Shawn Case, one of SouthBrook’s pastors, had invited Empson and ICOM president David Butts and his wife Kim over from Clayton, Ind., to see the SB worship team in action in the summer of 2013. They liked what they saw and one piece of the ICOM planning puzzle was put in place.
Levi Crowley, who has been on staff at SB for about three years, will lead the worship arts team for this event. Crowley, from Germantown, plays guitar and is lead vocalist. Other worship team members are: Jon Glista of Springboro, guitar/vocals; Sol Gomez of West Carrollton, keyboards; Jason Hills of Springboro, bass; Todd Moss of Centerville, guitar; Nate Turner of Monroe, percussionist; and Darris Sneed of Xenia, vocals/keyboards.
In addition, two vocalists from Poland will be performing with the SB team: Karolina Kupczyk and Agata Dwulat. SouthBrook has formed a relationship with PROeM Ministries, based in Inowlodz, Poland. It is a nonprofit, interdenominational Christian organization that organizes youth camps. SouthBrook has sent a worship arts team to Poland four times over the last four years.
The six main sessions at ICOM are scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. Sunday. This year’s theme is “Vertical.”The SB Worship team will be singing a total of 15 songs: “Open Up the Heavens,” “Build Your Kingdom Here,” and “Be Thou My Vision” will be among them.
“The songs we chose reflect the ‘Vertical’ theme, and we want conference participants to feel energized by a relationship with God,” said Crowley. “We want to encourage them to go horizontally out to the world for Him.”
Last year's ICOM was held in Kansas City, Missouri, and SB worship arts team members Crowley and Hills attended along with about 7,500 others. That many or more are expected in Columbus. Registration costs $15, or people can attend for just one session. For more information visit www.theicom.org/conference.
“We feel that what God has called us to do is unique to our area, as far as reaching people who may not be interested in traditional church services,” said Hills, SouthBrook’s lead creative reformer. “We try to create an experience out of that vision to draw people in.”
About the Author