Church Community Engagement

Community Partners Directory

is a collection of job, internship, and ministry needs submitted by local churches who have contacted the CWA with the hope of discovering current Samford students who would be good candidates. Each week during the academic year, the CWA compiles these listings into a directory which is accessible here on our website, as well as distributed to School of the Arts students. Through these partnerships, students gain valuable work experience while also contributing to the life of the local church. There is often financial compensation associated with these listings. If you would like to be included in the next update, please complete the form at the link below.

Share a Job or Internship Opportunity Current Job & Internship Opportunities

Worship Innovation Cohorts

The teenagers in your church are gifted—in music, in visual art, in communication, in dance, in poetry, in theater, in leadership, and so much more. Do you want to empower their ministry as leaders of today? Consider partnering with The Center for Worship and the Arts at Samford University for the 2023-2024 cycle of our Worship Innovation Cohorts.

A cohort is an intergenerational group, united by a common goal, working together toward an attainable project that strengthens their ministry—for the glory of God, for the good of the Church.

If you can assemble a small group of teenagers and adult mentors (4-12 people total), we’ll help you imagine the project, fund it up to $3,000, and walk alongside you in reaching your goal over the course of a year. Plus, we'll send your group to ANIMATE!

Your commitment: Attending five meetings with CWA—a mixture of on-site and online. Investing in the lives of young people. Following through with your project.

Our commitment: Resourcing you with the best coaches and consultants. Managing your project throughout the cohort cycle. Helping you turn your project into a resource for the big “C” Church. Funding you with $3,000 to complete your project, plus $3,600 toward attending ANIMATE, where you’ll meet other cohorts.

Email our CWA Director, Nelson Cowan, at ncowan@samford.edu for more information.

The Worship Exchange Program

is an ongoing exchange of ideas among church ministry leaders regarding the challenges and opportunities related to intergenerational worship practices and the creative use of the arts in worship with the goal of developing lifelong worshippers of Jesus Christ.

The 2022-2023 Worship Exchange event season included: our annual fall forum between Samford worship students and local ministry partners; “The Beauty of God” conference with invited clinicians including Matt Papa, John Witvliet, and Cliff Duren; a spring forum for area worship and youth leaders to discuss intergenerational ministry, worship, and the arts; and an April event welcoming Chickasaw-Choctaw visual artist, Erin Shaw.

Browse Worship Exchange Resources

Worship Exchange Forum

January 30, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Location: Regions Room B

Area worship and youth leaders meet with the CWA staff and faculty fellows for lunch, fellowship, networking, and discussion of intergenerational ministry, worship, and the arts.

Worship Exchange with Meredith Andrews

March 12, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Location: Harry's Coffeehouse

Award-winning musical artist, singer, songwriter, and worship leader Meredith Andrews joins the CWA for lunch and intentional conversation open to Samford students, faculty, and staff as well as the Birmingham ministry leadership community.

Save the Date for Animate 2024!

June 24 – June 28

Animate is a 5-day summer worship arts camp for teenagers and their adult mentors that takes place on the campus of Samford University.

Learn More

Church Community Engagement

Community Partners Directory

Worship Innovation Cohorts

The Worship Exchange Program

2023-2024 CWA Events