Date

2-13-2026

Department

School of Music

Degree

Master of Arts in Music and Worship (MA)

Chair

Paul Rumrill

Keywords

worship, rock, counterculture, metal, punk, ethnodoxology

Disciplines

Liturgy and Worship | Music

Abstract

Despite stylistic musical diversity within the evangelical church, many secular musicians and music fans have little to no desire to participate in corporate worship music. Specifically, those that engage in “countercultural heavy music (CHM);” namely, hard rock, punk rock, and heavy metal. Music that is often played for the purpose of corporate worship in the local church fails to resonate with many musicians in the corresponding local community. In addition, most evangelical worship ministries do not strive to reach the music communities outside of their local church. This study examines the reasons for this disconnectedness. “Worship as missions” is not a new concept when it comes to international and cross-cultural outreach, and there is a corresponding wealth of literature regarding worship and outreach in America as well. However, the end goal of such literature strategizes to bring secular musicians into the church by adapting corporate worship styles to match the assumed preferences of the secular music community. Unfortunately, very little research has been conducted to evaluate an effective strategy that mobilizes worship leaders to go outside of the church and inform pre-worship in a secular countercultural setting using the musical genres, stylistic preferences, and skills of the targeted community. In this study, at least fifteen evangelical worship leaders and fifteen secular musicians will be interviewed in an effort to understand both the stylistic preferences of countercultural heavy musicians in America and the reasons for the apparent lack of worship ministry outreach into countercultural heavy music communities.

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