Traci M. Cosby

D.W.S. Student

“IWS is exactly what my ministry needed, and my spirit yearned for. As a lay leader in prophetic ministry through intercessory prayer and dance, I struggled to find a place in academia that is grounded in the biblical roots of worship and reflects a curriculum that recognizes that worship includes all of the arts—not just music. IWS combines intellectual stimulation and personal exploration in a way that allows me to demonstrate the ways in which prayer and dance are integral elements to authentic worship and add a richness to the worship services that cannot be accomplished by words alone. Not only does the curriculum enable me to articulate the biblical, theological, and historical foundations for prayer and dance in worship through the individualized research projects, but it allows me to put that knowledge into practice in my own congregation.”

Traci is a lay leader at the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Indianapolis, IN, where she serves as Vice-Chair of the Intercessory Prayer Team and Co-Chair of the Dance Ministry. Her responsibilities include leading the congregation in opening worship services in prayer and facilitating annual workshops to foster a deeper prayer life. She creates liturgical dances for children and adults that are included in Sunday and holiday worship services.

Give today to help us continue forming servant leaders in Christian worship renewal— or consider making a pledge for a monthly recurring gift.

Christy Danner

M.W.S. Alumna (2019)

“IWS has truly changed me as a worshiper, which has had an immeasurable impact on the way I approach my work in worship ministry. My time at IWS gave me the gift of increased knowledge, training, and perspective, and also had a direct and tangible impact on my ministry work. I now regularly partner with our Children and Student Ministry teams to create age-appropriate content to teach children and families why we do what we do in worship, and collaborate with a professional artist, to develop seasonal art workshops for Advent and Holy Week. I have also been able to regularly include more historical resources (ancient prayers, confessions, and catechisms to name a few) into our worship services. Thanks not only to the IWS courses but also the Practicum, I have been able to plan devotionals and special services that are crafted to engage not just the intellect but also the imagination.”

Christy is the Assistant Director of Worship for McLean Presbyterian Church. Her job includes helping plan and lead weekly worship services, coordinating worship leaders and teams for their various worship services and retreats, helping identify and train up potential worship leaders, and coordinating with other ministry teams for intergenerational worship on Sundays and throughout the week.

Give today to help us continue forming servant leaders in Christian worship renewal— or consider making a pledge for a monthly recurring gift.

Marc Brown

D.W.S. Alumnus (2014)

“After serving in worship ministry for a number of years, I found my passion for worship and ministry growing tired. Then two friends recommended I look at IWS and I’m so glad I did! Through a sincere community of diverse people sharing my calling to worship ministry, God refreshed my passion for worship and renewed my faith. The academic challenges of the coursework along with caring and expert faculty helped reinvigorate my ministry and my life for God’s purposes and glory. I am forever grateful for IWS and continue to recommend it to those interested in doctoral-level study.”

Marc serves as the full-time Minister of Worship and the Arts at First Baptist Church, Mt. Washington, Kentucky. Even during the pandemic, Marc plans and leads two worship services and three rehearsals each week in addition to his pastoral and administrative duties. Marc also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Music and Worship at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky where he teaches voice, field ministry, and worship planning and methodology courses for worship students. Currently Marc is preparing for comprehensive finals in pursuit of his PhD at Southern, which he says he never would have been able to do without the learning and formation he received at IWS.

Give today to help us continue forming servant leaders in Christian worship renewal— or consider making a pledge for a monthly recurring gift.

Give today to help us continue forming servant leaders in Christian worship renewal—or consider making a pledge for a monthly recurring gift.

Tim Li

D.W.S. Alumnus (2020)

“IWS has shaped me to be a better servant leader in all ministry contexts. It has also equipped me with a methodology by which I can continue to study and research independently.”

Tim is currently an adjunct lecturer at Alliance Bible Seminary and China Bible Seminary in Hong Kong. He also serves as the council chair and elder at his home church, Christian Life Church.

Give today to help us continue forming servant leaders in Christian worship renewal— or consider making a pledge for a monthly recurring gift.

Erika Grace Mine

M.W.S. Alumna (2020)

“IWS has been the foundation to all of the ministry that I do. Because worship is a posture and response to God’s invitation, I have been able to share so much about the Heart of Worship whenever I lead worship, do concerts, and grow with my worship teams. The theology that I learned at IWS has taught me how I should form worship.”

Erika trains worship leaders in Japan and speaks at international Asian worship gatherings. She is a singer/songwriter, and collaborates with other Christian artists by helping with YouTube videos, albums, concerts, and more. She is a part of Christian music groups Third Place Worship, Ruah Worship, and AIM (Abide In Me). Her teaching series include Heart of Worship, Worship that Welcomes All, and Worship with the Fellowship of the Body of Christ.

Give today to help us continue forming servant leaders in Christian worship renewal— or consider making a pledge for a monthly recurring gift.

Kevin M. Myers

D.W.S. Alumnus (2020)

“When I took the step to enroll at IWS, my life was changed forever. While I still proudly work in the Catholic tradition, my biblical, theological, and historical knowledge was built up in a way that I had never imagined until my time at IWS. I was equipped with the knowledge to teach others, minister to others, and form others in the biblical, historical, and theological tenets of Christian worship.

“IWS is a community that defines the loving embrace of the Father, and that all are welcome at the altar of God. IWS challenges you academically as well as in your daily faith life. IWS has opened my heart to all of God's people and not just the ones I fully agree with. Being the only Catholic in my cohort, I never once felt out of place, judged, or unwanted. I knew that I was loved, and encouraged to collaborate and eventually even lead worship with my cohort. Never have I been in a place of such love, such high academia, and such faith as IWS. I know that without the lessons learned there, I would not be the minister, worship leader, or man that I am today.”

Kevin serves as the Director and Campus Minister of Liturgy and Music for the St. Thomas More Newman Center Parish, a Catholic University Parish at the University of Missouri, Columbia, MO. His main duties include musically and liturgically leading/forming parishioners and students in Christian worship.

Give today to help us continue forming servant leaders in Christian worship renewal—or consider making a pledge for a monthly recurring gift.