TBC hosts first-ever worship camp for high school students

Texas Baptist College (TBC) welcomed over 50 high school students to the campus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary on June 5 to join the first-ever TBC Worship Camp. From Monday through Thursday, students were able to learn from TBC and Southwestern Seminary faculty and students how to fine-tune their musical skills, how to study the theology of worship, and how to interact in a band setting.

Marc Brown, assistant professor of church music and worship at Southwestern Seminary and TBC, was the faculty member who led the worship camp at TBC. “We started with the idea that we are called to train and equip people to meet what churches need,” said Brown.

During the first TBC Worship Camp, held June 5-8 on the campus of Southwestern Seminary, high school students had the opportunity to learn from Southwestern and Texas Baptist College faculty and students, including Marc Brown, assistant professor of church music and worship.

Southwestern Seminary and TBC faculty led some of the portions of the camp, specifically the classes on the theology of worship and planning and leading worship. Outside of faculty members, Southwestern Seminary and TBC students led as camp counselors for the high school students.

“I have gotten the most personal pleasure being able to watch the TBC and SWBTS students go from being students to being the teachers,” said Brown. “They’re not getting any credit for this and they are giving up a week where they could be working another job to pour into these students who are, in some cases, just two or three years younger.”

One student who helped lead the camp as a worship leader and camp counselor is Brock James, a native of Arlington, Texas, who is a student enrolled in the 5-year Master of Music program at TBC and Southwestern Seminary. James is the lead vocalist of the TBC Band, one of the bands of the seminary’s School of Church Music and Worship.

Participants in the TBC Worship Camp learned from current Southwestern Seminary and TBC School of Church Music and Worship School students, which included the SCMW’s ensembles and bands.

“We get to be with the students as they eat, do Bible studies with them, and we get to be very personal with these students which helps engage with students,” said James. “Even through the second day of the camp, students are stepping up and applying what they have learned about theology and leadership which is really cool.”

James said that the camp was “incredibly well run,” and that the “fact that everything is so close together is very convenient for the students so that they can spend less time walking.” James added that he surrendered to God’s calling to ministry at a camp that was “very similar” to TBC’s Worship Camp.

Throughout the camp, multiple sessions were dedicated to learning more about specific skills related to the student’s area of giftedness. The different areas represented were vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards. Along with these instrument-specific sessions, there was also time dedicated for students to learn how to play in an ensemble rather than solo.

Participants in the TBC Worship Camp had the opportunity to practice using the skills they learned during the week as they performed in a concluding recital to wrap up the week.

Sophia Templin and Mattie Sawyers, two rising seniors from Matthew Road Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, Texas, attended the camp and both appreciated the attention to the instrument-specific training.

“I like our rehearsal times with the ensembles and vocalist-specific groups,” said Sawyers. “I have learned a lot, vocally, and different techniques, but we’ve also talked a lot about the theology of worship which has been really cool to learn.”

Templin said the instruction she received at the camp would help her in the future as she serves on a worship band at her church.

“I really liked learning how to play in a band,” said Templin. “I have already been playing in a band in church, but now I’m able to understand more about how to work together better and even lead it a little bit.”

With the intention of the camp being that the students would be equipped to use their skills at their churches, the students said they felt they could use what they learned to help serve.

“I feel like I will be bringing back leadership skills and most of all, confidence,” said Sawyers. “I now know what the heart behind worship should be and I also will be bringing back some new musically useful abilities.”

Templin added that techniques the students learned at the camp will be able to be applied “on Sundays and Wednesdays” and that what they learned in devotions is just “so sweet and helpful.”

“There are so many different good things going on with this camp,” said Brown. “This is not something that has been done here, but it is a place where it can be done and where we can make a difference which I find very awesome.”

The next TBC Worship Camp is scheduled for the week of June 3, 2024.