INTRODUCING

Center for Worship International

"Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord."  - Psalm 102:18

OVERVIEW

The purpose of the Center for Worship International (CFWI) is to provide a central conduit for worship practitioners and college worship programs, church worship training ministries, para-church organizations, worship conferences, formal seminars, publishers or various other worship ministries to collaborate in the teaching, training and equipping of worship personnel for the evangelical community.  

Organizationally, the center includes five areas of service to the worshipping community:

  1. Coordinating Undergraduate and graduate level Internship and Apprenticeships
  2. ​Continuing Education for the Worship Practitioner already in the field 
  3. International Worship Initiatives (including helping to organize indigenous Centers for Worship in strategic countries)
  4. Curricular Coaching in designing and building worship degrees and educational processes
  5. Organizational framework and platform for Coalition of Worship Arts Education programs (with universities, colleges, churches,  para-church worship conferences).


Practically and Theologically, study and partnership with the CFWI is devoted to living out the principle of Romans 11:36: “All things are from Him, through Him and to Him.” Simply translated, everything begins with, is guided by, and is for the testimony of Jesus Christ and the Glory of God. Thus, the CFWI is Bible based and Bible centered.  

Functionally, the idea is for CFWI to develop and work in partnership with university, college, church worship training ministries, etc. while maintaining an independent position from any one, particular organization. Formal articulation agreements will be designed and implemented as needed with institutions, when providing training or equipping for undergraduate or graduate level college credit.

1. Internships & Apprenticeships

One of the primary goals for CFWI is to provide opportunity for interaction with the music industry for and with college and university internships programs.  Almost every worship degree in America has some type of internship.  Most students in these programs are looking for opportunity to study with the world-class songwriters, artists, producers and engineers based in Nashville TN or in one of the recording centers.

Presently, almost all internship programs are somewhat one dimensional. Not many internship programs in a local church can provide all the life experience a student really needs.  Because of the broad-based opportunity to use professional practitioners based in Nashville (and other music centers), CFWI is able to serve as a hub, a facilitator in providing worship students (and the university/colleges they attend)  a comprehensive, multi-faceted internship experience that is enriching, educational and exciting.  CFWI internships and Apprenticeships provide:

 * Real life experience and training with. . .

  • Professional songwriters and songwriting groups
  • Well-known artists and performers
  • World-class music producers and publishers
  • Recording engineers and music studios 
  • Session singers, producers, and instrumentalists

​

* Engaging discipleship and spiritual formation with...

  • Well-known Bible teachers
  • Biblical authors
  • Conference speakers and facilitators
  • Leadership consultants


* Mentoring and individualized coaching with...

  • Seasoned industry leaders 
  • Worship specialists
  • Technology experts
  • Experienced Music business professionals 


* Partner with college and university worship degree programs

* Undergraduate and Graduate Internship Certificates

2. Continuing Education

Over the years,  the need for continuing education of those already in the field has become apparent. “Normal stresses in ministry,” Spiritual battles, Family challenges, Financial pressures, and Changes in technology, communication, information (and all sorts of media) have often left the professional needing to take time to rethink, regroup, refresh and retool.  

The CFWI is committed to meeting this need by engaging highly respected leaders in the church, music industry, business, worship, political, academic and entertainment communities as mentors and instructors.  The highly skilled professionals are honest, God-fearing believers that desire to pour their expertise into the lives of the professional practitioner wanting to serve the Lord and be a witness for the Glory of God. 

* Professionals training professionals

  • Bringing professionals to the CWI
  • Taking professionals to strategic training locations
  • Building creative teams
  • Advanced worship technology studies
  • Advanced Moral accountability training 
  • Advanced financial accountability training


* Worship Training Seminars

  • Intense Biblical studies with strategic worship theologians 
  • Spiritual formation and enrichment
  • Worship theology, philosophy, and methodology 
  • Interpersonal relationship building
  • Pastoral relationships and local ministry partnerships


* Intensive Instruction

  • Identifying and addressing strategies market trends
  • Identifying and addressing difficult situations
  • Assessing Current Issues in Worship
  • Developing and selecting team 
  • Designing, developing and deploying strategic partnerships
  • Entrepreneurial practices  and processes


* Connecting worship practitioners with the industry and local church

* Career placement and development

* Professional education continuation certificates

3. International Worship Initiatives

    The CFWI is Establishing Centers for Worship around the globe.  More and more, the Lord is opening doors of opportunity for pastors, educators, teachers and worship practitioners to travel overseas.  In most cases, they are engaged in teaching worship to the local, indigenous worship personnel.  The CFWI is engaged in providing short and long term training of worship leaders in foreign countries, as follows:

  • Worship training and application
  • Worship techniques
  • Worship theology
  • Worship tools
  • Worship creativity
  • Worship structure
  • Establish centers for worship training around the world: Russia, Germany, Kazakhstan, Romania, China, Trinidad, etc…
  • Develop certificates of worship for International Centers for Worship in various locations


4. Curriculum Design

The CFWI  is engaged in helping colleges and universities establish active, engaging, dynamic high school, undergraduate, graduate and post graduate worship programs. This is a “curriculum instruction” community where ideas, creativity and academic prowess intersect.  The CFWI provides a community of professional educators and practitioners that can:

  • Coach and assist colleges in establishing undergraduate worship degrees
  • Coach and assist college in establishing graduate worship degrees
  • Coach and assist local churches in establishing worship training programs
  • Coach and assist colleges in establishing certificates in worship
  • Equip colleges and university undergraduate and graduate programs with credentials faculty


5. Coalition of Worship & Arts Education Programs

In 2005, there were only two undergraduate and two graduate university and college programs with any kind of worship training program in America.  Today, there are between 135 and 140 programs collegiate level degree programs, and growing. With this encouraging and exciting growth, there has come an enormous inconsistency in the curricula models and offerings.  Membership in the National Association of Schools of Music gives institutions a standard in which music training can be measured.  The CFWI provides a platform for the gathering of colleges, universities and local church worship training as the Coalition of Worship Arts Education. Together, this group establishes, develops and refines unique standards, curricular models and parameters for the equipping of worship leaders for ministry. These guidelines encompass studies in theology, methodology, philosophy, communication, technology and the application of music to the worship community.  To accomplish this, the Coalition of Worship Arts Education seeks to:

  • Establish a standard of worship degree programs in colleges in universities
  • Establish a partnership with colleges and universities offering worship degrees
  • Serve as an endorsing agent for undergraduate and graduate worship degrees
  • Provide fellowship and encouragement for member schools 
  • Serve as an endorsing agent for local church worship programs
  • Certificate of Membership and Endorsement for College, University and Institutional Worship Programs