Worship as a Creative, Transformative Encounter: An Interview with Jillian Lawrence
Best Practices for Adventist Worship (BP): As a worship leader—and someone who helped coordinate this year’s Andrews University Music & Worship Conference—what aspect of the conference’s focus on worship and the arts most deeply resonated with you, either personally or theologically?
Jillian Lawrence (JL): I’ve always believed that worship is more than a series of songs or a ritual on the calendar—it’s a holy intersection between heaven’s reality and our lived stories. This year’s Music & Worship Conference reaffirmed that conviction, reminding me that, when the arts enter the sanctuary, hearts are invited to encounter God at a deeper, more personal level. This reflection offers my experience and practical insights from blending music, drama, testimony, and creative imagination in worship.
One moment from the conference lingers in my heart: the emphasis on liminal encounters—those threshold spaces where God’s holiness meets our humanity. I couldn’t help but think of the woman with the alabaster box (Luke 7): wounded, misunderstood, yet fully welcomed by Jesus. She broke cultural rules—and an expensive jar—to pour out a fragrant offering of devotion. Her worship not only cost her financially, but also confronted the biases in the room.
That story parallels the conference’s message on diverse artistic expressions in worship. We can’t box in the Imago Dei—it’s far too expansive. Music, spoken word, painting, dance: each reveals facets of God’s creative nature. If we shut down someone’s heartfelt expression—whether it’s a dramatic reading or a live painting—we lose a glimpse of His face we’d never see otherwise. For me, that’s theology in action: worship as a mirror reflecting the fullness of our Creator, who spoke worlds into existence and invites us to shape beauty in His name.
BP: Since the conference, have you integrated any new artistic or liturgical practices into your worship ministry at Andrews University or your local church? If so, how have those shifts impacted your community’s experience of worship?
JL: Inspired by the conference, I introduced two approaches in local worship contexts:
Alabaster Encounters
Borrowing from Luke 7, I call these “Alabaster Encounters.” Once a month, we invite people to offer their own extravagant acts of praise—be it a self-composed song, a live painting, or a raw testimony of what God has done in their lives. The moment often feels like a holy hush: the sanctuary atmosphere shifts, challenging us to reexamine our assumptions about “proper” worship. Some folks tell me they’ve never felt more connected to God than when they see creativity erupt from places of pain or gratitude.Paul & Silas Ministry Inspirations
I also took inspiration from Paul and Silas singing in prison (Acts 16). They were confined, but not spiritually captive—praising God in the dark. This vision spurred me to bring creative worship into correctional facilities, where people live in the aftermath of their past. We share songs of hope, spoken psalms, or even simple skits depicting biblical stories. Astonishingly, I’ve seen freedom unfold there—hearts awakening to the presence of Christ, even behind locked doors. Congregants and volunteers who once viewed prison outreach as purely evangelistic now see it as a sacred space of genuine worship—the same Holy Spirit who meets us on Sabbath morning moves powerfully among those labeled “confined.”
These initiatives have sparked a richer unity in our church communities. People come expecting an encounter; they are no longer mere spectators. Watching someone else pour out their “alabaster jar” encourages the rest of us to offer our own devotion—honest and unafraid.
BP: How did the conference shape or expand your understanding of the connection between theology, creativity, and spiritual growth in worship?
JL: The conference deepened my conviction that theology comes to life when it merges with creativity. It’s one thing to say, “Worship Him who made heaven and earth” (Revelation 14:7), but it resonates more fully when we harness art forms that help the congregation feel God’s majesty. We also remember Christ’s mandate to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Creativity—in music, drama, or visual storytelling—becomes a bridge for hearts to understand and embrace that gospel call.
I’ve watched how spiritual growth flourishes when church members realize they have permission to bring their own artistry before the Lord. Whether painting a mural for a worship set or singing a cultural hymn in their native tongue, each unique offering broadens our collective vision of who God is. It echoes the kingdom scene in Revelation 7:9, where every language and culture stands in praise before Him. If heaven is that colorful, why should our worship on earth be monochrome?
Reflecting on the Music & Worship Conference, I see a clear thread: worship isn’t a static routine—it’s a transformative encounter where creativity unlocks doors of the heart. From the woman with the alabaster box to Paul and Silas in prison, Scripture overflows with stories of people pouring out praise in unexpected, extravagant forms. When we encourage such openness in our churches—through Alabaster Encounters, correctional facility outreach, or simple acts of artistic devotion—we glimpse fresh angles of God’s glory.
Our mission as believers, especially in the Adventist context, is both to revere the Creator (Revelation 14:7) and to nurture disciples (Matthew 28:19). In welcoming various forms of creative worship, we honor His boundless imagination and invite worshipers into a deeper journey of faith. When hearts see themselves not as bystanders, but as co-creators in God’s redemptive story, we step closer to the day when all nations gather before His throne—unified in purpose, yet beautifully diverse in expression.
In the end, the conference reminded me that each brushstroke, each lyric, each testimony can become an offering to the One who made us creative. May we never shy away from the bold fragrance of devotion that arises when worship meets artistry—because in that meeting place, we catch a clearer glimpse of the God who formed us to create and to love Him in every color, sound, and language.
