Lifeway continues to hold a series of “listening sessions” to hear concerns and gather feedback regarding the future of the website lifewayworship.com.
On Aug. 21, Kenny Lamm, worship ministry strategist of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, hosted a listening session attended by worship leaders from North and South Carolina. During the session, worship leaders expressed concerns about serving their churches if lifewayworship.com is eventually no longer available.
Lamm said the meeting “went extremely well” and that he came away from the session “incredibly encouraged.” Lifeway Christian Resources seems “to be earnestly seeking to hear from lifewayworship.com users,” he added.
Gathering feedback
Carol Pipes, director of corporate communications for Lifeway, said a couple more listening sessions are scheduled for September.
“As we gather feedback from worship pastors, we are actively reevaluating options to keep the service active,” she noted.
“The listening sessions have been critical to helping the team best determine a path forward.”
A key challenge, Lamm said, is “the extreme need to replace the aging website,” which would entail a substantial investment.
This cost, Lamm noted, was apparently a key driver in the initial decision to shut down the site.
To be determined
For now, the site is expected to “continue as is during a time of determining the best course forward,” he said.
On July 18, Lifeway announced the imminent discontinuance of its lifewayworship.com website. The initial plan was for Lifeway Worship to continue, but not the lifewayworship.com website.
In response, worship leaders across the nation expressed deep concern. A few days after the outcry, Lifeway leaders decided to pause the site shutdown while more information was gathered.
Valued resource
Scott Shepherd, worship and music specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, was one who spoke out publicly.
“[This] brings a devastating blow to worship ministries across the Southern Baptist Convention — and beyond,” he said in July.
Ben Mandrell, Lifeway president and CEO, later responded, “We underestimated the value this tool brings to a meaningful portion of our churches.”
