About

MY STORY

Looking back across the journey God has given me, I am continually reminded that my life has never really been about music, education, publishing, or even worship. Those have been the avenues. The destination has always been people.

I have spent my life encouraging men and women to listen carefully for the voice of God, to embrace His calling with confidence, and to serve Him faithfully wherever He leads. Whether I have been standing behind a pulpit, teaching in a classroom, leading a university, editing a hymnal, writing a book, or mentoring a young worship leader, my deepest desire has remained the same—to help others discover God's purpose for their lives and joyfully walk in it.

That passion was shaped long before I ever entered a classroom.

I was blessed to be born into a Christian home where faith was more than something we believed—it was something we lived. My parents, Rev. D. Lee Whaley and Ethel P. Whaley, served as missionaries to Alaska, and from them I learned that ministry is not merely an occupation but a calling. They modeled faithfulness, sacrifice, compassion, and obedience to Christ. Those early years left an imprint on my heart that continues to influence every decision I make today.

The greatest earthly blessing God has given me, however, is my family. My wife, Beth Smith Whaley, has faithfully served beside me throughout every season of ministry. Together we have shared the joys and challenges of church leadership, university life, international ministry, writing, and raising our family. Today we are grateful parents of Laurie and Jeremy, proud in-laws of Jeremy Roe and Kenya Evelyn, and "Papa" and "Mama Beth" to six incredible grandchildren who remind us daily of God's goodness.

My educational journey has been one of continual learning. LINK TO CURRENT RESUME God graciously allowed me to earn degrees in Bible, music, education, church music administration, ministry, and worship studies, culminating in doctoral work at the University of Oklahoma, Luther Rice Seminary, and Liberty University. Yet the most valuable lessons have never been learned from textbooks alone. They have come from serving local churches, walking alongside students, leading organizations through seasons of growth, and watching God faithfully accomplish what only He could do.

Throughout my career, I have been privileged to serve in many different roles—worship pastor, university professor, dean, author, editor, composer, music producer, curriculum developer, and conference speaker. Each role has reinforced a conviction that has guided my life: authentic worship begins with knowing God, loving Him wholeheartedly, and responding in joyful obedience.

For many years, God has given me opportunities to teach in universities and seminaries across the country. I have served on the faculties of Trevecca Nazarene University, Liberty University, William Carey University, Cedarville University, Welch College, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Every classroom has reminded me that education is about far more than transferring information. It is about shaping character, cultivating wisdom, and preparing leaders who will influence churches for generations to come.

One of the greatest privileges of my academic career was serving as the Founding Dean of the School of Music at Liberty University. Building a new school from the ground up required vision, teamwork, perseverance, and countless hours of prayer. Together with an extraordinary faculty and administration, we established new undergraduate and graduate degrees, led the school through national accreditation, developed the Doctor of Worship Studies degree, recruited outstanding faculty members, and watched enrollment grow to more than 1,400 students. Seeing a beautiful 141,000-square-foot School of Music become a reality remains one of the remarkable testimonies of God's provision that I will always cherish.

MOST RECENTLY, and until my “official retirement from full-time ministry,” it was my joy to serve as Dean of the School of Music and Worship Arts at Trevecca Nazarene University and Associate Provost for Program Development in Music and Worship. In this role, I enjoyed helping equip Christian leaders by developing new academic programs, mentoring faculty, strengthening accreditation, and creating innovative centers for worship studies, commercial music, community arts, and African American worship studies. All have all been opportunities to invest in future leaders who will serve the Church around the world.

While I have loved academic leadership, my heart has always remained closely connected to the local church.

For more than thirty years I have served churches as a minister of music, worship pastor, choir director, teacher, and worship leader. I firmly believe the local church is God's primary instrument for fulfilling His mission in the world. Some of my richest moments have not taken place in auditoriums or classrooms but in choir rehearsals, worship services, Bible studies, mission trips, and conversations with pastors and volunteers who faithfully serve Christ week after week.

Writing has also become one of God's unexpected gifts.

Over the years I have been privileged to author, co-author, edit, or contribute to numerous books focusing on worship theology, worship leadership, church music, evangelism, and the history of worship. Several of these books have found audiences around the world, including Understanding Music in the Local Church, The Dynamics of Corporate Worship, Called to Worship, The Great Commission to Worship, Worship Through the Ages, The Way of Worship, Biblical Worship, and One Mission, One Heart.

It has been especially encouraging to see some of these resources translated into Russian and German, allowing biblical teaching on worship to serve churches and leaders far beyond North America. Every translation reminds me that worship is not confined to one culture, language, or denomination. The Church of Jesus Christ truly is global, and the privilege of encouraging believers around the world continues to humble me.

Among the projects that remain especially close to my heart is the work of hymnology. For many years I served as editor and chairman of the committee responsible for compiling REJOICE!: The Free Will Baptist Hymn Book and its expanded edition, REJOICE: For the Church at Worship. Watching these hymnals find their way into hundreds of churches and into the hands of countless worshipers has been deeply rewarding. Even today I continue researching the stories, theology, and history behind the great hymns of the Christian faith because I believe every hymn tells a story of God's grace and every congregation benefits from understanding the truths they sing.

Throughout my ministry, I have also had the privilege of speaking at conferences, retreats, universities, and churches across the United States and internationally. Whether teaching pastors in Eastern Europe, worship leaders in Germany, students in the Caribbean, or church musicians here at home, I have discovered that God's people share a common desire—to know Him more deeply and to worship Him more faithfully.

As meaningful as those experiences have been, I have become increasingly convinced that the Church needs more than conferences and classrooms. We need intentional mentoring relationships that help leaders flourish throughout a lifetime of ministry.

That conviction has led to the development of the Center for Worship International™, a ministry devoted to equipping leaders, strengthening churches, and exalting Christ through worship. Through leadership development, educational initiatives, global partnerships, curriculum coaching, mentoring networks, and practical ministry resources, my prayer is that this ministry will encourage worship leaders around the world to think biblically, lead faithfully, and serve Christ with excellence and humility.

If there is one theme that ties everything together—my teaching, writing, leadership, and ministry—it is this:

God has a purpose for every life.

I believe every Christian is called to know Christ deeply, worship Him wholeheartedly, serve His Church faithfully, and influence others intentionally. Discovering God's call is not reserved for pastors, musicians, or missionaries. It is the joyful privilege of every follower of Jesus Christ.

That conviction continues to shape my own life.

Even after decades of ministry, I still approach each day with anticipation, asking, "Lord, what would You have me do today?" There are still books to write, leaders to encourage, students to mentor, churches to strengthen, songs to preserve, and opportunities to proclaim the unchanging truth of God's Word.

More importantly, there are still people who need someone to believe in them, encourage them, and remind them that God delights in using ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary purposes.

Thank you for visiting my website and allowing me to share a little of my story.

Whether you are a student preparing for ministry, a pastor leading a congregation, a worship leader seeking biblical foundations, a songwriter searching for greater purpose, or simply someone desiring to know God's will more clearly, I hope the resources you find here will encourage your faith, strengthen your leadership, and deepen your love for Christ.

My prayer is simple.

That together we will know Him more fully, worship Him more faithfully, serve His Church more effectively, and spend our lives joyfully accomplishing the work He has called us to do—for His glory alone.