Award Winning Songwriter At TCJ
TCJ Worship Leadership students in Dr. Leporacci’s Worship Forum class met with Dove Award winning songwriter Alley Horner. Horner is a local worship leader and a TCA alumnus.
Forum Welcomes Award-Winning Songwriter
Mrs. Alley Horner spent time with students in TCJ’s Worship Leadership Program. Sharing from her experience as a singer, songwriter, and current worship leader at Pinewood Church in Middleburg, Florida, she offered practical insight into her professional life as well as her personal perspective on various topics.
Practical Learning
Dr. Leporacci moderated the forum, opening with a brief conversation about Theology of Worship with Alley Horner. The session continued with conversations on the importance of clear communication with both pastoral leadership and the congregation. This included thoughts on how to communicate the entire truth of the gospel within a service, how to ensure a congregation is educated in the purpose and methodology of worship, and how to navigate difficult moments and seasons in worship ministry.
Students learned from Alley Horner’s unique experience of helping a church navigate a change in style of worship. Explaining the importance of “speaking the heart language” of the congregation, she emphasized that change should not be implemented for change’s sake. Rather, it should be for the purpose of aligning more closely to what is pleasing to the Lord. She emphasized that worshiping God is a serious thing, and His expectations can be found in scripture.
Dr. Leporacci closed the time with a short Q&A segment open to the students.
Key Takeaways for Future Worship Leaders
This forum highlighted important concepts that Dr. Leporacci hopes will resonate with the students.
“I hope our students heard that ministry can be difficult at times, but they should seek guidance and help along the way. They should not struggle in silence. Even leaders need help sometimes. I also hope they heard that what we do in worship matters. It was evident that Alley’s theology of worship directly shapes her choices and plans when constructing worship services. She does not have a philosophy for the sake of having a philosophy. Her philosophy is informed by her theology, and her theology governs everything she sets before the people of God. It is my hope that our students leave knowing their theology as well as they know their music. They are pastoral musicians.”
Why Connections Matter for Ministry Training
TCJ believes in hands-on and practical experience. Because of this, the program provides a variety of opportunities for Worship Leadership students to engage and learn within in the context of church life. This includes the TCJ chapel band and leadership team, the worship leadership team at Trinity Baptist Church, as well as internship opportunities throughout Jacksonville and a strong network of alumni-led churches.
Furthermore, Dr. Leporacci believes that connecting students with ministry leaders who are currently engaged in church ministry is a priority.
“It is important for our Worship Leadership students to learn directly from active ministry leaders for two primary reasons. First, the forum builds connections with church leadership and allows students to be mentored by those who are actively serving the church. It is our hope that these connections will serve them well throughout their years here at TCJ and even beyond graduation. Second, we aim for a program that is well-balanced in theory and practice. It is important for our students to hear that the concepts we are discussing in their worship classes are not limited to the perspectives of their professors here at TCJ but are shared by other worship leaders and are being implemented and applied in real-world settings every week. We are not teaching abstract concepts; these are truths that shape and transform the way we worship and, by extension, the people of God.”
About the Worship Leadership Program at TCJ
The Worship Leadership Program at Trinity College of Jacksonville is committed to training students to be versatile and exceptional musician-leaders. The program at TCJ is growing. Dr. Leporacci is excited to see a new generation of students stepping into their calling.
In this program, student delve into the history and theology of worship, explore various music styles and genres, and develop artistic and technical abilities in areas such as sound engineering, stage design, and digital media. The comprehensive curriculum is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to lead with excellence.
Worship Leadership faculty are experienced worship leaders and artists who are passionate about helping others grow personally and professionally. With their guidance, students are empowered for skillful and thoughtful leadership.
About Dr. Leporacci
Dr. Leporacci is the Biblical Studies Department Chair and Professor of Music at Trinity College of Jacksonville. He has been at TCJ since 2006 and earned his undergraduate degree from Trinity College of Jacksonville, an M.C.M. from Pensacola Theological Seminary, and a D.W.S from Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies.
