Jeff Eenigenburg finalizes program that allows students to option in Worship Arts beginning next Fall
Brittany Gurley
Triangle Reporter
A new Worship Arts option within the Christian Ministries major, which will help to train students to be worship leaders in either a church or para-church organization, is set to go into effect this coming fall semester.
About five years ago, the Christian Ministries and Music departments and Spiritual Formation recognized the emerging field of worship arts as a career. After formulating a rough outline of a worship arts track, the departments sought out feedback and advice from experts in the field. Upon receiving positive feedback, the plan was developed even further.
Jeff Eenigenburg, Director of Worship Arts and assistant professor, is excited about the new option and sees how valuable it will be to students.
“Putting something like this into place could prepare students well to serve in the church,” he said.
The main goal of this option is to train music leaders by giving them a strong foundation in theology, musical training and honing in on a students natural skills and abilities. Students will be able to choose among guitar, keyboard and voice to focus on in their training.
Although the major itself will focus on the musical aspect of worship, many of the required classes will teach students about the big picture that is worship as well as exposing them to the technical side of leading worship (sound, projection, etc.).
Students within this major will also have a lot of practical involvement. Aside from leading worship in chapel, an internship during a student’s senior year with either a church or para-church organization will give students a lot of experience before they even graduate.
Because of these changes, a new class will be offered next semester that will be home to the core of worship leaders for chapel. However, students who are interested in serving in a leadership role in chapel worship are still encouraged to get involved even if they don’t sign up for the class. The easiest way to get involved is to sit down with Eenigenburg and build up a relationship there.
Something new this past year that helped a lot was a worship leadership forum that met roughly once a month. All those who were interested in leading worship came together to discuss different ideas and delegate the worship among the chapels. While there is some evaluation going on about whether or not this will continue next year, Eenigenburg is pleased with the results that it has shown this year.
“I feel like it was a good venue for people to use and connect and plan,” he said.
The Worship Arts option will be housed in the Christian Ministries department, but will incorporate the equivalent of a music minor from the Music department and practical involvement that stems from Spiritual Formation. Additionally, for those who wish to major in something else but still have the training and knowledge to lead worship in a church setting, there is the option of minoring in Worship Arts.