Live Your Purpose as a Worship Leader
The call of the worship leader is the call of a servant. Worship leaders are to be individuals who disown self-glory and self-preference and lay down their lives to serve the body of Christ through the mission of facilitating authentic, Spirit-filled, corporate worship in the house of God. The music for worship arts and ministry program emphasizes theological foundations of worship in the church and provides an extensive internship/mentorship program through church plants and influential church bodies nationwide.
Worship Leader 360°
We believe that the calling to lead God’s people in corporate worship is a tremendous responsibility and we are committed to training the next generation of worship leaders for the church. In order to be successful worship leaders, students need to be growing in their faith, musically skilled, confident in their identity in Christ, theologically and academically prepared, and experienced in a variety of ministry contexts. One of the distinguishing features of our program is regular coaching by our faculty members. Rick Muchow, former worship pastor at Saddleback Church, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table as he coaches and mentors our students.
Guiding Principles
While degrees in worship leadership exist in Christian universities nationwide, CBU’s worship program stands with distinction as unique and innovative. Developed by a team of church and worship industry leaders including Travis Cottrell, Mike Harland, Tommy Walker, Travis Ryan, Anthony Evans, Don Koch, Cliff Duren, John Bolin, Rick Muchow and others, this degree program has been designed to fully equip the 21st-century worship leader for success in the highly eclectic worship culture of the modern evangelical church.
Diversity of Style
A hallmark of CBU’s Worship Arts and Ministry degree is to develop students to be proficient in a vast array of musical styles and technical arts, preparing them for success day one in whatever culture or church the Lord calls them. As the churches in North America attempt to connect with existing and emerging subcultures through worship style, the musical skillset of the worship leader / pastor must be increasingly diverse. In addition, today’s worship leader is called upon to incorporate an expansive palate of technical (AVL), studio production, and even theatrical elements in each worship experience. CBU’s objective is to prepare future worship leaders to be competent in a multitude of styles — from modern band-driven to choir and/or orchestra models, from hymnody and liturgy to multi-cultural music — equipping them to utilize these eclectic styles individually, or in concert, to create a coherent, unified, and powerful worship experience.
Depth of Preparation
One of the most exciting dimensions of the Worship Arts and Ministry degree is its focus on training men and women to be successful pastoral and professional leaders in the church. It isn’t enough for the modern worship leader to be a skillful musician or have a strong platform presence. The role requires skills as a leader, pastor, counselor, administrator, motivator, organizer, manager, theologian, and communicator. With a strong concentration on personal character, pastoral skills, and professional aptitudes, this program draws from a cross-section of disciplines to prepare students to be strong and wise leaders as they manage resources, projects, and the people the Lord has placed in their sphere of influence.
Clarity of Purpose
The call of the worship leader is the call of a servant. Worship leaders are to be individuals who disown self-glory and self-preference and lay down their lives to serve the body of Christ through the mission of facilitating authentic, sprit-filled, corporate worship in the house of God. Through emphasizing theological foundations of worship in the church, the calling of a shepherd, and through an extensive internship/mentorship program through church plants and influential church bodies nationwide, CBU prioritizes preparing the hearts of worship leaders to assume their role as servants in the example of Christ.
The Bachelor of Arts in Music for Worship Arts and Ministry is a fully-accredited degree in music and worship leadership. In addition to training in fundamental musical skills, students develop the ability to lead worship vocally and instrumentally. Their university academic studies are joined by rigorous theological training in worship studies as well as a minor in Christian Studies where they will study with our renowned faculty in the School of Christian Ministries.