Set Apart: High Tide at Oceans Edge School of Worship
Caitlin McCrary, Staff Writer
January 19, 2012
Filed under Entertainment, Fine Arts
[Gallery not found]When God laid it on Pastor Clay Hecocks’ heart to begin training the next generation of worship leaders in 2004, he was inspired to create “Oceans Edge (OE) School of Worship. Coupled with the growth of Calvary Chapel and its satellite campuses, and the need in Christian culture for more worship leaders, the school made perfect sense. But Oceans Edge is not your typical music school: even though its purpose is to develop musicians skillfully, its focus is on their spiritual development.
“Worship music is vital to our growth with God, and Oceans Edge offers the opportunity to grow not only musically, but also spiritually,” said OE director, Doug Farrar.
Students have noticed the difference. “I have really been stretched in who I am as a leader, as an individual, and spiritually,” said Christine Moua. Zac Cider agreed: “I came here originally for music, but the way I grew spiritually was incredible. I am more thankful for that now than how I grew musically.”
Of course OE stands out from secular schools, but it is even different from other Christian schools. For one thing, it’s a relatively small school, allowing more ministry amongst students, and more one-on-one coaching from teachers. In addition, students have more opportunity for ‘hands-on’ leadership.
“Some of the other schools I looked into didn’t put as much trust in their students as they do here,” said Zac. “Here we get the chance to lead worship, to step out of our comfort zone and do what God has called us to do.”
Being set apart for God and from others is an intentional strategy. “We don’t want to be a typical college,” Farrar said. “We think and teach out of the box, and we don’t just read a book about it—we actually do it, because we’re here to take students where they’re at and make them what God would have them be.”