Southwestern College students Victoria Lybarger, Winfield; Jaime Davison, Hugoton; and Jordan Butler, Arkansas City, are serving internships at The Woodlands (Texas) United Methodist Church until July 31. 

The Woodlands United Methodist Church is an 11,000-member congregation located in suburban Houston. The evangelical Methodist church offers eight live worship services each week in three unique worship styles.

“Last week we met a ton of amazing people and got a feel for the place,” Lybarger reports.  “We had the chance to lead worship at their staff chapel service last Wednesday, then we were led worship for the special needs service last Sunday. This week we are getting to lead worship for the vacation Bible school attended by more than 1,000 children ages kindergarten through fourth grade, and for a fifth- and sixth-grade day camp with more than 100 children. It’s been quite amazing so far.” 

Lybarger learned about this opportunity when Mark Swayze, director of contemporary music at The Woodlands United Methodist Church, visited Southwestern.

“This opportunity came about when Mark (Swayze) came on a visit to Southwestern because he had heard about our program from Martin Rude (director of outreach ministries),” Lybarger says.  “Martin had met him at a conference during the year. After Mark came and saw the great things worship outreach was doing, he felt we would be good for a program he’s been trying to start up at his church. He had talked to Martin for a while and Martin then talked to us three about going and being a part of it.” 

According to Rude, outreach ministry at Southwestern College is a hands-on experience.
           
“Currently, three teams are at work spreading God’s word through song, worship leadership, and instrumental music,” Rude says.  “Students from all academic disciplines unite to share their faith through music and the testimony of their lives. In Christ, groups are student-lead, so members gain first-hand experience in true worship planning.”