You may have read and joined the conversation about my recent post on music in “The New Traditional Church.” In response to that post, I heard from several people who were aware of churches using hip hop in their services. This particular story caught my attention. Here’s an interview with Stefanie Kelly, the worship arts director at the Rock Church in San Diego, CA.

TONY: For those who are unfamiliar with the Rock Church, tell us a little bit about your story.

STEFANIE: The Rock is a diverse church nearing 14,000 attendees located in the heart of urban San Diego, California. Pastor Miles McPherson was obedient to the call of Christ on his life, and after being mentored by Mike Macintosh of Horizon Calvary Chapel, the Rock was birthed.  It is home to hundreds of small groups, 62 ministries such as JC’s Girls (a ministry to strippers) and Luv Em’ Up (a ministry to our inspirational congregants with disabilities), as well as countless other ministries that reach out into the literal and figurative prisons of our community in order to bring the hope of Jesus Christ to all who will hear.  We are a DO SOMETHING church, meaning, the Rock is dedicated not only to encouraging our church family, but to going into all the world to preach the gospel in tangible ways by serving our community.

TONY: In case you didn’t hear, my post on hip-hop and R&B in the church raised a little stir. How is the Rock Church using these genres of music in your services?

STEFANIE: At the Rock we strive to be relevant in every area of programming, especially in the musical portion of our worship.  Because Christ was incredibly relevant and in touch with His time, we are also committed to following that example.  As the Worship Arts Director, I specifically listen to music outside the church walls in order to know what is currently happening in the world.  In fact, I often find myself worshipping to something like Shania’s “Forever and For Always”, Rihanna’s “Umbrella”, or EWF’s “Sing a Song”.  For that reason, and depending on the musical strengths of the volunteer musicians available on any given week, we deliberately arrange, program, and write with an R&B/hip-hop bent.

For example, one Sunday our musicians played a tune with a very pronounced Ne-yo groove, and on another day we featured a rap with a hip-hop vocalist backed by our gospel choir on the vamp!  (BTW, Resonate, our choir, is an SAT choir – which generates a more R&B sound, rather than an SATB choir – which is more traditional in nature).  On another Sunday we featured a hip-hop dance presentation, and in the coming weeks we are going to worship to “Umbrella”.

Just this past Sunday our worship consisted of an acoustic jazz set with a grand piano, upright bass, a siiiiiick saxophonist, and three “American Idol Style” background vocalists. God has blessed us with wonderfully talented musicians who are not only skilled as in Psalm 33:3, but are dedicated to the spiritual health and unity of our arts program because of their genuine love for the Lord.

TONY: Why are you using these new styles of music?

STEFANIE: I believe Paul was directly speaking from the heart of the Lord when he called us to be “all things to all people” – and because the Rock is an urban church with a diverse demographic, we must offer all musical genres to the worshipper.  For one worshipper, the hip-hop style reaches to the core…for another, it is the pop-rock genre that moves the heart.  For the “wiser” members we will approach musical worship one way…for the younger and growing in their wisdom, we will choose another way.

Fortunately, God has provided the Rock with skilled musicians who are able to play a wide range of musical styles with excellence.  I believe one reason why we don’t hear R&B/hip-hop music more frequently in today’s church is because smaller congregations are often limited in their resources, but they are faithfully doing the best they can with what has been given to them.

TONY: Do you believe hip-hop can be a part of our corporate worship?

STEFANIE: I absolutely believe hip-hop can be, should be, and will be an important worship style of the future – in addition to all the beautiful styles of music our innovative God created!   The R&B/hip-hop element will, however, require a dedication on the part of the staff and congregation to dig deeper into the well of musical study and commitment in order to facilitate this with excellence.  Somewhere, though, doesn’t it say that “all things are possible with God”?

TONY: How would you encourage other churches in this area of ministry?

STEFANIE: I would encourage other churches to boldly go out on a limb and embrace new ways of worshipping God through music.  But in order to do that, we need to diversify and de-segregate.  As a result, the music will naturally do the same, to the praise of His glorious grace!  Every Sunday when I look out into our congregation and see all shapes, sizes, ages and colors, I thank the Lord that I am not just surrounded by “like” people with the same musical preferences, but am sharpened by the diversity that harmoniously defines our unified worship!

The Bible says that God has given us a “new song” to sing – and He is neither confined nor limited to just one style of praise.   Finally, in regards to hip-hop, because of the negative messages prevalent in pop hip-hop culture today, I believe the church at large is afraid to incorporate this genre into modern services because of the potential criticism that might occur as a result.  But now is the time for believers to reclaim ALL styles and take back what was created for His glory in the first place – the wonderful gift of music, in the mighty name of Jesus!