Edwin Willmington

With a long interest in music and worship leadership, there was a point in time when Ed had a transformative experience related to children and worship. While visiting a church, he attended a children’s ministry event called “Kids Worship.” As the “worship” began, his heart sank as he observed kids crawling under benches, no leadership except some videos, kids running up on a little platform as they danced around…He decided there had to be something better – more substantive – that provided a better model for worship.

Being a musician, having had experience in local worship leadership, and also as a professor of worship studies at a graduate school seminary, Ed began to read about children’s education, talk to parents and church leaders, take note of modern cultural trends, and worship dynamics. From that grid, the concepts developed for resources for worship with kids, families, and church leaders. The concepts are hands-on, arts-based, and thoughtfully created resources that cover a scope of topics: theology, story, visual arts, embodied arts, and musical arts.

Through the Jubal House imprint of the Fred Bock Publishing Group, the music that is an outgrowth of the project is being made available. Based on Ed’s cultural discoveries, the music is somewhat counter-cultural since it is artistically structured, rather than following the popular cultural norm. A variety of musical styles and thematic content is provided, with attention given to amplifying the nine spiritual practice themes.

Ed’s musical background includes a B.A. from Bethel University with emphasis in church music and conducting , and master’s and doctoral degrees with composition and theory emphases from the University of Arizona. He has been both a professor in academic institutions and pastor of worship and arts in a local church.