Moises Felipe sang as part of a quartet with his three siblings in front of about 10,000 worshipers at an international church convention in the South as a 12-year-old.
But opening Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving was on another level for Grand Canyon University's Center for Worship Arts director – something that electrified every nerve.
“Yes, I was nervous,” Felipe said of performing at the National Mall in Washington D.C., on May 17, in front of thousands of worshipers, speakers, performers and online viewers. “I think it’s good to get nervous. It’s healthy to get nervous.
“You just understand the magnitude of the moment that God called you to step into. It was a great crowd, and our focus was to refocus on the Lord. I think we did a good job.”
Felipe and GCU alumnus Andy Frank were part of a nine-member group of Phoenix worship leaders who opened the all-day event with worship songs, with the university's Critical Mass ensemble singing hymns in the afternoon.
“What an honor to represent GCU and to represent the (Center for) Worship Arts space at a national space and represent the College of Theology as well,” Felipe said. “Ultimately, it was a big win for GCU. It's a big win for Worship Arts. It's a big win for the College of Theology. But I think it's a big win for our nation to say, ‘Hey, let's pick a day to rededicate America unto God,’ and for a group of young men and women to come and say. ‘Yes, we're up for it,’ and it speaks volumes to the fact that worship changes atmospheres.
“If you ask us, ‘What is the value of having worship to start a day like that?’ Worship changes atmospheres.”
Felipe recalled a passage in Scripture in which King Saul was tormented, prompting David (before he was anointed king) to worship with his lyre and provide peace.
“That's proof that worship changes atmosphere,” Felipe said. “In the supernatural world, I'll just say that we never know what takes place when we release worship into the atmosphere. And for Rededicate 250 to start with 60 minutes of worship, and for us to have some of our own GCU (people) out there was great.”
Felipe, Frank and local worship leaders rehearsed twice in Phoenix before practicing at Church for the Nations (where Felipe serves as pastor) to get accustomed to a sound system.
During the on-stage run-through the day before the performance, Felipe received a pleasant surprise as Phoenix-based Mosaic Productions was making final preparations.
“A lot of people come to work on that, and I saw three of our worship arts alumni with an emphasis in production running backstage,” said Felipe, recognizing them from classes he taught at GCU.
“Just a full-circle moment to see students that we get to speak to in part, and now they're out there building scenarios and being part of a production like that, too.”
Felipe’s concentration helped quell some of his nerves while singing the likes of “Waymaker,” “Miracle Worker,” “Promise Keeper,” “Light in the Darkness” and “That is Who You Are.”
“I believe in what I'm singing, but I'm also declaring that over our nation, and just so that we can see Him as a faithful God for 250 years and a waymaker God for the following 250 years,” Felipe said.
Despite losing three hours in the cross-country flight to get to D.C., Felipe rose early, as he does before each local Sunday service. Only this time, he opened his Bible to Isaiah 2, which he described as an unusual Scripture because it presents a calm future where people from all nations seek God’s wisdom against the threat of materialism.
“It doesn't matter all the things that may be happening on this day, on that day the Lord alone will be exalted, and that just resonated so strongly with my heart,” Felipe said. “And a lot of the songs that were selected were exactly that, like all idols will be put to the side, and the Lord alone will be exalted.
“That is really the purpose of worship, to refocus a people to the Lord, and I believe the team did an awesome job of stewarding that moment that Sunday morning.”
And the atmosphere brought back a familiar feeling.
“A lot of us, we were saying, ‘This feels like Easter Sunday in a lot of ways,’" Felipe said. “It became very significant when we started the service. We started the worship experience, and we could see the Capitol right in front of us, and we could see just the crowd that was there just lifting their hands and worshiping the Lord.
“I believe that when you prioritize the presence of God, you set the tone for the future and future generations, and I think that was very significant in that moment.”
Felipe treasured the end of the event when he watched singer-songwriter Chris Tomlin perform “Holy Forever,” which included the words:
Your name is the highest
Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
“It was just so beautiful,” Felipe said. “Sure, one thing is to be part of a moment where you're leading the church in worship, but another thing is for you to be part of the church, and you're not necessarily leading, but you're still worshiping the Lord."
GCU News senior writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]
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GCU News: Critical Mass in harmony with national jubilee of prayer in Washington, D.C.
GCU News: They sang on a national stage ... and touched a piece of the moon
