国產aⅴa麻豆Worship Summit Draws Sold-Out Crowd to Malibu Campus
Nearly 3,000 attendees filled Firestone Fieldhouse on Pepperdine鈥檚 Malibu campus to
experience the sold-out 国產aⅴa麻豆Worship Summit 2023, an evening of Christ-centered worship and fellowship that drew the Pepperdine
community near and far for a powerful, spirit-filled evening.
United Voice Worship, a bridge-building music ministry composed of worship pastors and praise leaders from Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky, opened the event by leading attendees in a cappella worship with 鈥淲aymaker,鈥� 鈥淲hat a Beautiful Name,鈥� 鈥淒ays of Elijah,鈥� and 鈥淪ame God.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檝e been praying for this event for a year,鈥� announced 国產aⅴa麻豆president Jim Gash, as he introduced worship leader Phil Wickham, a GRAMMY庐-nominated artist and leader in the modern worship movement, who sang multiple sets and returned at the end of the evening for a one-song encore.
鈥淓very time I come here, it doesn鈥檛 feel like I鈥檓 a visitor,鈥� Wickham said, before launching into his opening song, 鈥淕reat Things.鈥� 鈥淚t feels like family. It feels like home. And I鈥檓 exploding with joy at what God is doing in this place.鈥�
Wickham led the crowd with the songs 鈥淧raise the Lord, 鈥淪unday Is Coming,鈥� and 鈥淗ymn of Heaven,鈥� which was nominated for two GRAMMY庐 awards for 鈥淏est Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.鈥�
Following Wickham鈥檚 initial three-song set, Tim Spivey, associate vice president for spiritual life at Pepperdine, introduced Jonathan Evans, a mentor, author, speaker, and former NFL fullback who serves as the chaplain of the Dallas Cowboys and co-chaplain of the Dallas Mavericks. Evans seeks to impact athletes, men, and young adults by equipping and encouraging them in their faith through his local and national ministry, where he serves with his pastor, friend, and father, Tony Evans. They also teamed up together to write Get in the Game, a practical guidebook filled with sports analogies and spiritual truths aimed at strengthening readers with the skills they need for living victoriously.
鈥淚f you ever wondered what life is about, it鈥檚 about serving the purposes of God,鈥� said Evans. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e not here for yourself and your own purposes. You鈥檙e here to serve the purposes of the head coach who put you in the game.鈥�
Evans continued to share his story with attendees and encouraged them to consider how to know when they鈥檙e serving God鈥檚 purpose in their own lives. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l make an impact on somebody other than you,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he goal of our lives is to play today thinking about tomorrow.鈥�
Wickham returned to the stage following Evans鈥� talk, where he led attendees in worship with songs 鈥淚 Believe,鈥� 鈥淭his is Our God,鈥� 鈥淲ait,鈥� 鈥淕ratitude,鈥� 鈥淟iving Hope,鈥� and 鈥淗ow Great Thou Art.鈥� Wickham closed the evening with a powerful rendition of 鈥淗ouse of the Lord鈥� and shared final words of wisdom with the crowd. 鈥淎sk God to give you a clear vision for your time here at Pepperdine,鈥� Wickham said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 got incredible plans for your life.鈥�
Photo credit: Elyse Jankowski and Ron Hall