Children’s Worship University

Darlene Abbott

Darlene Abbott is the creator of Rhythm & Truth, scripture memory songs and rhythms to help children memorize scripture. She is a writer of preschool and children’s music and curriculum currently working with Semsen Music. She created Preschool Praise’ntations with Kathie Hill and has contributed to many products by LifeWay Worship, including Children’s Worship Series and Children’s Music Series. Darlene is also the creator of the Music Mom Products which include music teaching games and activities, as well as Bible games. She travels as an instructor and clinician for church workers, choir leaders, music educators, and day schoolteachers as well as women’s events. A graduate of the University of North Alabama, Darlene currently resides in Columbia, TN, where her husband pastors The Church at West End.

Katheron Latham

Katheron Latham lives in the Chattanooga, TN area and has taught in children’s choir ministries for thirty three years, serving churches in Alabama and Tennessee.  She is currently the volunteer director of the Worship Kids Ministry at Dallas Bay Baptist Church in Hixson, TN. For several years she served as a children’s choir curriculum writer for Lifeway and recently wrote the 2027 Spring Program for Growing in Grace.  She is in her ninth year as the Fine Arts Department Chair, Choral and Piano Teacher at Chattanooga Central High School. Katheron received the special honor of being named a Country Music Association National Music Teacher of Excellence Semi-Finalist in 2026.  Katheron received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance in 1991 and a Master of Arts in Vocal Music Education in 1993, both from the University of Alabama.  She feels called to share the gospel through music and missions, having participated in mission trips in the U.S., Costa Rica and Romania. She has been married to Chad for 35 years and has 3 adult children, a daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren. 

Elizabeth Laube

Elizabeth Laube is a Curriculum Editor and Engagement Specialist for Celebrating Grace. Prior to coming to Celebrating Grace, she worked in the Center for Christian Music Studies at Baylor University administering a Lilly Endowment Inc. grant exploring the role that music in the local church plays in children’s spiritual formation. She holds a Master’s degree in Middle Years Education from the University of Georgia and Bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of South Mississippi. Elizabeth taught music and general education for twelve years in the US and the UK, working with students Pre-K through High School.  Currently, Elizabeth serves in the music and children’s ministry in her local church in Waco, Texas. 

Andrew Pressley

Andrew Pressley serves as one of the pastors of CrossPointe Church in Columbus, Georgia, where he leads the music ministry. He founded KidsCore, a children’s worship curriculum, while serving a church in Texas. He has a heart for equipping young singers to worship with the church, and he and his wife, Meghan, are getting good practice in these efforts as they raise their four young children.

Christy Semsen

A 3-Time GMA Dove-Award winner, Christy Semsen is a songwriter and children’s playwright. In the past 16 years, she has had over 35 musicals and Choral Collections published, which are performed by children at schools and churches across the world. She spends her time between Nashville and Burbank recording songs with her orchestrator husband, Daniel, and writing songs with her sons Nathaniel and Noah.

She currently directs The Burbank Community Kids Choir, a choir of kids K-8 th grade in the LA area and loves teaching kids a love of music and performing. In 2021 Christy and her husband Daniel started a choral publishing company, Semsen Music, and they are thrilled to provide music to churches across the country for preschool, children, youth, orchestra and adult choir!

Christy has a M.A. in Pastoral Studies, and a B.A. in Music Theory/Composition from Azusa Pacific University. She resides in Burbank, CA. with husband, composer/arranger/orchestrator Daniel Semsen and two sons, Nathaniel (25) and Noah (23).