Last weekend, from March 14-16, worship teams and musicians from across the Western Territory gathered at the beautiful Camp Redwood Glen (CA) for the Praise and Worship Summit 2025—an event designed to equip and inspire worship teams at the corps level. Hosted by the Western Territorial Music Department, this summit provided a space for hands-on learning, meaningful worship, and powerful encouragement from gifted leaders in the field.
A Weekend of Learning and Worship
The summit was structured to help worship teams grow both musically and spiritually. Delegates participated in practical, hands-on rehearsals, where they received coaching to refine their musicianship. Beyond just playing or singing, attendees explored how to effectively lead a congregation into worship—an invaluable aspect of their ministry.
Special Guests & Teachers
The summit was enriched by the presence of Phil Laeger, a well-respected worship leader and songwriter, along with Victor Morales and Olivia Renkel from the Eastern Territory’s worship team, Unbound. Their experience and passion for worship brought fresh insight and encouragement to the delegates. Additionally, Lt. Colonel Ivan Wild served as the Bible teacher for the weekend, challenging and uplifting everyone through Scripture and teaching.
Leaders and teachers from the Western Territory were also present, pouring their knowledge and encouragement into the participants. The collaboration and shared experiences created a powerful learning environment where every musician—whether a beginner or a seasoned worship leader—could grow.
Representation from Across the Territory
Worship teams from various divisions took part in this impactful weekend, including our own Santa Fe Corps (Southwest Division) – Lt. Ismael Gutierrez (keyboard), Jose Rodriguez (guitar/vocals), Kevin Martinez (bass), Isaac Ortiz (drums), and Daniel McNevin (guitar/vocals). Despite some members being new to their instruments, they represented their corps and division exceptionally well, coming prepared and eager to learn.
Other corps:
Gresham Corps (Cascade Division)
Tri-Cities Corps (Northwest Division)
Escondido Corps (Southern California Division)
Napa Corps (Del Oro Division)
Pueblo Corps (Intermountain Division)
Each group brought their unique worship styles and experiences, making the weekend a rich exchange of ideas and inspiration.
Encouragement & Moving Forward
One of the most rewarding aspects of the summit was hearing the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the attendees. Many expressed that this experience was exactly what they needed—a boost of encouragement and a renewed passion for worship ministry.
As teams return to their corps, they are carrying with them new skills, fresh perspectives, and a deepened sense of purpose in leading their congregations in worship. It’s exciting to think about how this weekend will ripple out into local churches, strengthening worship teams and ultimately drawing people closer to God through music.
The Praise and Worship Summit 2025 was a weekend filled with learning, worship, and encouragement, and we can't wait to see how the lessons learned will impact worship teams across the territory. Until next time, let’s keep worshiping, growing, and leading with excellence!
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