INFO PACKAGE 2020/2021 This is just the beginning.

Thank you for your interest in the Worship Central Academy and your heart for His Kingdom. We are sincerely grateful that you’ve chosen to explore our program to encounter God and be futher equipped and empowered in your life of ministry!

Enclosed, you’ll fnd information on what you can expect from the Academy, including details regarding timeline, curriculum, admission requirements, how to apply, and more.

01 OVERVIEW

WHAT IS ACADEMY?

The mission of the Worship Central Academy is to raise up profcient and God-centred worship leaders. The ENCOUNTER dream is to increase the worship climate of our cities and The Academy gives you the opportunity to empower our beautiful tapestry of local churches. encounter God on a deeper level and to grow as a follower of Christ, as an individual as well as in community. Nestled in the heart of Greater Vancouver, the Academy will equip emerging worship leaders with rich theological exposition, practical methodologies to leading worship that include both hard and soft skills, and tools to unlock the creative gifting unique to each individual. Join us, and let’s pioneer together.

EQUIP Theological study, worship teaching and practical masterclasses will equip you both spiritually and practically. WHO IS IT FOR?

The Academy is designed for those who are passionate about worship, love God, desire to be equipped, and have a calling to serve in worship leadership within the local church. We seek to empower those who want to see others come to worship God. The Academy is EMPOWER committed to developing worship leaders who will Through leadership training and serving as part of a local church community you will be acquire the skills to lead worship with sensitivity, wisdom, empowered to be a leader. and effectiveness.

TO GAIN ENTRY INTO ACADEMY, APPLICANTS MUST POSSESS THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:

Living a faithful Christian lifestyle Participating and serving actively in a local church Feel called by God to worship and music ministry Graduated high school 02 PROGRAM

The eight-month program is divided into two parts: Biblical and Theological Studies on Worship (Tuesday evenings) and Practical Methodologies of Leading Worship (twice per month). Course descriptions and more information can be found below.

Tuesdays / 6:30pm-9:00pm Biblical & Theological Studies On Worship

I. Theology of Worship: Who is This God Who Seeks Worshippers? a. The Triune God b. The God Who Reveals God’s Self c. Biblical Hymns & Poetry: Songs from the Canon d. The Holy Spirit: Our Worship Coordinator

II. Biblical Theology: How are We to Worship? a. The Psalter: Songs to Live By b. Where Heaven meets Earth: A Biblical Theology of the Temple c. How Heavenly Worship Shapes Earthly Worship d. The Life of Prayer: Secret Place Before the Stage

III. The Soul of the Worshipper a. Who am I? How Knowing Our Identity Shapes Us as Disciples & Leaders b. Spiritual Disciplines: Rhythms for Life with God c. Spiritual Gifts: Discovering Your Instrument of Praise d. Worship as Warfare: Bringing the People of God Under the Reign of God 03 PROGRAM BIBLICAL & THEOLOGICAL STUDIES ON WORSHIP

I. THEOLOGY OF WORSHIP: WHO IS THIS GOD WHO SEEKS WORSHIPPERS? a. The Triune God - Term 1 In this 2-week course on the God who seeks worshippers, we will engage with the doctrine of the trinity, in order to learn more about the indispensable who of worship; who is God and what has he done so as to be worthy of praise? We’ll explore how our worship is an ‘always-after’ response to God’s actions in history. We’ll discover how revelation, remembering, the real presence of God, relationality and response in worship are integral movements in participatory worship of the triune God. b. The God Who Reveals God’s Self - Term 1 In order for us to actually know the Living God, God must "open up" to us. We can guess who God is all we want, but we will most certainly get it wrong! The good news is that the Living God has, in His desire to be known by us, "opened up," revealing His character and purposes in all kinds of ways. In the frst session we will look at how God has done this in the events and words of the Old Testament. In the second session we will look at how God has done this fnally and defnitively in Jesus Christ, in His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Among the goals of the sessions is to be able to write songs of worship that are faithful to Who God is telling us He is! c. Biblical Hymns & Poetry: Songs from the Canon - Term 2 The Bible, especially the New Testament, is full of songs and hymns the people of God sang soon after the coming of Jesus. They are, as one would expect, radically centred in and on Jesus Himself, and because of this, fully Trinitarian. In these two sessions we will work through such songs and hymns, listening to how they speak of Jesus (and God as Trinity). We will explore ancient and modern church hymns inspired by these songs and hymns. And will learn how to evaluate ancient and modern songs in light of what we discover. d. The Holy Spirit: Our Worship Coordinator - Term 2 As we read more about the worship life of the early Christian Church, we discover that although human beings had a role to play, the Person Who plays the most essential role is the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father sends to us in relationship with His Son. In these two sessions we will listen to Jesus tells us about the Spirit (John 14-16), and then to how Jesus' apostle Paul develops for us the work of the Spirit in worship (1 Corinthians 11-14). Our hope is that in letting "the word of Christ richly dwell within" (Colossians 3:16) and in being "flled with Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18), we will better understand what the Spirit is doing whenever we gather in Jesus' name. 04 PROGRAM BIBLICAL & THEOLOGICAL STUDIES ON WORSHIP

II. BIBLICAL THEOLOGY: HOW ARE WE TO WORSHIP? a. The Psalter: Songs to Live By - Term 1 For centuries now, the people of God have been led in their worshipping and praying by the book of the Bible known as the Psalms. The fact is, the incarnate God, Jesus of Nazareth Himself, worshipped and prayed "by the book," as seen especially as He agonizes on the cross. In these two sessions we will gain a better understanding of how the whole book of Psalms is constructed, the different forms in which the Psalms are composed, and how the Psalms can shape our worshipping and praying. Among the goals of the sessions is being able to put some of the key Psalms to music for our time. b. Where Heaven Meets Earth: A Biblical Theology of the Temple - Term 1 In the Old Testament the Temple is the very nexus of heaven and earth. It is the dwelling place of God among his people, and thus, it is the house of worship. Prayer, forgiveness, and worship are all centralized in this single location on earth. However, when Jesus takes on fesh, the meeting place of heaven and earth becomes the Spirit-flled people of God, causing profound shifts for where, how, and what proper worship looks like. We will dig into the implications of this for your church's gathered and scattered times of worship. c. How Heavenly Worship Shapes Earthly Worship - Term 2 Worship is to fnd unrivaled worth in something and live according to it. Worship is to regard something as ultimate in such a way that it gives one life! This resulting life is expressed in the deepest parts of a person’s soul, and in how one lives. In this two week course, we will explore the human desire to worship, worship as catechesis of the Christian imagination, worship in the already and not-yet and how worship shapes us to shape the world and prepare it for the coming King. d. The Life of Prayer: Secret Place Before the Stage - Term 2 In this 2 week course on prayer, we will interact with the necessity of prayer and discuss the obstacles to developing a life of communion with God. We will take a closer look at some of the great prayers in Scripture and we will get practical with prayer.

05 PROGRAM BIBLICAL & THEOLOGICAL STUDIES ON WORSHIP

III. THE SOUL OF THE WORSHIPPER

a. Who am I? How Knowing Our Identity Shapes Us as Disciples & Leaders - Term 1 In this 2 week course on identity, we will engage with our cultural creation of identity in light with the truth of our identity as disciples of Christ. We will take a look at how our identity in Christ must be shaped by His example and how that infuences the way we lead with confdence! b. Spiritual Disciplines: Rhythms for Life with God - Term 1 In this course on spiritual disciplines, we will explore both the inward and outward disciplines that have formed and shaped the people of God for millennia. Our hope is to learn to turn the inward disciplines, such as meditation, prayer, fasting and study, outward by mapping them on to congregational worship. Likewise, outward disciplines such as simplicity, solitude, submission and service, will be explored within the interactivity of the individual worshipper. In addition, the corporate disciplines such as confession, worship, discernment and celebration will be examined as the communal practices of a disciple-making community. c. Spiritual Gifts: Discovering Your Instrument of Praise - Term 2 In this course we will explore an overview of the ways the Holy Spirit empowers God's people for service throughout the Old and New Testaments. In addition to study from the Bible, we want to equip you to discover your Spiritual gifts and how to use them. As a leader, you will learn skills in helping others thrive in their giftings, and overcome tensions when diverse gifts make for diverse priorities. Finally, we will consider how the gifts of the Spirit may be used in the context of a worship service for the building up of God’s church. d. Worship as Warfare: Bringing the People of God Under the Reign of God - Term 2 In this course we will to explore the unseen realities of what takes place in the heavenly realms when we declare Jesus as Lord and lift up His name in worship. Acknowledging that there are powers that oppose Christ’s reign in the world, we will explore biblically the role worship has in overcoming them. We will consider for ourselves and the worshippers we lead, how warfare happens in the areas of truth, allegiance, and power.

06 PROGRAM PRACTICAL METHODOLOGIES OF LEADING WORSHIP

Saturdays / 9:30am-12:00pm Practical Methodologies of Leading Worship

Through a variety of interactive teaching, practical application and a hands-on approach, the Saturday sessions emphasize the methodological skill set involved in leading worship.

Students will be equipped with knowledge on leadership skills, service preparation, team discipleship, congregational leadership, spontaneity within structure, and more, and will be given opportunities to exercise these elements over the course of our program. Creative and technical components such as songwriting and the use of technology in the modern day church settings will also be explored.

THESE SATURDAY SESSIONS WILL INCLUDE TOPICS SUCH AS:

Head/Heart Hands/Feet Relational Leadership Set Building 101 Congregational Leadership Leading/Directing a Band What Makes an Effective Team? Leading From Your Platform What If I’m Not Feeling It? Clicks, Tracks, & More Team Discipleship Spontaneity: Why & How Songwriting 07 FACULTY LOCAL

Meet our team. Our instructors are dedicated to supporting you through teaching and personal mentorship in partnership with your local church. We ensure that you are not only equipped with tools, but also released into a position to cultivate worship in your context both during the Academy as well as after you have completed our program. A diverse mix of local and international instructors who have countless years of combined experience leading worship will be teaching their areas of expertise and understanding.

PETER CHENG Program Director Peter is the Director of Worship Central in Canada. He is actively involved in serving at his local church in Vancouver, and his passion for equipping and unifying the church in authentic worship of Jesus led him to join the Worship Central global team in 2013. Peter is happily surrounded by three strong women at home — his better half Nancy and their daughters Charlotte and Madelyn.

DARRELL JOHNSON Professor of Biblical Theology Darrell has been preaching the Gospel since 1970 and is known as a lover of Jesus and His Good News. A renowned author and respected theologian, Darrell has taught preaching for Fuller Theological Seminary, Carey Theological College, and Regent College where he currently is a Teaching Fellow. In addition to writing a major work on preaching, “The Glory of Preaching,” many of his sermon series have been published in book form. Darrell and his wife Sharon will be celebrating their 47th anniversary this year. Together they have raised four children, adopted from four different countries of the world, and now enjoy loving eleven active grandchildren!

08 FACULTY LOCAL

AMY LENNY Instructor, Theology of Worship Amy is passionate to see people encounter the presence of God and grow into their God given talents. She has been a leader with Worship Central Canada since 2013. Amy has been shaped by growing up in a church plant, participating in various music teams, and studying worship at ITF in Montreal and theology at Regent College. She is currently serving as a Pastor of Worship + Arts alongside her husband Justin at a local church in the Lower Mainland.

JUSTIN LENNY Instructor, Spiritual Formation Justin married into the Worship Central family when him and Amy got hitched! As a passionate student of God’s Word, he has completed an undergrad and masters in Biblical Studies, most recently an M.Div from Regent College. He has spent time studying Greek and Hebrew in order to delve deeper into the transformative study of God. Justin is currently serving as a Pastor of Spiritual Formation at a church in the Lower Mainland. One of his most memorable times of worship was on a prayer trek in the Himalayas where he saw God’s glory revealed among unreached people.

JESSE PALS Instructor, Theology of Worship Jesse is a planter and ordained pastor at a local church in Vancouver. He holds a B.A. in Sociology from Simon Fraser University and an M.Div from Regent College. Fully persuaded that one cannot worship without being changed, Jesse longs to see people fnd their true voice in worship of the Living God; being reconciled to God through Christ, by the Spirit. Jesse enjoys a very musical family with Rachelle and their three boys Julian, August and Kyrie.

09 FACULTY LOCAL

HAILEY BISSCHOFF Admissions and Operations Manager Hailey is the Operations Manager of Worship Central Canada. She is a lover of God’s presence and longs to see lives and hearts changed through the power of worship. She serves alongside her awesome husband, Hendrik, at a local church in Ladner, BC. Together, they strive to build relationship with others and encourage love and unity within the Church.

HENDRIK BISSCHOFF Instructor, Worship Leading Hendrik is the Worship Director of Worship Central Canada, and Associate Pastor at a local church in Ladner, BC. He moved to Vancouver from South Africa in 2014 as he felt that God was calling him to come serve and love the people in Vancouver. He has an immense passion for music and loves seeing the Church unifed through worship and relationship. Hendrik loves his wife Hailey, playing the guitar, and growing his beard.

TIMOTHY CHOY Instructor, Worship Leading & Creative Arts Tim has always had a heart for leading people into worship. He moved to Vancouver in 2012, where his heart for God grew in parallel with his pursuit of creativity in flm, photo, and music, specifcally getting involved in worship. Now acting as Creative Director for Worship Central in Canada as well as leading worship at his local church in Vancouver, Tim desires to simply be available to the task that God has set in front of him as a movement of worship sweeps across this city.

10 FACULTY VISITING

Our Guests. We have the privilege of involving several internationally-recognized guest instructors in the teaching and formation of worship leaders in Canada through the Academy. Our guests will participate intermittently to share their experienced wisdom while walking out their journeys of faith and leadership.

TIM HUGHES Guest Instructor Tim is the co-founder and leader of Worship Central globally, and along with his wife Rachel leads a new church in the city centre of Birmingham, St. Luke’s Gas Street. Tim has written many songs including, Here I Am to Worship, Happy Day, The Way and Hope & Glory. Tim has a tremendous heart for the local church and propelling worshippers into the fullness of God’s love.

KIM WALKER-SMITH Guest Instructor Kim, a founding member of the Jesus Culture Movement, is part of the Jesus Culture Music label. Her passionate love for Jesus is evident in her uninhibited worship on her fve solo albums and eleven Jesus Culture Live albums she has been part of. Kim is an integral part of the Jesus Culture team and her anointing to lead people into His presence has become key in the worship movement that is currently taking place throughout the nations. Kim lives just outside Sacramento, California with her husband Skyler, their two boys, Wyatt and Bear, and their daughter, Maisie.

11 FACULTY VISITING

PAUL BALOCHE Guest Instructor Paul has written hundreds of worship songs that are sung by thousands of churches each week, including "Open the Eyes of My Heart," "Above All," "Hosanna," "Your Name," and many others. A three-time Dove Award winning songwriter, Paul travels the globe teaching and leading others in worship. He has served as the Worship Pastor at Community Christian Fellowship in Lindale, Texas for over 25 years. Paul is an ordained minister and received an M. Div. from the Methodist Episcopal Church. He currently resides in New York City with his wife Rita. They have three grown children.

STEFFANY GRETZINGER Guest Instructor Steffany sang her frst recorded song, “You Know Me”, published in 2012 on Bethel’s album The Loft Sessions. In 2014, Steffany released her frst solo project called The Undoing, which was a Billboard Magazine breakthrough release. In February of 2019. she relocated to Nashville, Tennessee and became a part of Grace Center Church, and joined as a special guest at Worship Central Conference in Canada later that year. As well as being a seasoned vocalist and worship leader, Steffany is married to the love of her life, Stephen Gretzinger and they have a fve-year-old daughter, Wonder Grace, who shares her joy and passion for all things Jesus.

MIA FIELDES Guest Instructor Mia Fieldes is a Grammy award-nominated songwriter originally from Sydney, Australia. Mia moved her craft to Nashville USA where she has continued her passion to write songs that inspire people with hope and faith. Mia divides her time writing music for flm/TV and collaborating with some of today's top Christian artists, including: Michael W. Smith, For King & Country, Paul Baloche, Matt Maher, Chris Tomlin, Kari Jobe, Passion, Jesus Culture, Bethel, and The Belonging Co. She currently lives in Nashville, TN with her Husband Joren, both serving at their church The Belonging Co.

12 FACULTY VISITING

ANNA HELLEBRONTH Guest Instructor Anna has been a key part of the Worship Central family since its beginnings. Now at St. Luke’s Gas Street Church in Birmingham, Anna is a worship pastor, leader, and songwriter alongside her husband Luke. She is passionate about inspiring worship leaders and musicians around the world and are sought after teachers of the theology and practices of worship.

LUKE HELLEBRONTH Guest Instructor Luke leads Worship Central with Tim and is worship pastor with his wife Anna at St. Luke’s Gas Street Church in Birmingham. He has a compelling passion to see the Kingdom of God fuelled by a worshipping people. He has written many songs including ‘Spirit Break Out’, ‘Revive Us (Heavy Rain)’ and ‘Up & Alive’. Luke and Anna have two beautiful boys, Jesse and Samson

MOLLY WILLIAMS Guest Instructor Molly Williams is a vocalist and worship leader from Charlotte, NC. She writes passionate songs that bring hope and encouragement to the body of Christ. Molly has traveled worldwide leading and teaching at churches, conferences, and worship schools, as well as touring as a background vocalist for Kim Walker-Smith, Bryan and Katie Torwalt, and American recording artist, Wynnona Judd. She hopes to encourage worshippers to be who they are and fnd their unique God-given expressions. She is currently Worship Director at Freedom House Church in Charlotte, NC.

13 Apply now.

To apply, please visit worshipcentral.ca/academy.

We desire to walk intentionally with each candidate, and therefore the Academy is limited to 20 seats. Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply well before the deadline.

APPLICATION DEADLINE / AUGUST 28, 2020 TUITION DEADLINE / SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

Tuition to attend the Academy is $2,500 CAD for the year. In order to apply for the Academy, the applicant must pay an initial $30 non-refundable application fee. Once accepted into the Academy, the incoming student will be required to pay a non-refundable $300 deposit within two weeks of acceptance in order to secure the space, and this deposit will count towards the tuition cost for the year. 14