One Mandate—Four Ministries
After some much needed rest, we are off and running! When you have stewardship over a church, 2 schools, and a traveling ministry, sometimes things get a little hectic. I often tell Joe, “ya know—this looked great on paper”! Wow, now the four babies have become toddlers with all kinds of challenges and numerous opportunities. I thought over the next few weeks I might take the time to introduce you to the four entities that make up Worshipworks Ministries, Intl. Some of you have known of the ministry for quite some time while others that read this are “first timers”.
Worshipworks Ministries was born out of a mandate from God. Plain and simple, God spoke a direct word to us that we were to “put the heart of worship He had given us into the next generation” and I believe that is what we are doing everyday. Though we didn’t know exactly how we were to do it, we knew we were to have a worship school, with excellence and anointing that would prepare young people for ministry.
For two years, we traveled the globe with our family and a few friends, doing worship conferences and revivals where we saw God move mightily through us. What an amazing privilege to carry worship, the Word, and the greater works around the world. We were in churches of all types—from big ones with all the ‘bells and whistles’ to small ones that used cd’s for their Sunday morning worship.
I think the single thing that so amazed us was the number of churches that were desperate for anointed psalmists and musicians. We knew the need was great, but we had no idea the dearth of musicianship in the local church—and not just musicianship, but anointed musicians able to take people to the throne room through worship.
In 2000, after several conferences in churches, we begin to talk to the Lord about, not only the need, but HOW Lord? HOW do we do it? We knew that what we needed to share would take more than one week in a church or conference somewhere. We knew it would not only take classroom settings teaching the basics–theory, private instrumentation, and basic Bible courses, there would also need to be a place where students could practically apply what they were learning in class. A school—another school, Lord? Does America really need another school? It couldn’t be just any school, but a place where excellence and the anointing coincide to produce excellent musicians and singers with a passion for His Presence! Institute for the Arts was born in 2002, but more on that “baby” later…..And where would it be? And wouldn’t the school need a home? What? What’s that, Lord? A church! A real church? You mean—pastors? We would pastor people? Are you sure, Lord? And after wrestling, (much like Jacob) the days of endless travel gave way to planting and in 2001, City Worship Centre in Austin Texas was born. (and more on that baby as well….) Because shortly after the start of the institute, we begin to wonder, “what could you do with young people from the ages of 5-17 if you had students for multiple years in a creative arts and worship environment? Yep—you guessed it! Austin City Academy was born in 2002 and whew– I get tired just thinking about it!
To tell you the truth, some days it feels, like we are the circus guy with 4 plates on 4 poles or better yet, a young parent chasing 4 young children!
But to be honest with you, at the end of the day, we wouldn’t trade our lives for anyone on this planet. We are privileged to be called, “for such a time as this” and we are happy that our Lord has found us faithful stewards and that if we are faithful with the little, He will make us ruler over that which is much.
Though we have four beautiful babies, our call remains simple and focused. We are putting the heart of worship in the next generation, one student, one family, one life at a time.
–Becky Cruse