Worship and Pastoral Care: How IWS Prepared Me for Chaplaincy

Alumni Feature: Trent Lott
How IWS Prepared Me for Chaplaincy

By Trent Lott, D.W.S. 2019

Trent is a Chaplain for Texas Health in Fort Worth, Texas. He also serves as Director of Worship and Liturgy at Cross and Crown Church in Roanoke, Texas.

“I couldn’t have asked for better preparation for my calling than what I received at IWS.”

Worship and Pastoral Care

When I began my journey at IWS, I was certain my future was in worship ministry. My plan was to serve as a worship pastor, leading God’s people in worship and song. But as I progressed through DWS program, I felt the Lord stirring my heart toward something unexpected—pastoral care.

At first, this shift was confusing. Why was I pursuing a degree in worship studies when my calling seemed to be leading elsewhere? But God revealed something profound at IWS: worship and pastoral care are deeply connected. To lead God’s people in worship is to shepherd them spiritually. Worship forms, comforts, and strengthens the body of Christ, meeting people in their joys and sorrows. This realization shaped my thesis and, ultimately, my calling.

I graduated from IWS in 2019, unsure of what lay ahead. Six months later, the world changed. COVID-19 disrupted communities and churches across the world. In the midst of this crisis I felt the Lord calling me to serve as a hospital chaplain—to bring pastoral care to those fighting for their lives and to support exhausted healthcare workers. Though I felt unqualified, I stepped forward in faith. As I began my work as a chaplain, I quickly realized just how well IWS had prepared me.

The Daily Work of a Chaplain

Chaplaincy is about meeting people in their most vulnerable moments. I work as part of an interdisciplinary care team alongside physicians, nurses, social workers, dietitians, therapists, and mental health providers. My role is to bring the spiritual and faith aspects of care into focus, helping my colleagues see how faith shapes healing, resilience, and the understanding of suffering.

Every day is different. I sit at the bedside of patients receiving devastating news, comfort grieving parents in the NICU, and pray with families as they say their final goodbyes. But there are also moments of joy—celebrating with patients in remission, witnessing miracles, and rejoicing with new parents. In both sorrow and celebration, I remind people that they are not alone, that God is near, and that their faith is a source of strength.

A Calling Shaped by IWS

“IWS set me on an incredible trajectory, equipping me with the tools, knowledge, and understanding to serve across traditions, cultures, and contexts.”

Chaplaincy requires serving people from all faith traditions and backgrounds. Because of my time at IWS, I was already familiar with different Christian traditions, theological perspectives, and liturgical practices. IWS equipped me to meet patients where they are, honoring their beliefs and providing spiritual care tailored to their context. Whether a patient is Catholic, Baptist, Orthodox, Pentecostal, or from a completely different background, I can offer care that is compassionate, informed, and theologically rich.

Looking back, I see the Lord’s hand in every step of my journey. At the time, I didn’t understand why God led me to IWS when my calling was pastoral care. But now, I see it so clearly—IWS was exactly where I needed to be. It gave me a foundation that shaped my ministry and my ability to serve in the unique and challenging world of chaplaincy and pastoral care.

IWS set me on an incredible trajectory, equipping me with the tools, knowledge, and understanding to serve across traditions, cultures, and contexts. I couldn’t have asked for better preparation for my calling than what I received at IWS.