A new major in music and worship leadership starting this fall at Charleston Southern University will prepare worship leaders for current trends in worship and equip them with the tools to handle future change.
CSU faculty member Allen Hendricks says he is “driven” to help students chart their future in church music and worship.The degree includes three core areas of emphasis: music, worship and Christian studies. “We want to prepare our graduates to facilitate an environment for worship. We also want to make their jobs easier by providing knowledge of the wide range of tools and techniques available for their use,” said Jim Colman, CSU vice president for academic affairs.
Music and worship ministry in evangelical churches has experienced significant change in recent years. According to Mark Powers, director of worship and music at the South Carolina Baptist Convention, “The present reality of worship leading is changing rapidly to include new technologies, styles and skills that older curriculums are not geared to produce.”
Allen Hendricks, CSU’s Horton Endowed Chair of Church Music, leads the music and worship leadership program. “It’s exciting to see students exploring the rich biblical and historical foundations of worship, while developing relevant and transformational worship experiences,” said Hendricks, who has more than 25 years of local church music and worship ministry experience. “I am driven to be a catalyst for students seeking God’s direction for their future and the future of music and worship in the church.”
For more information: www.charlestonsouthern.edu/worshipleadership.