Andy Drozdziak
UK Catholic worship collective One Hope Project are building a brand new generation of worship leaders through their groundbreaking academy.
The OHP Academy is a six-month online worship school for aspiring worship leaders, musicians and songwriters who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus and their practical gifting in order to serve in their context. One Hope Project has over a decade’s experience in leading worship. They have described their journey as ‘following Jesus’ and ‘writing songs, equipping others.’
At the heart of the OHP Academy, which started in 2021, are the teaching sessions providing deeper formation on a range of topics in relation to worshipping God. These are delivered by numerous speakers from both within and outside One Hope Project, all of whom serve the Catholic Church as faithful followers of Jesus. The curriculum provides great knowledge and grow a desire to encounter Christ, as well as to lead others into His presence. This content is provided week by week to watch prior to an online group session.
One Hope Project are a young and vibrant worship collective which emerged out of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the UK. They desire to help build God’s Kingdom on earth through impactful music, fresh creativity and building community with each other and across the Church.
One Hope Project have seen again and again how powerful music and worship is in helping people to engage with God. This taps into their mission to help people worship Jesus, as they believe every person was created to worship.
Pippa Baker and Joe Wells
Teaching on a range of worship topics
One Hope Project’s Joe Wells told CHARIS England and Wales: “Over the years we have seen that when music and worship is invested in people really encounter God and they experience a depth of His goodness and love for them. We have experienced this personally and see such a need for great music, liturgy and worship in the Church.
“The barrier to this is that many people haven’t been trained in how to lead worship prayerfully and proficiently and that’s why we started The OHP Academy, a 6-month online worship school to help train and invest in budding Catholic worship leaders. This formation provides teaching on a range of topics including leading worship, music for liturgy, building teams, being an authentic leader, listening to God and many more.
“Participants watch this filmed formation in their own time and then they jump on a bi-weekly Zoom session for them to go deeper in the content with other participants. They also get assigned a mentor, someone to help them grow in their spiritual life and a manager, someone to help them grow in a particular practical skill.
“We have run The OHP Academy 3 times so far and have been able to graduate 52 worship leaders from 9 different nations-it’s been amazing."
The impact of the academy on young people has been profound. Simeon Adeoye from Blackburn, Lancashire, who works in supply chain management, took part in the first year of The OHP Academy. The elements of community and support helped him enormously. “It makes a difference when you feel connected to the people,” he said. “You can feel quite isolated as a young person doing music ministry and, in this platform, you’re able to meet people the same age as you, who are also passionate about serving God. That was very attractive to me. I feel a lot more confident about leading music ministry in my parish.”
On his experience of being mentored, Simeon said: “When I had challenges, or questions, I was able to reach out to that person and they were able to support me through that. That was really helpful. It made me feel a lot more confident about what I was doing.”
"I could never have predicted the profound impact that The Academy would have on me - not only in my role in ministry, but on my entire spiritual life. I can honestly say that I'm not the same person I was when I began. It was such a blessing to be part of this year's cohort."
Fr Frankie Mulgrew
'Worship is about falling in love with God'
Fr Frankie Mulgrew, a priest from the Diocese of Salford, who has supported young people in attending the Academy, spoke in glowing detail about the Academy-especially its mentoring. “To get the opportunity to have someone who mentors you, who walks with you-it’s gold dust,” he said.
“Worship isn’t a performance; it’s about falling in love with God and leading people into that union, that communion with God, to a place where God can really do something amazing in them
“To worship the Lord is what we’re made for. When we get praise and worship right in the Church, it brings walls down in people’s souls.
“I think people are looking for love, but for divine love. When we know how much we’re loved, there’s no fear.”
Academy leader Pippa Baker believes the Academy can help form young worshippers who will help ‘every parish’ to achieve its potential. “God can do so much when we step out and make a decision for him,” she said. “The OHP Academy aims to raise up accomplished, Spirit-filled worshippers around the country. This is what we long for in every parish, every local community and every home.”
The OHP Academy will run from 26th September 2024 to 20th March 2025 with a Christmas break. The Academy has been designed to work alongside a job or study so anyone can take part no matter their circumstances.
For more information about the OHP Academy, visit https://www.onehopeproject.co.uk/ohpacademy
Comentários