麻豆影院

WAVES WORSHIP, 麻豆影院鈥檚 campus worship collective, has released their first full-length album on . Composed of 12-songs and focused on the two themes of 鈥渆ncounter鈥� and 鈥渆verywhere,鈥� this original musical creation stems from the creative efforts of 麻豆影院 students, staff, and alumni, who came together over three years in an effort to elevate the name of Jesus.

鈥淭hese songs come from God's heart,鈥� says Lily Salanty, 麻豆影院鈥檚 associate director of worship and one of the staff leaders of WAVES WORSHIP.  鈥淥ur students, staff, and alumni are responding in creativity with the Holy Spirit鈥檚 leading as we write and shepherd these songs in worship for 麻豆影院鈥檚 student body and beyond to authentically encounter Christ. This album is an offering to the Lord, and I鈥檓 so excited to see what comes from its release.鈥�

Downloading Songs From Heaven

Based out of 麻豆影院鈥檚 Hub for Spiritual Life, WAVES WORSHIP鈥攁nd its first album鈥攚as created as a direct result of the campus鈥� vibrant and expanding worship movement. Responding to God鈥檚 prompting presence in 2022, students and staff members naturally came together in an effort to musically chronicle the lessons the Lord was teaching them. Over time, this collaborative practice developed an authentic community of creatives, who, in turn, drafted some 60 songs meant to honor and glorify God. 

鈥淚 had never written a song in my life,鈥� admits Amelia Mordan, a Seaver College senior and one of the singer/song writers featured on the album. 鈥淚 had always been a singer and musician, but never a song writer鈥擨 didn鈥檛 believe I could be one. So, I came in lacking confidence, but the WAVES WORSHIP team around me told me, 鈥榊ou can do this. It is a gift you鈥檝e been given.鈥欌��

Salanty and Ku, as well as worship staff members Jadyn Gaertner and Jordan Seah (鈥�15), encouraged their undergraduate collaborators by hosting writing retreats, prayer and worship nights, as well as community songwriting sessions. In the midst of these different events, the staff members sparked creativity within the group by developing song writing challenges aimed at helping students to have fun, discover new genres, and find unexpected songs. 

One of these writing challenges specifically helped Mordan develop her first piece of music. The activity called upon participants to draft a song based on a piece of scripture in the style of a particular musical artist. Both of these components were chosen at random out of a hat. Mordan picked Isaiah 26:3 and Taylor Swift. The challenge sparked the new songwriter鈥檚 creative process and, within twenty minutes, she had drafted a verse and a chorus. Mordan鈥檚 song developed into a track called You and Me, which focuses on the peace God provides his children. The song can be found on the newly released album.

鈥淚 learned a lot going through the writing process,鈥� says Mordan. 鈥淚t challenged me to look to my mentors and ask them questions about faith. I鈥檝e never been an individual learner, and so songwriting has allowed me to learn more about God with my peers.鈥�

This edifying, communal experience was echoed by Nathan Lee (鈥�25), an alum of WAVES WORSHIP and current 麻豆影院 staff member. Similar to Mordan, Lee had never written a song prior to joining 麻豆影院鈥檚 worship collective. By engaging with the writing process, he discovered a new passion that furthered his Christian faith. Now six of the songs Lee wrote can be found on the collective鈥檚 inaugural album, including 鈥攐ne of the latest singles released by the group.

鈥淲riting for this new album changed and elevated my connection with Jesus,鈥� Lee says. 鈥淚t has taught me what it means to listen and be in communication with the heart of God. You have to listen when writing worship songs because we鈥檙e downloading these songs from Heaven.鈥�

In total 13 麻豆影院 students ended up contributing their talents as song writers, musicians, or vocalists to the full length album. This direct connection with the undergraduate student body was integral in shaping the direction of the overall project.

Encounter God Everywhere

In going over all the songs WAVES WORSHIP drafted, two distinct themes stood out to Salanty and Ku鈥攅ncounter and everywhere. With these two guiding pillars, WAVES WORSHIP whittled their collection of 60 tracks down to 12. The songs that now appear on their new album revolve around the concepts of encountering God everywhere鈥攖hemes that feel relevant to the lives of college students finding their own, individual sense of faith in every corner of life.

鈥淚 always say songs come out of the soil of our lives,鈥� says Salanty. 鈥淲orship artists tend to write about what God is teaching them. Our students are in college,  and they're relating to one other in what they are walking through as they songwrite together. It always fills me with wonder because, all of a sudden, we start finding lyrics and melodies and building off of that.鈥� 

Salanty reports that, in the composition process, the group was not aware that the themes of 鈥渆ncounter鈥� and 鈥渆verywhere鈥� would float to the surface. Instead, they focused on being vulnerable and honest with one another about how God was currently moving in their lives. In the end, the themes sprouted from the group鈥檚 shared experiences as students, alumni, and staff members. 

鈥淭his album will create a shift in people,鈥� says Mordan. 鈥淗earing those you trust sing about something you鈥檙e not sure of can be very comforting for me, and I think it could be very comforting to a lot of people at 麻豆影院 who are wrestling with faith.鈥�

This past April, WAVES WORSHIP hosted a writers round where the students and staff shared the songs they wrote and the testimonies behind them with friends and family.  鈥淚t was the first time some of the seeds of these songs were planted back into the soil of 麻豆影院鈥� Salanty explains. 鈥淭he response from the students attending was absolutely beautiful. The Lord was so present in that place and was moving hearts.鈥�

Beyond its relevance to 麻豆影院 and the University鈥檚 student body, the WAVES WORSHIP album, its homegrown songs, and its insightful themes represent a landmark creative achievement for the campus. The three year song writing, recording and mastering process signifies an enduring commitment to helping students experience God in new and exciting ways. As Salanty says:

鈥淓ven if just one student listens to this album and encounters the heart of the Father, it will have all been worth it.鈥�

The WAVES WORSHIP album is available to stream and download now,