Baptist training outlined here. The class (MUS 7678) follows the plan of option #2 with additional assignments and projects. A course syllabus is available for further information. The other three classes required are online or hybrid classes, requiring very little on-campus time. Those classes are Personal Discipleship and Disciple-making, The Ministry of Worship and The Doctrine of Worship. COST: BSCNC receives $200* (total cost including 3-day retreat). In addition, participants will be responsible for the tuition for all four classes, currently $300/course. Total outlay for this graduate-level certificate is $1,400 (plus course materials and application fees).
(Note: One of these four classes may require a few days on campus at SEBTS. Students enrolled at SEBTS may take MUS7678 for three hours credit to help fulfill a degree; those students should select this option. The SEBTS graduate certificates are tailor-made for students looking for seminary training in a flexible and easily accessible format. Students in the certificate program have the flexibility to continue serving the church while getting the ministry preparation they need for effective ministry. Their graduate certificates are perfect for anyone looking for an on-ramp into seminary degrees, specialized training in addition to a current degree track, or alumni wanting to take specific courses for more effective ministry.) Check out these links for more information from SEBTS: Program. Policies.
Note: Participants signing up for this option MUST choose the Caraway Conference Center option for the retreat site/dates.
These dates are selected to work with the semester calendar for SEBTS.
*Costs will be slightly less for double occupancy rooms ($170/person) and considerably less for commuters ($100/person). These options may not be available due to contractual agreements with our conference centers. Class times run late, so only those that live very close to the conference center should consider the commuter option.
TRAINING DATES
All tracks begin with the 3-day retreat
The retreats begin with lunch on Thursday and end Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
2023
November 16-18 – Truett Camp & Conference Center, Hayesville, NC
2024
January 11-13 – Caraway Conference Center, Sophia, NC
We have more conferences coming in 2024! (registration not yet available for these)
April 11-13 – Charity Equipping Center, Rose Hill, NC
July 11-13 – Caraway Conference Center, Sophia, NC
Note: SEBTS students must attend the Caraway retreat that corresponds with your semester.
SPACE IS LIMITED FOR EACH RETREAT
TO ENSURE A GREAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
REGISTER NOW!
The conference dives deeply in so many practical areas for worship leaders. Here is one example in dealing with songs for worship:
The songs we use in worship is perhaps the area that needs the most scrutiny in our planning and leading worship. In this event we answer these questions:
- How do we find the BEST songs in a pool of hundreds of news songs?
- How do we filter possible songs to see if they are suitable for our congregation, knowing that every congregation has its unique DNA?
- How do we introduce new songs in a way that will capture the hearts of our people and help them adopt the song as their own expression of worship?
- Why is the original, artist version of a song usually not a good idea for our congregation?
- How many songs should be on rotation in our church–i.e. how many songs should be on our song list from which we plan worship?
- How do we help our congregations REALLY sing the songs (active participants) in worship rather than be spectators?
- What does the song repertoire look like in a church that seeks to be unified/multigenerational?
- How do we put together an effective set list, looking at key relationships and textual relationships as well as creating flow in worship?
- How do we prepare effective musical and verbal transitions between songs?
