FEATURE
[ ERWIN RAPHAEL MCMANUS - FOUNDER AND LEAD PASTOR OF MOSAIC ]
of music. MSC is international as a band and
that creates the opportunity for a new feel and
approach towards worship.
Mariah McManus Goss is as informed by
R&B as she is by Scandinavian Electronica.
Her musical influences span from Bjork to
Beyoncé. This is why MSC offers a new and
fresh expression of worship.
[WM] How did you communicate your
vision for worship with your leaders and
the congregation?
[Erwin] My conviction has always been that
the pastor is the worship leader. Worship may
be the most powerful force for creating the
culture of the church. The style of music you
choose will determine who you relate to and
who you reach. Music defines who you are and
where in history you are anchored.
That’s why we create. Our worship is anchored
in the future. I genuinely do not have to
photo by Glen Allsop
communicate my vision for worship anymore
because Mariah and our team incarnate who
[WM] Can you describe your “original” vision culture keeps changing, music keeps changing. we are and what we are about. We do this as
for worship at the Mosaic church? Worship is informed by so many variables. So a community.
much of contemporary Christian music is stuck
[Erwin McManus] First of all our name is in the 1980’s. A great deal of Christian worship [WM] How closely do you like to work with the
actually just MOSAIC not Mosaic Church. This is either primarily influenced by country music worship pastor?
matters, because it connects to our original coming out of Nashville or British Rock music vision for worship. We wanted everything we out of Atlanta. Of course, Hillsong and Bethel [Erwin] So closely you would think she was
did at Mosaic to be authentic to our culture have been so influential to Christian music my daughter.
and relevant to our city. We use language that for years.
connects both to the person who believes and [WM] What types of things do you tend to
the person who is searching. We wanted our Most worship to be both timely and transcendent. Caucasian influences rarely influenced by
No churchy language. No clichés. No jargon. other cultures. Black Gospel, Latin Music, and [Erwin] Who leads. This is the best way to
of
these
streams
are
dominantly
weigh in on the most?
Afro Caribbean genres stand apart and have manage. Choose great people and get out of
[WM] Has this changed over the years, and separate expressions of worship as do Rap, their way.
if so, how? Hip Hop, R&B, and Soul.
The things that matter the most to me
[Erwin] Our expression of worship keeps Mosaic is a global culture and our worship is about the music are twofold. First, the lyrics
changing because we keep changing, the influenced by many of these forms and streams express truth and are both clear and poetic;
46
March 2018
WorshipMusician.com