Whaley Vernon - Worship Through the Ages: How the Great Awakenings Shape Evangelical Worship: How the Great Awakenings Shape Evangelical Worship

Vernon Whaley and Elmer Towns have led music and taught the Pastors Bible Class at Thomas Road Baptist Church for the last two and one-half years. They have done an outstanding job. I know they have the practical qualifications to write a history of worship because they know people, they know music, they know God, and they have put it all together in the Pastors Bible Class. In addition to that, Vernon leads special music/worship events at Thomas Road Baptist Church.

There is a second reason why they are qualified to write this book. They are both scholars in several disciplines, and they not only understand the nature of academic pursuits but also have excelled in writing this book on the history of worship.

But thirdly, Vernon Whaley is the chairman of the Liberty University Center for Worship that involves the graduate and undergraduate preparation of music leaders at Liberty University. Dr. Towns is dean of the School of Religion in which these musicians study. Together they have made the Praise and Worship Institute the fastest growing of all schools of Christian music in America. More than 900 students study in the graduate and

undergraduate programs. These students do more than just excel in the classroom and in music. They are involved in practical projects and local church ministries, serving the Lord in many different ways. It is a great honor and privilege to endorse this book because I endorse the men who wrote it, the ministry they represent, and what they have accomplished for God.

Jonathan Falwell

senior pastor, Thomas Road Baptist Church

It is fitting that Elmer Towns and Vernon Whaley should be the ones to take on such an expansive tome as Worship through the Ages. Elmer is long-time dean of the School of Religion at Liberty University and the consummate teacher of the Great Awakenings. Vernon is a key architect of one of the largest and most successful worship programs in the world at Liberty Universitys Center for Worship. Together, they are committed to understanding the substance of worship, the history of worship, and the key biblical characters who live out the story of worshipand to communicating that in a way that actually ignites worship in their readers.

Passion for worship is obvious as Elmer Towns and Vernon Whaley give us a guided tour from Genesis to Revelation and through the most defining Awakenings and movements in the history of the church. Inclusion of the latter half of the twentieth century corrects an often-missing element in Gods worship story. With equal parts history, theological perspective, biographical insight, and cultural anthropology, Elmer Towns and Vernon Whaley ignite longing and prayer for the next Great Awakening.

Chuck Fromm, publisher, Worship Leader magazine

Worship through the Ages is informative and

inspirational. The book is a great teaching tool concerning authentic worship of our awesome God that inspires me to know God more intimately and serve Him more

passionately. Its absolutely a must-read for anyone who desires to lead church worship in any capacity. My life is richer and my ministry is stronger because of this great work. Thank you, Dr. Whaley and Dr. Towns, for this powerful read!

Babbie Mason

recording artist/songwriter/author

Ive known for several years this book was coming, and Ive hardly been able to wait. No one knows church music like Vernon Whaley; no one knows church work better than Elmer Towns. Combine their efforts on a biblical foundation, add some incredible charts, tell some great stories, relate some colorful historyand youve got Worship through the Ages. This book will intrigue, inform and inspire you. And itll encourage you to pray afresh:

Revive us again; fill each heart with Thy love; / May each soul be rekindled with fire from above.

Robert J. Morgan

pastor, conference speaker, author

Every worship leader needs to know the inspiring stories behind the great spiritual awakenings. Worship through the Ages not only tells those stories but also provides insights into the innovations each movement brought to the practice of worship. Each chapter will whet your appetite for God to bring revival to your church, your community, and the world.

Rory Noland

director of Heart of the Artist Ministries

I recommend Worship through the Ages for pastors, worship leaders, and students. It will help Christians understand why they use the music they do, what it will accomplish, how God has used music in the past, and what is the biblical basis for music ministry. Worship through the Ages is a valuable contribution to the churches, as we think together about how to worship well.

Ed Stetzer

author, Subversive Kingdom, www.edstetzer.com

Worship through the Ages, Digital Edition Based on Print Edition

Worship through the Ages

Copyright 2012 by Elmer L. Towns and Vernon M.

Whaley All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4336-7257-6

Published by B&H Publishing Group Nashville, Tennessee Dewey Decimal Classification: 269

Subject Heading: WORSHIPHISTORY \ PUBLIC WORSHIP

\ RELIGIOUS AWAKENING

Scripture quotations marked CEV are taken from the Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995

American Bible Society. All rights reserved.

Scripture quoations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Scripture quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY

BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright

1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NCV are taken from the New Century Version. Copyright 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New

King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Permission has been received to quote freely from and use The 10 Greatest Revivals Ever: From Pentecost to the Present 2000 by Elmer L. Towns and Douglas Porter.

To the Worship Students of Liberty University Every generation of Liberty University students has recognized what God is doing in the world, in the church, and in their hearts. They have dedicated themselves to ministry with the view of doing what God is doing.

Down through the centuries, God has used young men and womencollege-age studentsto usher in his great awakenings. In the early days at Liberty University, God poured out revival on the students at Liberty, and they became a part of the awakening of the 1970s.

In recent days, God is again stirring hearts to worship him in spirit and in truth. Not only do Liberty students worship God in convocation and many other places; God has called together a great multitude of students to prepare for ministry at Liberty Universitys Center for Worship. They not only study worship but also prepare themselves to go out and lead worship after graduation. It is to these students that we dedicate this volume for the glory of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.... And, may God magnify their task as they lead this next generation to worship.

Campaigns, Part 1 (18901935)

Foreword

Ilove stories. Whether they come from a great book or conversation, a well-made film or a song, stories inspire and challenge and give us perspective on life. We learn who we are by the stories our families tell about us.