BUIES CREEK – OASIS: Renew for the Journey Church Music Conference might be one of the most unusual music conferences a worship leader attends.
Nationally known musicians and composers such as Joel Raney of Catfish Music, Jane Holstein of Hope Publishing, Kyle Matthews of See For Yourself Music and Benjamin Harlan of the Louisiana Baptist Convention will join the Campbell Children’s Camp Choir and the Snyder Memorial Baptist Church (Fayetteville) Orchestra in leading four worship services and will join a number of other outstanding worship leaders in providing interesting and informative breakout sessions.
Set for July 16-18, the conference will be held at Campbell University Divinity School and will include a breakout session where participants will make an organ pipe. Even though an abundance of breakout sessions will be offered, participants will be encouraged to skip a session and use the time for fellowship or meditation.
“We will have wonderful, informative and uplifting worship services and breakout sessions but we are also serious about the time truly being an oasis time, a time for reflection, renewal and rest,” said Dr. Andy Wakefield, Dean of the Divinity School. “Those in worship leadership give to their congregations throughout the year. We want this to be a time where they are replenished spiritually and intellectually.”
The conference features special tracks for pastors, worship leaders, worship technologists, youth and children’s choir leaders, accompanists and hand bell directors. It has a bent toward traditional music but also includes some contemporary selections. It is specifically designed to include tips and resources for the small-to-medium sized churches, who often struggle to find — or afford — resources and encouragement in music and worship.
In one of the breakout sessions, Cornel Zimmer, president of Cornel Zimmer Organ Builders and the person who built the Butler Chapel electronic pipe organ, will lead participants in making organ pipes.
“Whether a person is a professional choir director or a volunteer, he needs to know what’s new in the field,” said Kelley Garris, minister of music at First Baptist Church in Wilson. “She also needs the encouragement and renewal that comes from fellowship with others who serve in ministry.” Oasis times are built into the schedule, times for just listening to music, strolling around the campus, sitting in the meditation garden or by a fountain, and enjoying communion with nature and with God. Worship services, a banquet, and evening ice cream fellowships round out the conference.
For more information and registration, call Amanda Matthews at 1-800-334-4111, ext. 1830 or go to http://divinity.campbell.edu/oasis.aspx.