Music Explosion 2012: “Essential…Engaging…Economical For Every Church”
The Church of God’s national music conference, Music Explosion, recently convened in Cleveland, Tennessee, welcoming local church musicians and music ministry leaders. During the three-day event, registrants participated in day sessions focused on music ministry philosophy, instruction and new music, as well as evening worship concerts featuring guests representing a wide spectrum of musical style and presentation.
More than fifty local churches participated from 11 states with Church of God churches comprising the majority, while independent, Baptist, and Methodist churches were also represented. According to Church of God Music Ministries Coordinator Larry Horrell, who coordinated the event, most in attendance serve full and part-time as music and worship pastors (51%), with worship team members, choir members, musicians, media personnel, and pastors also present.
Registrants engaged in an intensive daily schedule during the conference that included four General Sessions and more than six workshop sessions, as well as three session presenting new music for local church choirs, worship teams and ensembles. General sessions speakers included Dr. Mark L. Williams, assistant general overseer for the Church of God, award winning songwriter/worship leader Israel Houghton, and more.
Exhibitors offered ministry resources and services from a variety of organizations and some also participated in presenting workshops during the conference.
“A large staff of generous clinicians shared their time and expertise to present nearly forty separate workshop topics during the more than sixty breakout classes, offered during the six workshop sessions,” Horrell stated. The list of clinicians included Lee University music faculty, ministers of music from some of the denomination’s larger churches, youth pastors as well as individuals with expertise in sound, video and media ministry.
Two evening worship concerts featured guest musical artists from various genres of Christian music including Israel Houghton and New Breed, The Voices of Lee, Mark Harris, Sisters and Johnny Minick.
Horrell said, “Most of the guests are engaged in some manner of local church music ministry as a worship leader, musician, pastor or singer and all but one shared from their experience in ministry during day sessions with registrants. The conference was intentionally planned to resource the local church for effective music ministry and registrants were provided with packets of new music, music samples and outlines from every workshop presented for future reference.”
Israel Houghton and New Breed perform during Music Explosion 2012.
Horrell went on to conclude that, “The twenty-sixth edition of Music Explosion provided an engaging and informative environment for our registrants to focus on their unique role in ministry. The perspective, instruction, inspiration and resources shared this year were well received and will be of significant benefit to the local churches they serve.”
