by Norm Miller
PINEVILLE (LCNEWS) – Louisiana College alumnus and pastor of Pineville’s First Baptist Church, Stewart Holloway, held a book signing at Harlow’s Bakery, Feb. 17 in Pineville.
Holloway’s book is titled: “The Privilege of Worship: Keys to Engaging Worship.”
With some free coffee and a basket of donut holes at hand, Holloway welcomed numerous people for whom he inscribed his book.
LC President Rick Brewer dropped by Harlow’s to visit with Holloway and to buy a copy of the book.
“I am looking forward to reading Dr. Holloway’s book,” Brewer told LCNews. “As a lifelong worship leader and educator, I relish the opportunity to learn more about the vital ministry of biblical worship. What’s more, I am grateful to Stewart as an LC alumnus and pastor. His book reveals a commendable commitment to educate and edify God’s people.”
Holloway told LCNews: “I have always loved worship, and I deeply enjoy helping people come to the throne of the Lord. As a pastor, this continues to be a passion.”
In writing the book, Holloway wanted to help people “get beyond the worship preferences and really get to the heart of what worship is. No matter where we are or what we’re doing, we can still worship.”
Holloway tracks his life of worship in the book, even among differing denominations, but “having worshiped God in all those experiences,” he said.
Graduating from LC in 1998 with a BA in Religion, Holloway said, “Louisiana College played a big part in shaping my worship because I was a member of the LC Chorale. We sang lots of different kinds of music in many churches and other places on tour. We got to worship God in many of different settings.”
When asked to define worship, the seminary graduate recited by rote what must have been an exam question: “Worship is communication with God in which believers, by grace, center their minds’ attention and their hearts’ affection on the Lord, humbly glorifying him in response to his greatness and his word.”
But for Holloway, worship goes much broader and deeper than rote memory.
“It’s all about God. It’s all about communication,” he said. “We bring everything that we are into that conversation … our emotions and our volition.”
He also noted that music is not the singular definition of the worship. That’s because singing praises and playing instruments are but two of many ways to communicate with God in worship.
Holloway explained why he sees worship as a privilege, and he likened it to the “Holy of Holies” being accessible to every believer because of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In the Old Testament era, only the priests were allowed into the “Holy of Holies” area of the tabernacle and later, the temple, where they offered sacrifices for the sins of the people.
“On this side of the Cross, we are welcomed in there as the children of God, and that is a unique privilege. I think we need to enjoy and exercise that privilege as much as possible, and meet with the Lord,” he said.
“If you had the opportunity to meet with a head of state on a daily basis, why would you not want to do that?” Holloway asked. “There are some very important people in this world that you can never get to, but God is the most important. He’s the best.”
Stewart holloway signs a copy of his new book for Mike Johnson, a member of First Baptist Pineville. Holloway serves as pastor of the church.
