Praising the Savior
As a member of the staff at Lakeside Church, Libby is responsible for planning and leading worship, as well as for Lakeside’s digital and print media communications. She works with a group of 20 volunteers who serve on the worship and audiovisual teams, and another 30 to 40 volunteers who help with other elements of the service, such as reading Scripture or sharing the children’s story. She loves the opportunity to design unique spaces and practices that reflect God’s creativity and recognize the different ways people learn and respond to God’s presence.
Why did you major in worship arts?
It combines all of my passions—music, faith and creative expressions of the fine arts. I felt a great sense of peace once I stopped trying to run away from God’s call into ministry. With a degree in worship arts, I was initially worried about job security after college, but the Lord has proved himself so faithful in providing me with a career in this field. There is also a really sweet community within the worship arts department, which was evident to me from the onset of entering this major.
What is the biggest strength of Northwestern’s worship arts major?
It’s interdisciplinary. I can’t emphasize that enough. When people ask me what my degree is in and I tell them, the response is often, “So, what is that?” I tell them it’s like theology, theatre and music degrees all rolled into one. You come out of this program well-versed in all of those areas, which is great preparation for worship ministry. Another strength is that the major is deeply committed to teaching students that worship and arts are part of God’s reconciliatory work in the world—and not to shy away from creative expressions of that.
Tell us about the people who teach worship arts at Northwestern.
I joke that they’re really ministers cleverly disguised as professors. They know their real job is to equip you with the tools you need to be an effective minister of the gospel once you leave Northwestern, and they do that by sharing their wisdom and knowledge, as well as pouring into your soul as you step more fully into who God has created you to be. They come from a variety of academic departments at NWC, so you really do get a diverse education.
Did you get practical experience as a worship arts major?
I completed my worship practicum at Sutherland Church of Christ in Sutherland, Iowa, which is about 40 minutes east of Orange City. Because of SCC’s relationship with Northwestern, I actually got to serve there for about a year and a half, including my semester-long internship. From that experience, I gained valuable training and guidance in interpersonal and ministry skills, while also refining my worship-leading abilities. Having so much experience going into job interviews was a huge blessing.
How did Northwestern prepare you for your life and your career?
I’m so grateful I was able to receive my education at Northwestern, and I can’t speak highly enough of the faculty and staff within—and outside of—the worship arts department. Northwestern gave me the tools I needed to live into my identity and calling in Christ. The worship arts major prepared me for my career by giving me the space to learn, explore, fail, try again and ponder all that God is and how my work intersects with that. I often reference notes and books from classes in my major and use that information to better minister to the congregation I now serve. I was well prepared for my job after graduation!
