On Sept. 7, Biola hosted a sold out “WOR/TH Night of Worship,” in partnership with Transparent Productions. Grammy award-winning worship artist, Matt Redman, spoke to a crowd of Biola students and visitors in the newly renovated Ethel Lee Auditorium. The “10,000 Reasons” singer moderated a panel of songwriters and pastors, including Ben Fielding, Charity Gayle, Evan Wickham, Matt Maher and Dr. Glenn Packiam. The event combined moments of worship and conversations about songwriting from a faith perspective.

Senior worship arts major, Mary Beth Millar, attended the event to hear perspectives from the impactful Christian musicians on stage.

“My favorite part was hearing the panel of songwriters talk about their experiences [of] songwriting in the church,” Millar said.

COMING BACK TO THE HEART OF WORSHIP

Redman founded WOR/TH, a series of one-day, nationwide worship and theology seminars to “come back to both the mind and the heart of worship,” as stated on their website. The events were created with the hope that they would educate while also providing a place to meet with God.

“There was a really special moment when we sang ‘And He Shall Reign’,” Redman said. “I love when we get to mix the old and the new together in our worship services … There aren’t many moments you’d find a Handel composition featuring a vocoder…[I] loved it.”

WOR/TH will continue making an impact on campuses throughout the country, visiting Wheaton College in October. Redman hopes these seminars continue to influence leaders in the church.

“I hope during WOR/TH people feel inspired to think more about how our worship services and worship songs can be deeper, more honoring of God and more wholesome for us,” Redman said.