roundup 12 - Church of God

A Heart for Worship
By Carl Stagner
Rodney Martin steps to the platform as the primary worship leader
This year’s evening service worship
leader for NAC is a gifted
minister who has purposed to
foster an atmosphere of worship. Rev.
Rodney Martin,
of Eastland
Church of God in
Lexington, Kentucky,
desires to
see the church
worship the Lord
in unity at NAC
2012.
Rodney Martin, a third-generation
pastor, grew up in a musical family. At
age five, he was already playing guitar
and singing in church. Soon he’d take
up the saxophone and discover a love
for jazz music. Rodney received a call to
ministry at age twelve, but when God
got a hold of his heart at a leadership
conference many years later, he fully
accepted his call to vocational pastoral
ministry.
In anticipation of NAC 2012, Rodney
offers some hints as to what convention-goers
can expect to experience
this year during worship. “There will
be familiar elements and personalities
through the week, but there is bound
to be some style changes if for no other
reason than I am a different person,”
Rodney explains. “There is bound to
be musical genre elements from jazz,
soul, gospel, blues, and southern gospel.
We will experience a taste from
the past, as it seasons our palettes for
who we are today. My goal is to help
create an environment, through the
arts, where everyone engages in worship
and is able to forget about personal
expectations, desiring only the Father’s
expectations—an environment where
secular seeded divisions are replaced by
a unified body of Christ opening their
hearts and singing to God at one place,
at one time.”
For those who look forward to participating
in the camp meeting choir, you
won’t be disappointed. Rodney directs
the choir at Eastland Church, and he
believes that choirs play an important
role in leading worship. Rehearsals will
begin at 5:15 pm, Sunday through Tuesday,
in Reardon Auditorium. Everyone
is encouraged to participate!
Rodney is the husband of Marcia and
the father of four children: Sarah, Jen,
Ethan, and Zach. Listen for Zach at
NAC this year—he’ll be on the drums!
Just Call It Southern By Carl Stagner
Music to rouse the soul will fill the air Sunday afternoon
Perhaps you’ve heard of the
Cathedrals, the classic Blackwood
Brothers, or the legendary
Kingsmen Quartet. Maybe your Gaither
Homecoming videos are a bit worn out
from continuous play. Whether new
or old, country-flavored or modern,
those who know the music best just
call it southern. From 2:00 to 3:30 pm in
Reardon Auditorium, NAC attendees
will have the opportunity to worship,
southern-gospel style.
Senior pastor Mitchell Burch sings
baritone for the Townesmen Quartet,
from Towne Boulevard Church of God
in Middletown, Ohio. Burch is wellknown
in the Church of God for his
preaching, but perhaps few know that
he has sung with several gospel groups
since he was child. These days he joins
Jeff Allison, Greg Woodrum, and Aaron
Ferry to produce classic four-part tunes
that are sure to delight the soul.
At this year’s gospel concert, you’ll
hear the close-knit harmonies of the
Means Family, from Lancaster, Ohio.
William, Cathy, and Tim Means, as
well as Angela and Paul Russell (daughter
and son-in-law), hope that “you will
be lifted and inspired by the songs [they]
have selected with God’s direction, for
they all tell a message.”
Joyful Noyz, a ministry from the
First Church of God in Galesburg,
Illinois, has dedicated themselves to
sharing the good news of Christ across
the country with the gifts they’ve been
given. Composed of Chuck and Lanni
Hillery, as well as Rick and Nona Carroll,
Joyful Noyz doesn’t just produce
noise—they minister through music
that is pleasing to the ear!
Thank you, Anderson,
for 107 years of friendship and hospitality
during the North American Convention
of the Church of God.
LEARN MORE AT
WWW.CHOG.ORG
NACroundup • Sunday Issue, June 24, 2012 5