Worship Expo highlights major issues, trends in modern worship

By Lauren Urtel | Sept. 28, 2007

TAMPA (FBC)—Over 1,000 Southern Baptists, representing 144 Florida churches and 16 churches from New York to Alaska, participated in forums, reading sessions and ensemble groups at the second annual Worship Expo Sept. 20-22 at Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa.

Splendid sounds of praise filled the church halls as choirs from across the country lifted together in song. Brass horns, acoustic guitars and even bongo drums collaborated with orchestras and praise bands. Laughter of old and new friends could be heard as worship leaders exchanged jokes and experiences. The three-day event stirred with the excitement of new ideas and a fresh approach to worship.

The Worship Expo, sponsored by the Florida Baptist Convention Church Music Department, served as more than a training event for those involved in church music. Senior and worship pastors gathered to discuss major issues and trends in modern worship.

Guest speakers Mac Brunson, pastor of Jacksonville’s First Baptist Church, and David Jeremiah, pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in Al Cajon, Calif. stressed the need for authentic worship in keynote addresses.

“There is a fine line for those who lead God’s people in worship between being humbled before God and slipping into the area of arrogance and pride,” said Brunson in the opening address.

“Worship involves spiritual warfare,” he admonished. “Satan is there when we worship and we have to be careful that we do not slip over into what happened to him and allow pride to grip our lives.”

In his address, Jeremiah focused on how Southern Baptists’ worship can affect their neighbors. “Worship is more than music, more than choirs, more than instruments. We worship the Lord when we serve one another and our communities.”

It is not just the congregation’s responsibility to do God’s calling in the church but to be willing to follow Him into the community, cautioned Jeremiah “There is nothing beneath your dignity when it comes to serving others to serve Christ,” he said. “When you do this the church is no longer a big ugly fortress to those outside but a place where loving people go.”

Serving as facilitator during a special panel discussion for senior and worship pastors Terry Williams, director of the Convention’s Church Music Department, opened the dialogue by candidly discussing problematic worship issues in Florida’s churches.

“My broken heart over ministry today is the lack of a relationship between brothers in ministry. There needs to be a marriage between the senior pastor and the worship pastor,” said Williams. “Worship pastors must remember they are there as a support mechanism to the senior pastor.”

During the panel discussion David Uth, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Orlando, related how he, personally, has worked toward a positive senior pastor and worship pastor dynamic. “The relationship is addressed both inside and outside the office.” Uth said he had made a commitment to prioritize his relationship with the worship pastor.

Once pastors shared their general opinions on the subject of pastoral staff relationships, the audience asked questions of their own.

In response to a question concerning how relationships are maintained at his church, Flamingo Road Baptist senior pastor Troy Gramling explained that the church has avoided pastoral staff tensions by “submitting to God’s chain of authority.” The six-campus Fort Lauderdale congregation led the state in baptisms in 2005 and 2006.

Eddie Blalock, pastor of newly-planted Orchard Community Church in Lake City, said he attended the Worship Expo to stay current on technology and attend the teaching sessions but found the keynote addresses and panel discussion topics to be especially relevant.

“There are a lot of questions about what is entailed in worship,” said Blalock. “This has served as an affirmation of the pastor’s role as the worship leader. The sessions have been an encouragement and have really shown the importance of building a positive relationship between the senior pastor and the church staff.”

In addition to learning opportunities, speaker sessions and music, the expo featured a exhibit hall where church music vendors displayed wares from choir robes to sound systems.

The Worship Expo featured musical guests each night before the keynote speakers. The first night there were three worship groups: “This Hope,” a singing group of five men from Woodstock, Ga.; “Denver and the Mile High Orchestra,” a Christian big band from Nashville, Tenn.; and award winning Christian recording artist Avalon.

The second night featured “This Hope” followed by the Florida Worship Choir and Orchestra and the Idlewild Baptist Church Choir and Orchestra.