Missions Exists Because Worship Doesn't - WorshipGod 2022
An update from Jared Mellinger, lead pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church, Glen Mills, USA…
On July 27-30, 650 people from 38 US states and 5 countries gathered in Louisville, Kentucky for WorshipGod 2022. I attended with a group of members from my church, including several other pastors I serve with. It was incredible!
The conference is designed to serve anyone who leads or participates in the Sunday gathering, as well as anyone who wants to better understand congregational worship and grow in loving God, who is worthy of all praise.
The theme of this year’s Worship God conference was Unchanging. We celebrated God’s unchanging character: his independence, trustworthiness, eternality, blessedness, and love. The theme was drawn from the newest Sovereign Grace album.
Sovereign Grace Music published a devotional on the songs/Psalms from the new album, which was released and available at the conference. The devotionals are written by various Sovereign Grace pastors and have helped me meditate more deeply on the songs on this album. We’ve also started singing some of these songs in our church, and our congregation has been richly blessed by them.
Bob Kauflin did an outstanding job leading the conference as Director of Sovereign Grace Music. He has unique leadership gifts and relational gifts that made these days together especially edifying. Bob's goal is not to run a polished and impressive production, but to serve those present. He does this by leading with joy, humility, generosity, encouragement, and thankfulness.
Musical instruments and books were given away. The give-aways often honored those who have faithfully served in their church for many years, or are serving with young children, and others appropriate to honor. Song writers were also thanked and encouraged. Abundant grace was on bright display.
The entire team at Sovereign Grace Music models gospel culture in a way that shapes the experience of each person in attendance. The grace of God was also evident in the hospitality shown by Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville. Although we met at a different church building, there were dozens of people in the church in Louisville who cheerfully served and greeted me and others all week long.
After the conference, I shared with Bob that one of the specific things I appreciate about his leadership is the way he helps us in Sovereign Grace learn from, express appreciation for, and serve the broader body of Christ. Attendees were a combination of people in Sovereign Grace Churches and beyond. Speakers were a mix of pastors in Sovereign Grace and others: Mike Bullmore, Jeff Purswell, Mark Jones, Josh Blount, and myself. Special guests included Adam Wright from Corner Room Music, City Alight, Jonathan and Sarah Jerez, and others. It was so encouraging to hear Adam Wright sing with his daughter, and to hear the vision City Alight has to serve the church of Christ through modern hymns.
I have regularly attended this conference over the years, not because I am a musician or worship leader, but because I am a pastor and Christian. I have found this particular conference to be especially edifying, equipping, and refreshing for pastors. Lord willing, I hope to attend again in the future.
After all, worship does not exist for the few, or for the musically talented, but for us all. God created us to glorify and enjoy him forever.
Worship is always related to missions, as John Piper has explained, because worship is the goal and fuel of missions: Missions exists because worship doesn’t. And, worship is always related to our future, because when we gather and join our voices in song with people from many different churches, we experience a foretaste of the day when we gather in the new heavens and the new earth, to sing “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!”
