The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Alumni and Friends Luncheon highlighted the ministry of Crescent City Worship during the 2025 SBC Annual Meeting in Dallas.
The event featured Crescent City Worship (CCW) performing songs from their recently released studio album “hymns project 1,” alongside frequent collaborator Meredith Andrews.
Larry Lyon, senior vice president for business administration, welcomed alumni and friends to the event after an opening worship set by CCW, which is a newly-named collection of students, staff and friends of NOBTS and Leavell College.
CCW leads worship during NOBTS chapel and travels around the country performing in churches and at various SBC events. The group is connected to the Center for Worship Studies at NOBTS and serves as the official music publishing arm of the seminary.
Lyon explained the ultimate goal of CCW is to serve churches.
“We could see that this was a need for our school, but it was also an opportunity to serve churches like yours,” Lyon said. “It really is about us as NOBTS and Leavell College preparing servants who will lead worship throughout the churches of the SBC.
“What we wanted to do as an institution is just take part in what God already does through the power of song, and in doing that, we want to train students to do that very thing. We want our students to come to your churches as worship leaders that are theologically trained and pastorally equipped to lead in ways that honor Christ. This is what Crescent City Worship does.”
Since their official formation in early 2024, CCW has released three albums, garnered more than 130,000 streams on various digital music platforms and performed at events like the 2025 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting.
More information about Crescent City Worship can be found on their website.
Jamie Dew, NOBTS and Leavell College President, expressed his gratitude for the success of CCW and for the seminary’s annual luncheon event.
“We’re grateful for what God has done through Crescent City Worship and all of what has been happening at NOBTS and Leavell College,” Dew said.
“This event is a joy and a highlight every year for our faculty and staff to have you all in the same room together as a family.
“I am happy to report that our NOBTS family is strong and doing well. Our family is loving Jesus, walking with Him, proclaiming His truth and fulfilling His mission. That’s who we are and what we do.”
Dew told the audience of alumni this past academic year has been his favorite as President of NOBTS.
“It’s not just because the numbers are good, but it is because of the joy that is present in our people,” he said. “The gift to me is not that I get to be the President of NOBTS and Leavell College, the gift is that I get to have NOBTS and Leavell College as my family and my tribe.
“I can tell you that NOBTS represents the very best of Southern Baptists. It is my privilege to belong to you, champion you and lift your banner everywhere I go. God’s favor and blessing has shown up in numerical growth, but also in the deep community present on our campus and in moments like this.”
Dew recognized several notable milestones of success at the seminary including:
Special guests at the luncheon were recognized including SBC President Clint Pressley, past SBC Presidents Jim Henry and Fred Luter, SBC Registration Secretary Don Currence and NOBTS President Emeritus Chuck Kelley.
Dew closed his remarks by asking the alumni in the room to send the seminary more students, not as a playful remark, but as a serious desire to train more ministry servants.
“I believe in us, and I believe in who we are as NOBTS,” Dew said.
“I believe that Southern Baptists are kind, hard-working and humble people that just want to love Jesus and make Him known. I see that most in you, so send us more of these people and that’s what we’re going to train them to be.”
