GU Pursuit worship band hits the road for its summer tour

Published: June 05, 2024

Author: Dave Bell

For six weeks this summer, the Greenville University Pursuit worship band will provide music at church camps across Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri. The band’s tour began on June 2 and will continue through July 21.

Pursuit, a worship arts ministry program, serves as an outreach of Greenville University. It provides a way for students (whether they are music majors or not) to minister to others and gain experience leading worship. Throughout the school year, Pursuit teams lead in chapel services and Vespers, and provide musical leadership for off-campus youth events. During the summer, Pursuit serves at various camps throughout the Midwest.

This year’s band includes six GU students and Tour Manager Nathaniel Kriebel (pictured above). A 2016 Worship Arts graduate of GU, Kriebel will oversee the tour, and will play acoustic guitar and provide vocals for the band. During the school year, Kriebel coordinates music for The Wednesday Experience (TWE) and Vespers services in addition to his full-time job as the worship leader at Smith Grove Baptist Church in rural Greenville.

Student members of this year’s band are:

Aiden Hagler (keyboards and team co-leader) – A native of Oaxaca, Mexico, Hagler is a senior with a double major in Audio Engineering and Commercial Music Performance. He’s looking forward to spending time with the Pursuit team and “getting closer to God by performing praise music.”

Ella Hudspath (vocals) – A native of Marion, Illinois, Hudspath is a sophomore with a double major in Worship Arts and Theology. She views the Pursuit tour as a “great opportunity to pour into the next generation of believers.”

Camila Aristy Jaime (vocals and team co-leader) – A native of the Dominican Republic and Chicago, she is a senior with a double major in Social Work and Criminal Justice. Though she did the tour last year, she wanted to do it again because she had such a good experience the first time. “I want to share the joy of knowing God, and let the kids know that it’s cool to be a Christian,” she said.

Emanuel Khamala (bass guitar) – A native of Nairobi, Kenya, Khamala is a senior in Digital Media. He wanted to do the tour “to get closer to God and closer to people.” While on the summer tour, he will do a digital media practicum, providing photo and video content for the group and coordinating its social media.

Ryan Lefler (audio engineer) – A native of Plainfield, Indiana, Lefler is an Audio Engineering major. “I like spending time at camps and telling the kids how they can connect with God,” he said.

Jeremiah VanZant (drums) – A native of Godfrey, Illinois, he is a junior in Commercial Music Performance. “I’m looking forward to spending time ministering to the kids and growing spiritually myself,” he said.

Pursuit worship band members are (top row, from left) Ella Hudspath and Camila Aristy Jaime; (middle row, from left) Ryan Lefler and Jeremiah VanZandt; and (bottom row, from left) Aidan Hagler and Emanuel Khamala.