Our Mission

Church historians note that cycles of spiritual regeneration are typically preceded by a collective yearning for a deeper experience of celebrating and glorifying the Creator and His saving works. While we cannot, from a human perspective, predict when the Holy Spirit will next spark revival fires, declining attendance and apathy toward community outreach paint a bleak picture of the modern church’s condition – despite decades of church growth programs instituted among all the major denominations. Recent studies and surveys, however, seem to reveal a key source of the malaise: While Christians place worship as the primary reason they attend church, only a small percentage report they have ever experienced God in a church service.

This unfortunate and startling disconnect is the root cause underlying disaffection and dissatisfaction among today’s believers; which in turn inhibits real and effective ministry for and evangelism to a seeking world. As the late theologian, Robert E. Webber, noted, “If you look at worship over the last 30 years, the movement has been primarily about the nearness of God, the friendship of Jesus, a lot of romantic terminology in contemporary music about a relationship with God. This generation thinks that approach is shallow, overly romantic, and not really real. They’re beginning to celebrate God’s holiness, God’s otherness, God’s transcendence.”

It’s a proven adage that success is most likely to occur when preparation and opportunity meet. Although most are presented with a worship opportunity at least weekly, the lack of preparation sets up a certain environment for dissatisfaction. Preparation does not have to be complicated, but to be effective it must be appropriate and intentional. Today’s mainstream evangelical worship is too often vague and unclear about exactly Who it is that is being venerated. There is seldom any language naming Father, Son and Holy Spirit, revealed to us in the only begotten Son who was crucified, rose, and will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. On the other hand, while the language absent in those services is present in the written prayers of liturgical churches, it is frequently conveyed in a manner that lacks the passion and feeling necessary for vibrant acts of worship. In all traditions, we continue to slog away in worship lacking specific orthodox content, vigorous intentionality, or both.

Stonebridge Institute is a non-profit ministry established to be a learning and resource center for clergy, worship leaders, educators, and laypeople who are seeking to reclaim God’s story and the personal and corporate applications of biblically based and historically orthodox worship renewal in their communities, their churches, and their lives. Our intent is develop resources and provide services to help Christian worshipers become “complete worshipers,” prepared biblically, historically, theologically, culturally, and missiologically to engage in disciplined and spontaneous acts of worship that are both grounded and fervent. In short, our passion is to proclaim the story of the God who became one of us to rescue the world.