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September 2001 Table of Contents
Special Feature
A Look into the Heart of Vital Worship
By Brenda Sprayue
It began with a youth conference. Acclaimed artist Al Denson was leading worship, and leading Cindy Wilcox to wonder why she had never before felt God's presence so strongly and personally. "I just sat there and bawled, " recalls Cindy.
When she went home and asked her song leader about it, he tried to reassure her with words like, "That's okay for camp" and "you'll get over it."
For a while, Cindy thought that maybe there was something wrong with her, that she was just an emotional basket case. But in her heart she knew there was something more to this thing called worship. Though she had accepted Christ at the age of four and had attended church regularly ever since, Cindy's heart was suddenly on a new journey. She began a quest to understand the true meaning of worship.
Cindy ultimately dropped her plans to study opera at Indiana University and instead went on to obtain degrees in both Voice and Missions from Liberty University. She began using her musical gifts in places like India, Brazil, the Philippines, and Russia.
Attending Liberty's Praise and Worship Institute brought a lot into focus for her. "It blew my mind to realize that worship is all of life. For me it's not about a chorus, it's about a life…and living a lifestyle of worship."
Cindy joined the staff of Liberty University, and for the next seven years became enmeshed in campus life. She led worship at major women's conferences and was heavily involved with the more than 3,000 students who worshipped at the unique mid-week service at the campus church. She also served as a mentor to young women.
In these capacities, she realized she was hearing a certain question over and over: "Where can I find…?" and people would name certain songs they wanted to take home to their youth groups.
Cindy would always list for them the different labels and projects featuring the songs... Maranatha!, Integrity, Vineyard, etc. She says, "It made me wonder--couldn't there be one source?"
The seeds for Vital Worship, the company that Cindy now runs as President, had been sown in that question. Everywhere she turned, Cindy found confirmation that a need existed for split tracks of the best in youth worship songs for, "the guy who works at GE and has to do youth group and doesn't have a clue what to do to lead them in worship."
She brought her idea to a former classmate of hers from the Praise and Worship Institute. Jamie Harvill, noted songwriter for Integrity Music (whose credits include Ancient of Days, Because We Believe, and Firm Foundation), has for years shared a similar interest in promoting sincere worship to God's children. In addition to writing for and touring with artists like Don Moen, Ron Kenoly, and Truth, he regularly teaches workshops at events like Integrity Music's Worship International, and Maranatha!'s Worship Leader Workshops.
When Cindy approached Jamie with her questions about the need for a worship resource company, he replied, "Not only is there a need for it, but there's also a need for it in other areas, not just youth. And I'd love to be a part of it."
As the doors opened wide for financial backing, Jamie stepped on board as Vice President, a role he holds in addition to that of Associate Pastor of Praise and Worship at Cornerstone Fellowship Church in Spindale, North Carolina.
Vital Worship was growing. Successful entrepreneur Bob Duda joined the company as Chairman of the Board, becoming the group's business and financial mind. "We tell him what we want to do, and he figures out a way to do it," says Cindy.
Outcry was their first project. It features songs from Matt Redman, David Ruis, Paul Baloche, and others. "Our goal from the beginning," says Cindy, "was to provide a kit with a song book, overhead masters, rhythm charts, split tracks and a linking CD for youth groups. The CD can be purchased separately or as part of the kit, which also includes a 31-day worship devotional for teens. We have a passion for teens that want to lead a deeper life."
This passion evidently came through to Amy Chapin, who in a recent issue of Worship Leader magazine stated that Outcry's featured songs were, "proven teen pleasers" which offered "a refreshing change from the typical overuse of personal pronouns." She went on to say, "…but what I like best is that the themes of commitment and humility (excellent youth group discussion topics) are woven through the project."
Vital Worship had accomplished their first goal. But they didn't stop there. Their second line, Transitions, extended their reach to churches ready to make the change from traditional to blended worship.
"We believe strongly in blended worship," says Cindy. "In Ephesians five we are told to sing and make melody with our hearts to the Lord using ‘Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.' Hymns, done in a fresher way, will always be part of the Transitions line, along with some of the very newest stuff."
Each CD is a medley of worship songs and hymns combined to provide one seamless 15-minute worship time. Split tracks are, of course, part of this line, as well as an enhanced CD that allows leaders to print whatever they need, from overhead lyrics to rhythm charts.
Two Transitions projects are available at this time: Foundations and We Lift Your Name. This fall, two more projects will be offered. Then beginning in January of 2002, each month customers can expect a brand new medley (with accompanying resources).
Dr. Darril Deaton is a Pastor and Worship Leader in Litchfield, Connecticut. He says that in the process of moving to a more blended style of worship, Friendship Baptist Church has found the Transitions series to be a great help. "I only wish their ministry had been available earlier in our process," says Dr. Deaton. "I was able to use the Foundations medley CD the first week that I had it. I was called upon to lead worship in a situation where there was no band or accompanist. After familiarizing myself with the way the medley would flow we were able to use the instrument side of the split track and easily follow the music. All that is necessary is to add a PowerPoint presentation, overheads, or song pages."
Dr. Deaton knows quite well that making changes in the worship of a church involves more than just choosing a song. "It's not a change that can happen overnight in a congregation," he says, "but with patience and sensitivity, it can be done. Churches that begin the transition process, especially those with limited resources, must learn new songs, adjust to new instrumentation, employ new visual equipment, and still continue to make the service flow. Transitions helps with the new songs, provides instrumentation, and helps maintain a worshipful flow in the music. Worship is too important to muddle through it."
The driving forces behind Vital Worship couldn't agree more. That's why in addition to musical guidance, they offer a variety of teaching resources. "It is our intent to reach all those congregations of about 100--which are really the majority in this country--who are often out of the loop, who don't read Worship Leader magazine, and who probably don't even know it exists. We want to come alongside them and teach that worship is not about a song choice or a beat. It's an issue of the heart," says Cindy.
Unfortunately, over the years both Cindy and Jamie have witnessed frequent misunderstandings between worship leaders and congregations over matters of worship. While at first they might seem to be superficial, underlying issues of pride and self-centeredness usually surface. That's why an important part of their ministry is serving as worship consultants, giving instruction and support to churches around the world. They've received invitations to lead worship seminars from places as far away as India, Scotland, and the Philippines.
Cindy admits that there are a lot of churches that need healing right now, especially in America. "There are many aspects to the problems we see," she says. "One of these involves the new crop of enthusiastic worship leaders entering conservative congregations. We see so many song leaders that are gifted musically, but do everything in their own strength. They don't feel they need to learn anything new. Yet they come into a church and force-feed a bunch of new songs to a congregation. If they lead them into such a change without once opening their mouths to present a scripture or teach them about what they're doing, they lose them every time. Over and over we've seen worship leaders get fed up and leave churches saying, ‘Oh well, they didn't get it. Too bad for them. I'll find a church that does.'"
"If you don't try to teach as you lead," Cindy continues, "people are still going to believe that worship is all about song selection, instead of getting them to enter His gates with thanksgiving, engaging their hearts so they can enter the Holy of Holies. If you skip all that and say ‘you have to have drums' or ‘you have to sing this song or that'…then you don't understand worship. You can't ramrod God's people. That's not His way. It's like pouring ice water on a burn victim. It's an abuse of God's sheep. You've got to lead gently, with strength and conviction."
And that is what Vital Worship endeavors to do. As individuals, their prayer is simply to draw people to God through worship. As a company, they are committed to keeping the world in their focus, supporting missions, and even tithing on their revenues, something that has been laughed at in the business world. However, they see it as a form of worship, an integral part of both their present and future as a company.
What is on the horizon for Vital Worship? Something for everyone... Outcry 2 will be ready in February of 2002. Jamie will soon be releasing a new collection which, he says, "will blend some fresh, new songs with some good old faithfuls." And for the contemporary church already beyond the transition, they'll present an exciting new line called Nouveau.
Of course, they have not forgotten the youngest worshippers. Raise 2 Praise is scheduled to debut in the spring of 2002. Look for children's musicals, videos, and educational materials, which will include a Wednesday night curriculum that teaches children worship, music, and missions.
Vital Worship is also pleased to announce a new partnership with Steven V. Taylor, multiple Dove Award-winning producer and arranger. "He will be heavily involved in all aspects of production for quite some time," says Jamie. "This arrangement is a perfect fit for us. Steve and I go way back...he knows us, knows our heart. He understands praise and worship in a way that very few arrangers and producers do. His track record and expertise in the choral/print genre precede him."
Jamie says the decision to work with Taylor was an easy one, and fits in with the vision of Vital Worship's future. "If there's one thing we want churches to know about us," he says, "is that we're not just about releasing songs. Yes, we're committed to the highest quality of products, but mostly we're about helping the church win, no matter what background or age…from 3 to 103. We see ourselves staying true to the core needs of churches, developing products that will really take root and grow through this next wave of God's work, which we believe will be nothing less than a full-blown tsunami!"
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