Brehm Center

Thoughts from Ed...

Yes, You CAN Support FBIM

I get asked from time to time – can I support the Fred Bock Institute of Music or how can I support FBIM? I always answer in the affirmative, of course. Yes, you CAN support FBIM – absolutely! We are like all non-profit ministry organizations that I know. We CAN use your prayerful and financial support very much! My long-time pastor and friend, Darryl DelHousaye, had a great statement that let people know that they shouldn’t give to any ministry out of compulsion, BUT if they believed in the mission of a ministry, they SHOULD support that ministry. So, I say that same thing to you – if you believe in the need of training thoughtful worship leaders and musicians for present and future churches of our world, then I don’t hesitate to ask you to support this ministry. We’re doing that kind of training and so much more at FBIM! Thank you for considering some form of support – I know there are many good ministries and requests. We know that we are one of those as well.

We wish you continued great blessing during the upcoming Thanksgiving season. Count a few blessings and be grateful. I have a LONG list of things to be thankful for – how about you?

Blessings to you,

Ed Willmington

Forming Hearts, Creating Art: Developing Worship Leadership

As we said briefly last month, FBIM is hosting a worship leadership conference on February 17th, 2007 on the Fuller campus. This day will target a wide group of those involved in worship leadership – senior pastors, band members, choir directors, worship leaders, choir member – everyone! The contents of the day are designed to apply to all styles, denominations, and church sizes. Bruce Leafblad, Paul Salamunovich and Ray and Anne Ortlund will be our guest leaders, along with members of the Brehm Center staff. Registration for this helpful event is available here

REGISTER HERE

Justice, Mercy, Walk Humbly

Micah 6:8 supplies the Fuller campus theme for this year.
"...and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

These are attributes that we want to learn, model and teach here at Fuller this year. Wouldn’t it change a lot of things if the whole world could do the same?
We’re trying to make a dent – how about you?

Much Happening This Fall

In addition to teaching and other activities this fall, Ed has been representing FBIM and the Brehm Center in a few other venues this fall. As was mentioned in a previous newsletter, Ed was asked to write and conduct a piece of music for the inaugural service to kick off the Lloyd John Ogilvie Institute of Preaching at Hollywood Presbyterian Church. It was a wonderful evening. The piece, Declare, My Soul, the Greatness of God, will be published in 2007.


Ed also spent a day with Todd Johnson, the Brehm Chair of Worship, Theology, and the Arts, speaking at a continuing education conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. The group of gathered pastors and musicians engaged in serious and active discussion around the topics of Defining Your Worship Ministry and Developing Processes for Worship Planning. It was an interesting day for Ed, since he started his career teaching at Point Loma several years ago.

Todd and Ed, along with Fred Davison and Clay Schmit, were guest speakers for about 100 pastors and church leaders at the President’s Breakfast on the Fuller campus. The topics were related to a historical look at worship and a pastoral approach to worship ministry.

Ed was a part of a new experiment called Brehm Labs. These are short-term, non-credit exposure opportunities to different arts. Ed’s lab was Songwriting 101. There were 7 students and community people who took the class. Make sure you see the specific story of one of those students also in the newsletter. It was a good experience for all who took the lab.

There are many other speaking opportunities and projects coming up for the Ed and the Institute. We’ll keep you informed as they happen! Pray for all of these! Many people are being taught and challenged at each one of these events. They are GREAT opportunities to help people and spread the ministry of FBIM and the Brehm Center. A LOT is going on!

Get Out the Kleenex!

A personal note – I was really touched by this story. In another part of this newsletter there was the mention of the Songwriting 101 Brehm Lab that I taught. I’d like to tell you the story of David Pham and his reason for taking the lab. David is a student in his mid-50’s. As he said, he’s on the 6 year plan for a 2 year degree! David grew up in Vietnam, and recalls that his biggest desire growing up in a poor pastor’s family was to have a pair of sandals – so that his feet wouldn’t bleed walking to school. He later became an officer in the South Vietnamese military, and when the fall of Saigon occurred, David escaped by getting on a helicopter piloted by a friend and landing on a US ship! Had he stayed, his basic jail sentence would have been 13 years. He ended up in the US without knowing the English language. He since has become a successful accountant and is married with 2 children. His heart is still with the children of Vietnam, and has he has been involved in ministries to support those children. What he would really like to do – and therefore the lab – is put together a book of songs in Vietnamese to take as a ministry to the children in the villages of Vietnam. He believes that music will speak to their hearts in a manner that nothing else will.

I was astounded to think that my songwriting lab might assist someone with that background, and that heart, to fulfill his dream and mission! Will you pray with me for David?