Photos by Ralph Freso
Moises Felipe has served as an adjunct professor for the last eight years at Grand Canyon University’s College of Theology and set up a residency program at Church for the Nations.
Those are huge chunks of his passion: to see students develop.
So when Dr. Jason Hiles, dean of the college, reached out earlier this summer to discuss the vacant position for director of the Center for Worship Arts, Felipe replied, “Thank you for looking this way. It’s an honor.”
Felipe started his new duties on July 15, and he has had time to learn about the “moving pieces” of the worship arts program and how it connects with several of GCU’s colleges before the students start to return to campus for the fall semester.
“One of the things I’m looking forward to most is gathering all of the worship arts students in one room,” said Felipe, who has been so busy learning the details of the job that his office has yet to be filled with books and pictures. “This is a new season for them. They're out having fun during the summer, and all of a sudden they hear through social media, ‘Hey, there's a new director.’
“I’m all for that. I can't wait just to have that opportunity to really connect with them and just share what I believe the Lord is about to do in this season as it comes to vision.”
Felipe, who plays the guitar and performed at a Canyon Worship Live concert in 2019, marveled over the stability and success of the worship arts program under Dr. John Frederick and Dr. Randall Downs during the past decade.
“But like anything, there's obviously an opportunity for us to revisit, how do we bring innovation and apply the mission statement of our university in an innovative way to just bring a whole lot of life to the worship arts program right now?” Felipe said.
Felipe invited a graduate of the program to spend nine months with his Church for the Nations residency program to help his development in a church setting.
“And I will continue to stay attached to my church because the students need to see someone that is not only professing, ‘This is what I've done in my life. Let me teach you now,’ “ said Felipe, who was a worship pastor at Love International for eight years before joining Church for the Nations in May 2020.
“I think especially in worship arts, it's important for me to be actively serving in the church while I'm teaching. There is a level of relevance that that students need to see, like, ‘I aspire to do this.’"
Among the things Felipe discussed with Hiles was that his position with GCU is not a career as much as it is a calling.
“I am actively doing what I profess,” said Felipe, who grew up in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where his parents were missionaries for more than 15 years after coming from the Dominican Republic. “And I think it's important for students to see that if I'm called for this, God is going to open the doors. But there is a way of preparation. He will honor preparation. And I think this is the season the students are in these four years of preparation, but they will continue to believe what God called them to do and still stay motivated if they are under the leadership of individuals who are fully plugged in at their churches.”
Felipe is eager for him and his students to highlight the primary focus of the worship arts program.
“The Lord never changes,” Felipe said. “And he's the same yesterday, today and forever. And if there's one thing that we know we will do for eternity is worship. I have no idea what else I'm going be doing when I get to heaven. But the one thing I know I will be doing for sure, is worship. And we get to start that here.
“And for us to say we have a worship arts program is such a big deal. So there's a sense of responsibility that falls on us, on this department, to just really connect with the Lord and ask Him, ‘Lord, what do You want to do? Because I don't want to build my own agenda, especially in the largest Christian university in the country. I'm not here to build my own thing. We're not here to build our own thing.
“We're here to just really fine tune our ears to hear what is it that the Lord wants to do in this season. And obedience always pays off.”
Felipe is a big supporter of Monday Chapel, especially how it sets the tone for the week for students, particularly in worship, which gives them strength, life, purpose and a vision.
“And when the school comes together, that's when we truly see the culture of worship of GCU,” Felipe said.
One of Felipe’s most indelible moments at GCU occurred about 10 years ago, when former Outreach Director Jake Page asked him to lead worship during Global Outreach Week.
Page asked Felipe to gather people from different countries so they could conduct a time of worship in four different languages.
“That was a beautiful experience,” recalled Felipe, who led by speaking in Portuguese. “And that was the first time that I met (University Pastor) Tim Griffin, and ever since, we've had a great relationship.
“Just to see everything that has been done and how growth has been established here at GCU, it's inspiring but exciting – exciting for me to see that I can be part of it, too.”
GCU News Senior Writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at Mark[email protected]
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