Sunday, 15 March 2009
-
MULTI-ETHNIC WORSHIP AT SOUTHWESTERN SEMINARY [03.13-14.09]
I had the opportunity this week to teach a few classes and a workshop at Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. My host was the incredibly gracious, stereotype-breaker, witty educator Dr. Edgar Cajas. Edgar is the first person in all of Central America to obtain his doctorate in Music Education. I thoroughly enjoyed just being in the same room with him. He invited me to teach:
Theology and Practice of Multi-ethnic Worship
Worship Leading from the Guitar/Piano
Worship Across Cultures
as well as an all-day seminar for Hispanic Worship Leaders.
The most profound moment for me came in the first class I taught. Towards the end of the class (after laying the biblical foundation for multi-ethnic worship), we actually experienced it. I taught each section of the class the chorus of "King of Glory" in a different language.
Some sang, "King of glory...Lord Almighty...You are welcome here...You are welcome here"
Others sang, "Rey de gloria...Poderoso...Bienvenido Dios...Bienvenido aquí"
Still others sang in Korean, "Koruk Eh Wahng...Joo Eh Nung Yuk...Joo Keh Mah Kee Neh... (pardon my phonetic Korean spelling)
After learning each language, I invited them to all sing at the same time in their different languages. Then, we stopped and I asked them what they felt, experienced, what thoughts went through their heads...
Someone said, "I got this amazing realization that GOD understand all of those languages, and all the others going up around the globe, all at once."
Someone said, "it was beautiful!"
But another man, from Korea, said, "To be honest, I felt comforted. I try so hard in chapel here to worship God. But it is difficult because I am thinking about the words and figuring out what they mean or how to pronounce them. But, just now, I was able to worship...from my heart...it was comforting...and wonderful."
In that moment, we all were more keenly aware of the power and beauty and reason for multi-lingual worship. May HIS kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.
-
recommend
- recs 0
-
share
-
email
- sent 0
Post a Comment