The value of this particular case study lies not so much in its historical information, which is contained in a short chapter, but in its tracing of the role of the Vineyard movement and its former leader John Wimber in contemporary Christian music and worship throughout the world. The reader is given insights into the role of the worship in Wimber's own congregation, the Anaheim Vineyard in Southern California. This congregation started in the early 1980s and was influenced by the Jesus People movement among American hippies at the time. The book outlines the worship music that was created in this congregation, and introduces the musicians involved, including Wimber himself. Very much an insider perspective, this is more of a compendium of different themes and practices aimed at Christian worship leaders than an integrated monograph. The first part of the book provides background information on the historical, liturgical and geographical context, followed by the main themes, and then acknowledges the limitations of the study. The second part of the book is the longest, and consists of questions and answers with Andy Park (himself a worship leader), various documents, photographs and songs, interviews with early participants, excerpts from Wimber's sermons, and an outline of the Vineyard's biblical justification for its worship practices. The third and final part of the book gives a short series of practical suggestions for devotion, small group discussions and a guide for further study. The book is a practical guide for those interested in contemporary Christian worship and its origins, but a more detailed, academic history of the Vineyard movement and its significance in Christian history and worship styles is yet to be written.
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