Photos by Ralph Freso
Moises Felipe has been an adjunct professor at the College of Theology at Grand Canyon University for the past eight years and has established a residency program at Church for the Nations.
That is a big part of his passion: observing the development of the students.
So if Dr. Jason HilesDean of the College, contacted me earlier this summer to discuss the vacant position as Director of the Center for Worship Arts, Felipe responded, “Thank you for coming here. It is an honor.”
Felipe began his new duties on July 15 and has had time to learn the “moving parts” of the worship arts program and how it relates to several colleges at GCU before students return to campus for the fall semester.
“One of the things I’m most excited about is getting all the worship arts students together in one room,” said Felipe, who has been so busy learning the ins and outs of the job that his office isn’t yet filled with books and pictures. “This is a new season for them. They’re out in the summer having fun, 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 to have the opportunity to really connect with them and share with them what I think the Lord is going to do in terms of the vision this season.”
Felipe, who plays guitar and performed at a Canyon Worship Live concert in 2019, marveled at the stability and success of the Worship Arts program under Dr. John Frederick And Randall Downs in the last decade.
“But of course, as with anything, this is an opportunity for us to revisit how we can innovate and apply our university’s mission in innovative ways to breathe a lot of life into the worship arts program now,” Felipe said.
Felipe invited a graduate of the program to spend nine months in his residency program at the Church for the Nations to further his development in the church environment.
“And I will continue to stay connected to my church because students need to see someone who doesn’t just confess, ‘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 it’s important for me, especially in the art of worship, to actively serve in the church during class. Students need to see a certain relevance, along the lines of, ‘This is what I’m striving for.'”
Among other things, Felipe discussed with Hiles that his position at GCU was less of a career and more of 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 arriving from the Dominican Republic. “And I think it’s important for students to see that God will open the doors for me if I’m called to do so. But there is a way of preparing. He will honor the preparation. And I think that’s the stage that students are in in those four years of preparation, but they will continue to believe in what God has called them to do and continue to be motivated if they are under the leadership of individuals who are fully involved in their churches.”
Felipe wants him and his students to emphasize the main focus of the worship arts program.
“The Lord never changes,” Felipe said. “And He is the same yesterday, today and forever. And if there is one thing we know we will do for eternity, it is worship. I have no idea what else I will do when I get to heaven. But one thing I know for sure is that I will do it: worship. And we can start doing that here.”
“And for us to say we have a worship arts program is a big deal. So there’s a sense of responsibility on us, on this department, to really connect with the Lord and ask Him, ‘Lord, what do you want to do?’ Because I don’t want to pursue my own agenda, especially at the largest Christian university in the country. I’m not here to pursue my own thing. We’re not here to pursue our own thing.
“We’re here to really open our ears and hear what the Lord wants to do in this season. And obedience always pays off.”
Felipe is a huge supporter of Monday Chapel, especially because it sets the tone for the week for the students, especially in worship, which gives them strength, life, purpose and vision.
“And when the school comes together, we really experience the GCU culture of worship,” Felipe said.
One of Felipe’s most memorable moments at GCU occurred about 10 years ago when the former Outreach Director Jake Page asked him to lead the worship service during Global Outreach Week.
Page asked Felipe to bring together people from different countries so they could hold a service in four different languages.
“It was a beautiful experience,” recalled Felipe, who moderated the event in Portuguese. “And that was the first time I met (university chaplains). Tim Griffinand we’ve had a great relationship ever since.
“Seeing everything that has been accomplished here at GCU and how growth has been created is inspiring and exciting. For me, it is exciting to see that I can be a part of it too.”
GCU News Senior Writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at Mark(email protected)
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