Church music must encourage participation, songwriter says
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Kim Noblitt is no stranger to Christian music.
The music minister from First Baptist Church, Euless, Texas, is a 25-year veteran of music ministry since graduating from Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, Calif. He toured eight of those years with the vocal ensemble "Truth," and as a songwriter, was nominated for a Dove Award Song of the Year for "If You Could See Me Now."
But it wasn't until he began his ministry at First Baptist Euless six years ago that his passion "accidentally" shifted to music for the church.
"A large part of that had to do with the pastor's encouragement and desire for worship," said Noblitt, referring to Claude Thomas, pastor of First Baptist Euless.
Together their objective is to affect the worship culture in Baptist life.
"Our brethren in other denominations have done a tremendous job (writing music for the church)," said Noblitt. "There hasn't really been a Baptist voice out there writing original material."
Noblitt said his two main passions are leading musical worship and song writing. He continually challenges himself and other music leaders with the question: Does music written for the church encourage participation by the congregation?
Noblitt believes congregational participation in musical worship is critical. His recent projects with LifeWay Church Resources, a division of LifeWay Christian Resources, makes evident his passion for church music. Works include "You Saved Me," "You Are My Victory," and "His Kingdom Shall Never End" - choral arrangements that enable participation by choir and congregation alike.
"Corporate worship has to include the congregation," Noblitt said. "A common refrain for the worship team at First Baptist Euless is, 'It's not about us, it's about Him.'"
It's also a matter of discipline. Noblitt said churchgoers often attend services on Sunday mornings hoping to be inoculated with worship and with God's presence instead of nurturing that relationship throughout the week.
The staff at First Baptist Euless decided they'd approach musical worship as a way to lift up God rather than trying to appeal to style preferences -- contemporary or traditional.
"Our strategy has always been to move toward the message time," Noblitt said. "Everything is an act of worship."
Projector screens displaying the words of songs during services -- whether choir specials or congregational singing -- have helped those with hearing difficulties know what's being sung. Noblitt said traditional hymns repackaged with contemporary tempos encourage younger people to participate in the worship experience as well.
The death of Noblitt's mother in early April from breast cancer helped him focus his music on Christ's return to earth. "She was the most godly woman I knew," he said, calling her "The spiritual anchor in the life of our family."
In a revival service held recently at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, the choir sang "You Are My Victory," a song with a poignant message written by a son inspired by his mother's relationship with the Lord.
Lord, I give You all the glory
By Your love, You set me free.
Sin is paid for, Death is conquered.
You have crushed the enemy.
You are my Victory. You are my Victory.
Before joining First Baptist Euless, Noblitt served as minister of music at Henderson Hills Baptist Church, Edmond, Okla., Dauphin Way Baptist Church, Mobile, Ala., and First Baptist Church, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention is one of the world's largest publishers of religious materials, producing 180 monthly and quarterly products and more than 210 new undated products annually. Established in Nashville, Tenn., in 1891, LifeWay is engaged in the production and sale of Bibles, church literature, books, music, audio and video recordings, church supplies, and Internet services through www.lifeway.com. The company owns and operates 115 LifeWay Christian Stores throughout the United States, as well as two of the largest Christian conference centers in the country. LifeWay is a religious nonprofit organization that receives no funding from the denomination, and reinvests income above operating expenses into mission work and other ministries around the world. (BP) photo posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo title: ORIGINALITY.
