Thousands Attend The Getty Music Conference
By Church News
Recently, over eighty Christian speakers and performers gathered with thousands in attendance at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee for the annual Sing! 2022 Getty Music Worship Conference.
The Getty Music Worship Conference is all about taking inspiration from how the deep songs of the faith have spurred the missions movements of history, reigniting the passion for the unfinished task: making disciples and calling all peoples to become fully devoted worshipers of Jesus Christ.
Over 7,000 people attended the four-day event, both in person and virtually, moderated by hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty, including sermons by well-known speakers and performances by various Christian artists.
Eric McAllister, a director of music and liturgy from the megachurch High Pointe Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, stressed the importance of cultivating worship in multi-ethnic churches.
“Our primary aim when we gather, and the primary aim of our lives as believers is to give praise and glory to God and to edify and pursue the unity of His people,” McAllister said in his message.
“God is the very center of our gatherings because He is the one who initiates our gatherings, who has called us to Himself,” he continued. Though we were straying like sheep, He’s called us back to Himself through Christ Jesus, the shepherd of our souls.”
McAllister, who also serves as creative director for Sunday Morning Songs, warned that Christians and leaders can turn worship into a habit instead of an act of affection before the Lord.
“The aim of our services and the songs that we sing should be first and foremost to sing and retell the story of our God, to give praise to Him and to call attention to His works, His Words and His ways,” McAllister explained.
Pastor and theologian John Piper, during his speech, shared that the only way to sing authentic worship is to practice united diversity in which every member participates.
Piper emphasized the importance of each church member approaching worship with an attitude that when one person “neglects, forgets, or minimizes their individual and “essential” part in singing to the Lord,” then “the whole Bride of Christ will suffer”.
“Never forget that. Never downplay that. Never neglect that. Never think that there can be God-centered worship without that,” Piper said