Dear Alumni, Students, Faculty, Staff, Trustees and Friends of IWS,
“…Christ is all, and in all.” (Col. 3:11) Recently I read this verse with new, keener eyes. According to the renowned “Angelic Doctor,” St. Thomas Aquinas, God is the ipsum esse subsistens, or the subsistent act of to be itself. Everything that is, therefore, is created and sustained by him, although he is other than everything that is. Every created thing, animate and inanimate, finds its ultimate end in worshipping its Creator.
We who bear the very image of God have the wonderful, mysterious, and profoundly humbling mission of leading the entire creation to reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ, helping all of creation voice its worship, singing and exulting in the wonder, beauty, goodness and truth of our loving Father. Is there any higher call? Is there any doubt that worship is at the very center of the divine life, the beating heart of the gospel? Alumni, students and faculty of the IWS community are answering the call to be leaders of Christian worship all over the world, inspiring others to proclaim, celebrate, sing and enact the good news of God in Jesus Christ, and with him be poured out for the life of the world.
The 2016-17 fiscal year was another strong year at IWS. With great thanks to God, we met 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, with 35% of our incoming students holding non-American passports. At June's largest-ever graduation, 49 students received their degrees and embraced the commission to serve God through renewed worship. Thanks be to God! 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.
Please take a moment to read in this Annual Report how IWS students, alumni, faculty, staff, and trustees are having an 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. As Galatians 6:6 states: “One who is taught the Word must share all good things with the one who teaches.” 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 privilege to thank the many supporters who have come alongside IWS through prayers and generosity. Our work at IWS, providing a theological and practical foundation for what occurs during worship, is so important in the life of the church worldwide.
Last session I attended a practicum where our students applied what they learned into a worship experience. It was wonderful to see the classroom learning transformed into practice! The creativity of our faculty and students is inspiring!
IWS continues to focus on the biblical, historical, theological, and cultural lenses of worship in an ancient-future context. We are also working on ATS accreditation which will result in another large milestone for the school. Our international presence and influence is growing through the GROW Center and through the many international students who travel to Florida twice a year.
So thank you for standing with us. Your gifts and prayers are such an encouragement to us as we seek to continue IWS’s tradition of excellence in worship studies.
In His service,
John Lindsell, Chair, Board of Trustees
D.W.S. Student
D.W.S. Student
M.W.S. Alumnus & D.W.S. Student
M.W.S. Alumna
D.W.S. Alumna
D.W.S. Student
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.
Members of the Legacy Giving Circle have committed to honor IWS through endowed giving and/or estate planning.
Dr. Jim Hart and Dr. Sam Horowitz represent IWS at the National Worship Leader Conference in San Antonio, TX. Jim teaches several workshops.
GROW Center Co-Director Dr. Nancy Nethercott teaches in Japan and Myanmar (with IWS alumni Dr. David & Niiang Suum). Dr. Hart and Vice President of Enrollment Management Mark Murray represent IWS at the Experience Conference.
GROW Center Director Dr. Frank Fortunato shares about IWS and the GROW Center at the Evangelical Missiological Society meetings in Dallas, TX. Dr. Hart, Dr. Horowitz, and Sue Polsley represent IWS at NWLC Kansas City as Dr. Hart teaches several workshops. D.W.S. Student Laura Elvington leads music at the closing worship service.
Worship Leader Magazine honors IWS as one of the top programs in higher education influencing Christian worship by awarding it their “Best of the Best” distinction for the sixth consecutive year.
The local community marks the season of Advent with IWS at our annual Advent Festival of Lessons & Carols.
26 new students (including a record-setting 12 new M.W.S. students and our first students from Japan and Mongolia) arrive on campus. The Board welcomes new trustee Dr. Eric Bolger, IWS alumnus and current VP for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College of the Ozarks. Dean of the Chapel Dr. Darrell Harris is appointed Vice President of Spiritual Life, Dan Wilt visits as Guest Chaplain, and Dr. Nethercott serves as Associate Chaplain. Dr. Gerald Borchert returns to facilitate the Portraits of Jesus Worship Seminar. Dr. Kent Walters and Dr. Fortunato represent IWS at the Symposium on Worship at the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship, and IWS holds its annual Alumni gathering there.
The President's Advisory Council for Excellence meets. Dr. Hart and Dr. Andrew E. Hill represent IWS at the Baptist Church Music Conference in Atlanta.
Dr. Nethercott collaborates with several mission organizations in the Philippines to teach on Biblical Worship. IWS bids farewell to retiring Academic Dean Dr. Eric Ohlmann. Associate Dean and M.W.S. Professor Dr. Dinelle Frankland is appointed as the new Academic Dean. Dr. Hart and Mark Murray represent IWS at NWLC Northern Virginia as Dr. Hart teaches two classes with Dr. Lester Ruth. IWS sponsors a worship conference in Hong Kong, with Dr. Constance Cherry and a team of IWS students and alumni making up the majority of speakers and teachers.
IWS welcomes 31 new students (20 D.W.S., 11 M.W.S.). In 2017, students from Canada, England, Hong Kong, Mexico, Myanmar, Singapore, and South Korea attend IWS classes; 35% of new IWS students this year hold non-American passports. Carol Hart is appointed Development Coordinator. Dr. Pedrito Maynard-Reid joins the faculty as the professor for MWS 504: Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Christian Worship. The Board welcomes new trustee Don Moen. The faculty welcome visiting M.W.S. professor Dr. Matt Sigler. Dr. Nethercott and Dr. Walter Brown serve as Associate Chaplains. IWS celebrates its largest graduating class to date: 7 A.G.C.W.S., 21 M.W.S., and 21 D.W.S. These 49 new alumni bring the total number of graduates to 542! Dr. Lester Ruth returns to campus to facilitate a Worship Seminar on the history of contemporary worship.
For the year, Charitable Giving receipts totaled $257,030 (Unrestricted, Restricted, and Gifts-in-Kind). Fiscal Year Revenue totaled $977,890 and Total Expenditures were $870,236.
click graphs to enlarge
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 by electronic check or credit card (select “Give this amount monthly” on the form and adjust the term length as desired).
Donate to the IWS Fund or Scholarship Fund today by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card, or electronic check (or make a one-time gift by other means).
Are you among the 70% of Americans without an up-to-date will?
Donate by check (mailed to IWS, 4001 Hendricks Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32207), cash (in the office only, please), or credit card or electronic check (online)
Automated monthly giving (by credit card or eCheck, 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 by electronic check or credit card (select “Give this amount monthly” on the form and adjust the term length as desired).
Donate to the IWS Fund or Scholarship Fund today by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card, or electronic check (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?
