Isaac Lee (left) co-leads the worship band that will be leading worship at Biola's 'Singspiration' chapel on April 26th.
Biola University, one of the most well-known Christian universities in Southern California, features many opportunities for students to worship and grow more deeply in their relationship with God, including chapels, or worship services that occur school-wide five to seven times per week. These chapels are led by a team of chapel directors and six different worship teams that are on rotation throughout each semester.
One chapel in particular, called "Singspiration,' occurs every week from 8 PM to 9 PM on Sundays, and resembles what most people would consider a "praise night' or "revival night.' Hundreds of people--both students and non-students--gather each week.
"What we try to do is design a spiritual journey for those who come to the chapel, and we try to direct them into their personal conversations with God," said Isaac Lee, a senior at Biola who studies Music and Worship. Lee is a chapel intern who works directly under the chapel director, and he also leads one of the worship bands for chapel.
"We also try to represent all kinds of church worship dynamics," Lee added. He explained that there are diverse types of worship teams that lead chapels, including a band with string quartets, a folk/Americana band, a gospel choir, and a Latino band that even sometimes leads chapel in Spanish.
"We wanted to avoid setting a certain standard when it comes to worship, and incorporate as many kinds of worship as we can," Lee said.
To note, Lee is Korean American, and his band members consist of Asians from various backgrounds, including Korean, Korean American, Japanese, and Singaporean members. Lee describes his band to be "more electronic and modern instrument type" of worship. Lee and his band will be leading worship at this Sunday's "Singspiration.'
Each band that leads "Singspiration' decides on a theme with the chapel director and interns, and Lee's band decided on this week's "Singspiration' theme to be based on Isaiah 57:15, which says, "For this is what the high and lofty One says--he who lives forever, whose name is holy; "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"
"I started designing this set with the conviction that our generation has been synthetically trying to create intimacy with God, rather than receiving authentically," Lee said. "I feel like we tend to neglect the sovereignty of God, the kingship of God. It had me wonder, "What would happen when a king of a certain country suddenly comes to our chapel, which we have almost on a bi-daily basis? What kind of posture would we take, and what kinds of titles would we address him by? But we always have that Presence - the King of kings - and we take that for granted."
Hence, Lee said this week's "Singspiration' will be highlighting four aspects of God's kingship, as a creator; as a warrior who is sovereign over our battles; as a shepherd; and as a lamb.
"After that, we plan to celebrate the freedom that this king has offered us," he said.
"Singspiration' is free and open to the public, and takes place at the Chase Gymnasium within Biola University. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/764093857030896/.
