The Impact of Worship
The Impact of Worship
Celebrated as ‘The Best Year Ever,’ the 2022/23 school year marked the 75th anniversary of Woodcrest Christian. We looked back to the humble beginning of our school’s history and looked forward to what the Lord continues to do through our school. As one of numerous events celebrating this milestone, we published a 120+ page commemorative book with stories of heritage, traditions, people, and experiences that shaped the rich history of our school. Enjoy this excerpt below about the impact of worship. Want to read more? Purchase your own copy of Woodcrest Christian’s Diamond Jubilee book for just $12 (includes shipping) at wcss.org/75book.
Chapel, senior retreat, WCDS praise and worship chapel mission trips and the Worship Under the Stars concert are just a few of the events students experience that begin with worship. Led by either the WCDS worship team, chapel band, or an informal group of student musicians, students engage in worship and learn that it is more than just a ritualistic experience. “At its foundation, worship is important because it is what we were designed to do,” says alumnus Joey Garcia (Class of 2009) and current Woodcrest Christian High School English teacher. “For me, worshipping and singing worship songs has always been meaningful because it is one of the ways I feel uniquely wired to connect to the Father.”
At the beginning of every middle and high school chapel, current students on the worship team and in the chapel band lead the student body in singing worship songs. “It’s a time to refocus,” says Joey. “In the midst of a school week and school day, with millions
of distractions around us and on our minds, we can recenter our attention on Who it is all about. It quiets down the noise and slows down the busyness so that we as a body can be still and know.”
Joey’s hope and heart for the students at Woodcrest Christian as they engage in worship is to grow comfortable with the practice of authenticity, “If I can help students understand the beauty in coming to God as is, flaws and failures and all, and boldly approaching Him in praise and repentance, then I have succeeded” he says. “Worship is a time where our inner struggles bubble up. It gives us space to surrender things or work through things with the Father.”
Joey led worship as a student at Woodrest Christian. He says, “Music has always been a passion of mine and using that passion to worship God just made sense. I have always appreciated how worship songs can help me express my deep, raw inner thoughts in ways I couldn’t put into words myself. I love the honor of getting to help encourage others to worship. It is so powerful to be authentic and sincere in your own worship which can help free others to feel safe to do the same.”
