Those in and around California and Kentucky will be blessed this year to be able to take part in the WorshipGod13 East AND West conferences.
The West conference is June 27-29 and the East is from July 31-August 3. I will be attending the East conference with fellow contributor, Zach Rice. Zach has attended several times when it was held in Maryland, so the commute will for sure be better for him!
I am very excited about the emphasis on churches of 500 attendees or less. This is my emphasis on the blog and it hits at home for me in my ministry as well.
Here is info from the Worship Matters blog:
This year’s theme is Called to be Faithful.
A large number of past WorshipGod attendees have come from churches of 500 or less. In addition, when I posted A Salute to the Average Worship Leader a few months ago, it seemed to resonate with a lot of folks. That’s why I wanted to focus this year on being faithful.
Being faithful is hard. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t make for good sound bites or Facebook status updates. Being faithful isn’t sensational, doesn’t attract big crowds, and almost never makes the headlines. And when it does, the focus is usually on success and statistics, not faithfulness.
But being faithful is something God highly values.
Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? (Prov. 20:6)
A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. (Prov. 28:20)
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ (Mt. 25:21)
Why the biblical emphasis on being faithful? Because God wants to make us like himself:
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Cor. 1:9)
But what does faithfulness look like? As a leader? As a musician? As a sound engineer? As a songwriter? How do we make sure we’re keeping the main things the main things? How do we resist the world’s definitions of success and pursue what matters to God?
Those questions and more will be addressed at WorshipGod 2013. In the main sessions we’ll be reminded that God calls us to be faithful to receive his grace, proclaim the gospel, serve others, grow in our knowledge and skills, and prepare people for eternal realities.
The Details
Main session speakers at West this year include Craig Cabaniss, Kevin DeYoung, Jon Payne, and myself. At East we’ll be hearing from Craig and me, along with Dr. Russ Moore, Jared Mellinger, and Indelible Grace’s Kevin Twit.Music at West will be led by me, my son, Devon, Pat Sczebel, and Enfield. Music at East will be Devon and me again, along with Mike Cosper and a group from Sojourn Community Church, as well as Matt Mason, who now leads atThe Church at Brook Hills.
We’ll be offering 28 seminars at each conference (thanks for all the recommendations), of which you’ll be able to attend 4. Topics include planning your meeting, the leader’s relationships, working with other generations, songwriting, making room for the Spirit’s leading, prayer, sound applications, vocal and instrumental classes, and more. Some additional focused gatherings are in the works as well.
WorshipGod East will also offer three hour pre-conference intensives on Wednesday in the areas of basic sound, contemporary piano, choir, and essential guitar skills.
Rates
Prices this year are similar to last year, with super early bird prices starting at $90 for students, $115 each for groups of 5+, and $140 for individuals. Those prices go up $30 on March 16 for West and April 1 for East.For the first time ever, the first 100 senior pastors who register at East or West will pay only $75. We want them to come that badly.
As in previous years, WorshipGod 2013 will include loads of giveaways, free on-site lunches, a great bookstore, plenty of laughter, and opportunities to meet hundreds of like-minded believers devoted to worshiping God in spirit and truth.
Most of all, it will be an opportunity to encounter God, and be trained, refreshed, and revitalized for the role you play in serving your local church.
Bring your team, bring your pastor, bring yourself.
If WorshipGod11 was any indicator, we’re going to have a great time.
This will be great. Sign up. Bring your pastor. Give it a chance. We must do anything we can to better educate and equip ourselves and congregations on worship.
Church Music Today 