Dear Alumni, Students, Faculty, Staff, Trustees and Friends of IWS,
In his book Who Gets to Narrate the World? Robert Webber wrote, “God’s narrative is the one true story of the world.…Worship sings, proclaims and enacts God’s narrative to the glory of God.”
The entire biblical narrative can be summed up as God calling his creation to right worship. Right worship rightly orders our lives, families and communities so we can fully participate in the divine life and mission of God in the earth, proclaiming that one true story. Through right worship we become rightly aligned to God through Jesus Christ, the primary worshipper.
The privilege of learning about the priority of worship in the Body of Christ is a most critical educational and missional endeavor. Alumni, students and faculty of the IWS community are answering the call to be leaders of Christian worship to lead others all over the world into an intense, Spirit-led devotional commitment to proclaim, celebrate, sing and enact the Good News of God in Jesus Christ, to follow Christ and with him be poured out for the life of the world.
The 2015-16 fiscal year was a monumental year at IWS. After 17 years at Grace Episcopal Church in Orange Park, the Institute was relocated to the beautiful campus of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church (HAB) in Jacksonville. This move provided significantly more space, improved infrastructure and a more centralized location to carry out the mission of IWS. We are deeply appreciative of the supportive and warm reception we have received from Pastor Dr. Kyle Reese and the congregation of HAB!
IWS continues to stay the course in fulfilling the Lord’s mission articulated by our founder Robert Webber as students and graduates take Christian worship renewal around the globe. With great thanks to God, we exceeded all of our fiscal year goals. On-campus enrollment remained strong, as did giving to the IWS Fund and the Scholarship Funds. IWS has continued its global initiatives, extending our efforts into Mongolia, Jamaica and Kenya, and bringing the number of countries represented in the community to 28. At June’s graduation, 46 students received their degrees and embraced the commission to serve God through renewed worship. The impact of IWS is steadily growing worldwide while remaining rooted in the theological perspectives, relational sensibilities and pedagogical philosophy of its founder, Bob Webber. Thanks be to God!
Please take a moment to read in this annual report how IWS alumni are having impact across the globe. The ongoing fulfillment of our mission is truly a team effort, a team that includes each of you. Many have taken their places in their support of our mission by investments of time, talent, treasure and prayer, and we are deeply grateful. We are relying on your generosity toward God and your prayers to continue building the foundation we need for a secure future. Your gifts are wisely invested in our students and the mission of our beloved institute.
My wife, Carol, and I would like to invite you to participate with us sacrificially and joyfully in the mission of our school. “One who is taught the Word must share all good things with the one who teaches” (Gal 6:6, ESV). IWS is good ground into which you may sow your seed of spiritual and financial generosity toward God. Together let us all thankfully, joyfully and generously support the Lord’s work in the supremely important and Kingdom-building activity of worship renewal through IWS.
Grace and peace to you,
James R. Hart, President
Dear Friends,
It is always a great joy to thank our many donors for enabling the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies to extend its mission to the worldwide church. Once again, so many of you have supported our ministry with prayer and generous gifts.
Recently, I spoke with a senior pastor whose worship leader completed his degree in June. I asked if the church was benefitting from his degree. His answer was a resounding “Yes!” The pastor indicated that his worship leader was so much more involved in the theological direction of the church and had renewed confidence in providing meaningful insight for the benefit of the church. This result is our goal—impacting the local church to make sure God’s narrative is our collective narrative.
During each session, I am reminded of the wonderful work God is doing in the lives of our students. Bob Webber’s vision of a school focused on the theology of worship, imbedded in a local church, and in community is palpable. We are especially grateful to Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church and Pastor Kyle Reese for allowing us to share their beautiful campus in Jacksonville. The congregation and staff have made us feel very welcomed and their facilities are second to none. We are excited to be imbedded at HABC. Many, many thanks!
Again, many thanks to you for sustaining IWS' ministry. Your support and prayers are truly encouraging to all who treasure what God is doing through our mission!
In His service,
John Lindsell, Chair, Board of Trustees
M.W.S. Alumna
D.W.S. Alumnus, M.W.S. Alumna
D.W.S. Alumnus
M.W.S. Alumna
Thanks be to God for those who give of their prayers, time, talent, and treasure! We would be unable to continue in our mission without your generous giving.
The annual spring drive to raise support for the Scholarship Fund among our alumni was once again very successful. We raised over $70,000, exceeding our goal by over $4,000! Alpha Class led the way with 61% class participation and Upsilon Class raised the most total dollars of any cohort ($8,000). We commend the Chi Class for increasing their class participation by 4.5x this year! Finally, we offer a special round of thanks to our alumni class whips, who worked with their classes to raise these dollars.
Frank Fortunato and Nancy Nethercott, IWS' Global Renewal of Worship Center co-directors, teach at the Global Consultation on Music and Missions in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Director of Enrollment Management Mark Murray is ordained a priest by the Anglican Church in North America.
Dr. Dinelle Frankland appointed Associate Dean for the M.W.S. Program.
IWS relocates to the campus of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL. IWS exhibits and teaches at the National Worship Leader Conference in San Antonio, TX. M.W.S. student Patrick O'Brien passes away unexpectedly. Dianna Andrews departs the IWS staff.
Worship Leader Magazine honors IWS among its “Best of the Best” in worship education for the fifth straight year. Jim Hart and Frank Fortunato represent IWS and the GROW center at the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education conference in Turkey. Nancy Nethercott speaks at the Evangelical Theological Society meetings in Atlanta, GA, representing the GROW Center.
IWS holds its first intensive session at HAB, and welcomes our first Kenyan student. Our 115 students (30 new) on campus set an IWS January session record. The Rev. Dr. Kyle Reese, pastor of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church, preaches at Opening Convocation. Media from the January session is available at our YouTube channel. IWS exhibited at and held its annual alumni gathering as well as a GROW Center Advisory Council meeting at the Calvin Symposium on Worship.
Jim Hart, Jessica Coleman, and Scott Coleman serve as worship leaders at the ABHE Annual Conference.
Representing IWS and the GROW Center, Nancy Nethercott taught at All Nations Christian College in London.
D.W.S. Professor Constance Cherry preaches at Opening Convocation. Our first Jamaican student is among 118 students (25 new) on campus. IWS celebrates our largest graduating class to date—17 M.W.S. and 29 D.W.S. IWS has granted 493 degrees to 473 graduates. The Rev. Dr. Dennis Andrews, CDR, USN, returns to the IWS pulpit at Commencement. Christine Pohl presents a seminar on “Cultivating Worship and Community.” Media from the June session is available on our YouTube channel. The Faculty and Board approve a plan for the institutional pursuit of accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools. The Ancient-Future Faith Network holds their annual Convocation following the June intensive.
For the year, Charitable Giving receipts totaled $259,793 (Unrestricted, Restricted, and Gifts-in-Kind). Fiscal Year Revenue totaled $951,585 and Total Expenditures were $872,262.
We cannot say it enough: the ongoing work of forming servant leaders in Christian worship renewal worldwide depends upon generous gifts from our community. Please consider how you may participate with us in the renewal of the Church through a financial contribution and click an option below.
Set up a recurring donation on your Visa or MasterCard. Customize frequency, commitment term length, and more.
Donate to the IWS Fund or Scholarship Fund today by Visa or MasterCard, or make a one-time gift by other means.
How much thought have you given to what is potentially the single-most generous gift you'll make?
Donate by check (mailed to IWS, 4001 Hendricks Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32207), cash (in the office only, please), or credit card (online)
Automated monthly giving (by MasterCard or Visa, or through your own bank's online bill-pay feature)
Matching corporate gifts
Gifts of securities/stocks
Electronic transfer of funds
Planned (legacy) giving
Leader $10,000 & up
Benefactor $5,000–$9,999
Partner $2,500–$4,999
Investor $1,000–$2,499
Supporter $500–$999
Contributor $100–$499
Donor up to $100
We encourage the members of our community to employ long-term estate planning to maximize their legacy to their loved ones and to their charitable interests. We also strongly urge them to seriously consider IWS as one of their priority charitable interests. While the annual support of the IWS community is absolutely crucial to the fulfillment of our sustainable mission, deferred support like Estate Planning can leave a Kingdom legacy with an impact that spans generations. This kind of gift is the single most significant act of generosity toward God that most of us will ever perform.
For more information on this or any way of supporting IWS, call the office at 800-282-2977.
Set up a recurring donation on your Visa or MasterCard. Customize frequency, commitment term length, and more.
Donate to the IWS Fund or Scholarship Fund today by Visa or MasterCard, or make a one-time gift by other means.
How much thought have you given to what is potentially the single-most generous gift you'll make?
