Marion, Indiana
2022
To engage the history, stories, and traditions of Gospel music to better equip the Gospel Choir for leadership and to expand the chapel experience for all students.
Summarize your grant project and how it will address a need in your worshiping community.
My grant project will be facilitating worship workshops that are centered around the genre of gospel music. In particular, the goal is to provide training through these workshops for our newly founded gospel choir and the chapel worship bands.
What two questions might you ask about worship in the coming year that will generate theological reflection and shape your project?
What does multicultural worship look like? How can we use worship as a part of the racial conciliation process within the church?
How will your project impact the worship life and habits of the congregation?
The hope is that the project with has multiple impacts at Indiana Wesleyan. We are hoping for black students will grow in their sense of belonging on campus by continuing to introduce gospel music into the chapel experience, we are hoping that the majority students who are a part of the chapel worship band will grow in their musical ability and cultural competency, and we hope to inspire other students of color to also advocate to see themselves in campus and through the chapel experience.
What might be your greatest challenges (or challenging opportunities)?
My greatest challenge will be managing all of the work that I have to do and this project. I am a full-time director in student development, an MSW graduate student, and trying to maintain balance in my own personal life.
What do you hope to learn from the Grants Event and other grant recipients?
I hope to be inspired by how God will move through this experience and learn ways to carry that throughout this project.