The One Project

Well I didn't get many pics of the actual conference.  I was trying to live in the moment...  Below are images taken during breaks from the conference.

 

The One Project was described as this positive movement within the Adventist Church and as a call to give Jesus the supremacy in our denomination.   Everyone I have spoken with since then agrees that it did not disappoint.

 

All the movers and shakers in the Adventist world were there. . .  Pictured above are two of them.

 

 

So this place is supposed to be the original Starbucks but the barista told us that it was moved there from down the street several years ago. 

Fun Fact: if it's raining at night at the Needle (more often than not) you can watch raindrops fall to earth from the very top.  The spot lights illuminate them.  It's amazing!




















^Pike Place fish market

I loved the ideas that were brought by the speakers to The One Project.  They articulated really well things that I have been feeling for a long time. Ideas such as the centrality of Jesus teaching instead of century old traditions and methods...  the letting go of the fears and insecurities that have crept into our thinking.  The Adventist Church could be at the front of the greatest movement for God if we could make a clean break from these things that have stalled what was begun as a progressive and fresh movement. 

^That's Randy in the midst of some deep conversation.


I thought it interesting that while the gathering was designed to provide for a progressive doctrinal conversation, the music was about 15 years outdated. I understand that the designers wanted to make bold statements in specific areas while playing it safe in others, but I think music can be current without being a rock show.  They had a keyboard player that looked and sounded just like a young Gary Vendon and a leader/guitar player that had mannerisms that reminded me a lot of Michael W. Smith. The violins played a very subtle role and everything ended up very nice but bland and old sounding.  They did use Chris Picco who rocked his hair and leather jacket but everyone else was floral skirts and turtlenecks.  I was disappointed that Chris didn't even lead anything.  It looked like he and a couple others were just in place to be politically correct.
I acknowledge that musical genres and the currentness of sounds are very subjective. So putting all that aside...
I think current church culture demands more authenticity than ever.  If I perceive that a leader is putting his entire heart and soul into singing for God, I can buy into what he is doing and worship with him.  If he is doing the thing just because he knows he is talented and because he likes the stage, it instantly kills his credibility and he becomes a distraction from worship.
I have never met this dude who was leading (Nick or maybe Zach...) but something in his grandiose gestures, prancing stage presence, and the ques he interjected seemed disingenuous to me.  It looked like he thought he was leading in some high church.   It would have been great back in the 90s because those kind of theatrics were common then.  Now, they just look silly.   

So those are my thoughts.  No matter what genre or sound is created, a worship leader has to convey more honesty and integrity than ever.