Multiple perspectives, one team making music
Published: June 17, 2022
The 2022 Summer Pursuit group includes (l to r) Matt Williamson (electric guitar, vocals), Samuel Higueros (audio engineer), Emanuel Khamala (bass), Sarah Vu (vocals), Abishai Bokare (drums), Makenna Hintz (vocals) Daniel Garzaro (electric/acoustic guitar, vocals), and Curtis Willson (keys).
Students on this year's summer Pursuit worship team may hold differing opinions on road trip snacks and outdoor camping, but they all agree they're looking forward to making an impact on campers.
“If we bring one camper closer to Christ, we’ve done our job,” says Matthew Williamson ’23.
The Pursuit team travels to several camps each week throughout the summer, leading worship, and serving where needed, sometimes as camp counselors.
A team full of experience
This summer’s group is musically experienced, from those who participated in last summer’s Pursuit team, to those who play with the Pursuit groups throughout the schoolyear. All but one member of the team has prior Pursuit experience.
The two veteran summer Pursuit members Matt Williamson and Samuel Higueros ’23 encouraged the newcomers with similar advice:
- Don’t worry about the music, it will take care of itself.
- Enjoy the little things and the interactions with campers.
- Make memories.
Daniel Garzaro '22 (above) sings and plays electric and acoustic guitars for summer Pursuit.
Multiple perspectives, one team
In addition to experience, this group includes members from Guatemala, India, Kenya, Vietnam, and the United States. Abishai Bokare ’22 says the “diversity of the team is wonderful” and hopes the campers they encounter will get to know them and be inspired to learn about other cultures.
When it comes to music, Emanuel Khamala ’23 (pictured left) points out the team draws musical influences from reggae to folk.
“Musically, it’s so good,” he says. “We’re from different places - some from halfway around the world– it’s nice to have variety and different styles of music. Combining them is like creating something new.”
Pursuit Touring Manager Nathan Kriebel ’16 affirms the importance of diversity and varying perspectives in spiritual matters.
“We love having a diverse spread of a lot of different perspectives… cultural differences help us see a broader picture of what the kingdom of God is like. It’s helpful for not just our ministry but for the student’s growth in becoming the kind of Christians we want them to be here at Greenville University, full of character and service.”
Several Pursuit members communicated their heartfelt desire to be an example to others of a diverse, supportive, community of faith. They say that entails learning each other’s strengths and weaknesses, communicating, encouraging each other, and supporting one another through the weeks of camping, summer heat, and traveling. Ultimately, they hope to work together, grow in faith and friendship, and – through serving – model to the campers how each person is created with unique gifts to change the world.
Ambassadors of GU
In addition to serving as musicians, Pursuit serves as a recruitment team for the University on the trips.
“The members of the Pursuit team are fantastic ambassadors of the Gospel and Greenville University,” says Victoria Clark, GU’s chief enrollment officer. “They are salt and light to everyone they encounter. For some of our current GU students, the reason that they chose to attend Greenville University is because of an interaction they had with one of our Pursuit team members. I can't wait to see what stories they come back with about how God moved in and through them.”
Sarah Vu '22 sings in Pursuit and serves as a team leader.
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