To be honest, when my college president asked me to do a program with the 2026 Ministry Team on the theme of prayer, I cringed. Songs about prayer are usually slow and meditative, not the rousing, enthusiastic type of songs that we associate with a traveling ensemble!
But it dawned on me that many songs and hymns are actually prayers themselves. And the musical expressions are as varied as the different expressions of prayer: adoration, repentance, thanksgiving, deliverance . . . to name just a few.
While our main purpose is to encourage God's people, there is an aspect in which we wish to represent the college well—to be memorable and distinct from the many other good Christian colleges. To that end, our church services always include congregational singing. It is always a delight for the churches that we visit to be able to sing familiar hymns along with the ministry team.
Another unique aspect of IBCS's Summer Ministry Team is handchimes. Not only does the team play them, but, if there is opportunity, the team teaches the youth group to play a song that they present in the church service for their parents.
Also, this year the men on the Ministry Team will be trained to lead a prayer service, if the pastor desires. It could be for just the youth group or the entire church—a service of genuine prayer with musical praises. These types of services have been hugely effective and influential in our student body recently. What a joy to be able to share it with churches across the inter-mountain West!
Check out more information about the team and their itinerary here.