Liberty University students lead worship at White House Staff Easter Service

Twelve students from Liberty University’s School of Music were honored with the opportunity to lead worship at the White House Staff Easter Service on Thursday morning, April 17. The service was part of the White House’s weeklong Easter celebration for Holy Week, hosted by the newly established White House Faith Office.

The Liberty group represented many of the university’s premier worship teams, including LU Praise, Vessel, Shine, and E-41. They opened the hourlong church service with “Because He Lives,” “In Christ Alone,” and “Living Hope.”

“This is honestly just the biggest blessing in the world,” said worship leadership student Graham Guy, who played acoustic guitar while the other members sang. “The Lord keeps opening doors for all of us, and it is so cool that we get to all share this opportunity together and just worship the Lord in such a cool place. If somebody would have told me that (we would sing in the White House) when I applied to Liberty, I would probably have told them they were crazy, but what a cool opportunity. … Liberty and the Lord keep opening doors, and it’s just incredible.”

The worship preceded Easter-themed messages from prominent Christian leaders, including President of Samaritan’s Purse Franklin Graham, Senior Pastor of Free Chapel Jentezen Franklin, and Senior Advisor to the White House Faith Office Paula White. Notable White House staff attendees included White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Deputy Assistant to the President Sebastian Gorka, and many other ranking members.

“This opportunity was humbling, but it was also a great privilege,” said Dr. Paul Randlett, an associate professor of worship and music and the department chair of Music and Worship who joined the group in D.C. “This is what we live for. At Liberty, we are continuing to strive to Train Champions for Christ. … and to see these kids grow in music, and to have opportunities like this – and to be able to oversee this – is quite a privilege.”

The White House Faith Office, officially established on Feb. 7, seeks to assist faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship to better serve families and communities. The office councils the President regarding all matters of policies, programs, and practices to better align with American values and defend religious liberty.

Thursday morning’s service marked the second time a Liberty music group has been invited to perform in Washington, D.C., this year. The Spirit of the Mountain marching band was scheduled to perform in the Presidential Inauguration Parade, but due to weather-related changes and relocation to an indoor venue, the band could not be accommodated. LU Praise, Liberty’s multi-ethnic gospel and worship choir, participated in inaugural events in 2017, when they were invited to perform for the Inaugural Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral.

Senior commercial music performance student Kylee Cowart said Thursday’s service was one of the most memorable of her college years. She said it was encouraging to see so many White House staff members who are impacting the future of America voluntarily break away from their busy schedules to fellowship and worship the Lord.

“I think that we don’t get to see that part of it in the media very often,” said Cowart, who is part of Liberty’s E-41 worship team, which takes popular worship songs and arranges them in the folk and bluegrass style. “To know that there are people leading our country in various different departments coming together on a random Thursday morning, for an hour … it’s just a really big blessing and opportunity that we’ve been a part of.”

With less than a month until graduation, Cowart said she values all the opportunities she has had to grow in her faith and to put her faith into action.

“I’m leaving a school of professors who care so deeply about your academics, but they care so much more about your heart and about your walk with the Lord,” Cowart said. “And I think that that’s been the biggest privilege for me is to go to a school where professors know me not only as a musician or as a singer, but they know me as a disciple of Christ. … Yes, we’re going to get an education, but we’re also here to grow in the Lord while we’re here at Liberty.”