The Worship Exchange Program is an ongoing effort to provide resources for our faculty, staff, and students to engage and explore topics related to adolescent worship practices, intergenerational worship, and the creative use of the arts in worship.
Creativity’s Calling
October 24-25All Christians are called to lives of meaning and purpose, but what is the relationship between our life as a worshiper on the Lord’s day, and our daily life as a Christian disciple? Teenagers and emerging adults in particular find themselves in a season of searching for identity and intentionality in life and need to see explicit connections between worship and daily life. Explore the biblical connections between labor and liturgy during a unique workshop on the campus of Samford University October 24th – 25th, co-sponsored by the Center for Congregational Resources and the Center for Worship and the Arts.
Schedule
Sunday, October 24th
- Opening Worship
led by the Urban Doxology Project featuring Kimberly Williams and Dr. Cory Willson
7:30 – 8:30 p.m. (Reid Chapel)
Registration is not required. Convo credit available for students.
Monday, October 25th
- Presentation by Dr. Cory Willson, “What Is Christian Calling?”
9:00 – 9:50 a.m. (Howard Room)
Registration is not required for on-campus participation. Session will also be available via zoom. Email cwa@samford.edu for the link. - Songwriting Session 1, led by Kimberly Williams and the Urban Doxology Project
10:00 – 10:50 a.m. (Howard Room)
Registration is not required for on-campus participation. Session will also be available via zoom. Email cwa@samford.edu for the link. - Lunchtime Q & A: featuring Cory Willson and Kimberly Williams
12:00 – 12:50 p.m. (Howard Room)
Registration is free and closes Friday, October 22nd. Register today. - Presentation by Kimberly Williams, “Creative Exploration of Calling”
1:00 – 1:50 p.m. (Howard Room)
Registration is not required for on-campus participation. Session will also be available via zoom. Email cwa@samford.edu for the link. - Songwriting Session 2, led by Kimberly Williams and the Urban Doxology Project
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. (Howard Room)
Registration is not required for on-campus participation. Session will also be available via zoom. Email cwa@samford.edu for the link.
Guest Speakers
Cory Willson is an Associate Professor of Missiology and Missional Ministry at Calvin Theological Seminary. He is the co-author of the recent book, Work and Worship: Reconnecting Our Labor and Liturgy and is passionate about matters of everyday life and lived theology. He lives with his wife and son in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Kimberly Williams emerges as a woman of God who has a desire to see every nation, tribe and tongue worshipping together. Kimberly is a singer, songwriter and instrumentalist for Christian ministry Urban Doxology, as well as a Worship Pastor for The District Church in Washington DC. As a songwriter and independent recording artist, she proclaims her faith in God through the realities of her experience.
Worship Exchange Luncheon with Bobby Smith
Nov. 3, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Howard Room
Registration is required and closes October 28th. Discounts available to Samford employees and students. For half-price registration, Samford faculty and staff, use the discount code SUFACSTAFF. Samford students, use the discount code SUSTUDENT for free registration.
Register Today
Bobby Smith is an Emmy award winning composer, producer, and worship pastor who lives in Atlanta, Georgia. His first songs erupted out of his panhandle Florida home in Pensacola where he learned to play piano, sing, and write music, often in the local church. High school success in songwriting and music led him to Samford where he studied classical voice, piano, and composing. You'd find him leading worship all over campus and around Birmingham with ministries like University Christian Fellowship (the early beginnings of Redeemer Community Church pastored by Joel Brooks), Shades Mountain Baptist Church, and University Ministries at Samford. It is worth noting that Bobby began writing music for Step Sing in those college days and continues to create the music for shows today with over 9 sweepstakes shows and best music awards for groups including DAP, ZTA, Chi O, Ignite, Sigma Chi, and more.
From commercial success scoring for clients like McDonalds and Calvin Klein to local club scene singer/songwriter experience to leading worship services, Bobby has had a lasting and broad musical career. He's produced music with millions of streams on Spotify, and won songwriting contests for Disney and placed top 12 in the New York Songwriter's Circle contest performing at the legendary Bitter End in Manhattan. He currently runs his own bespoke music and sound design company (thestudiobmusic.com) and serves as a worship pastor at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in metro Atlanta (jfworship.com), where he, his wife Kelley (Samford alum), and their awesome two kids (Tucker and Evelyn) live.
He loves producing lofi vibes under his artist name Bobcat, and loves chasing the best melodies he can find in composing and songwriting. You'll find that nothing sets his heart aflame more than when he is worshipping Jesus Christ with everything he's got.
Recent Events:
Worship Leadership Network Ministry Fair
September 8, 2021
Local church leaders met with Samford music and worship students to discuss possible partnerships and ministry opportunities. Enjoy this brief video for a look into this special on-campus event.
Community Partners Directory
Church leaders are invited to share information about jobs, internships, and other ministry needs. Each week during the academic year, the CWA compiles the listings into a directory which is accessible to students via email and QR code. Through these partnerships, students gain valuable work experience while also contributing to the life of the local church during their time in college. There is often financial compensation associated with these positions.
Share a job or internship opportunity.
Discover current job and internship opportunities
Worship in the Black Church Experience
September 28-29, 2021
The merger of African faith traditions with the Christian gospel has resulted in a fascinating 400-year-old story of strength and grace, freedom and solidarity, faith and action. Participants in “Worship in the Black Church Experience” engaged in enlightening and meaningful conversations with special guests Dr. James Abbington, Associate Professor of Church Music and Worship at Candler School of Theology, and Mr. David Bailey, founder and director of Arrabon Ministries.
