Dust and dry earth have never withered the love of God.
From the rainless skies of Zimbabwe and Arizona to the March mud of Upland, the Lord’s character is indeed a consuming fire — one junior Chloe Pistelli and senior Tinashe Madakadze hope to honor through their own praise and passions.
One of seven teams of chapel band leaders this semester, Pistelli and Madakadze both entered their ministry with a love for worship, even before coming to Taylor.
Having served in ministry throughout high school, Madakadze, a computer science major, expressed a hunger for continuing to lead from his freshman year at Taylor University.
Madakadze became part of the band after an individual audition, and, at God’s calling, applied to become a leader a year and a half later.
“God answered my prayer,” Madakadze said simply. “I know that a lot of people really hesitate to apply for (chapel band). My advice is, just step into that … Even if you don't get it, or, if you (do) get it, just trust the process.”
It’s a theme that has seen the co-leader not only through continental moves, but through this upcoming season of life as well, as Madakadze prepares for graduation this spring.
Preparing to move to Arizona, Madakadze said he won’t be taking on a job related to his degree. Instead, he’ll be in ministry, partnering with other Christian organizations from across the globe.
Just as Madakadze expressed reliance on his faith foundation, Pistelli, too, described her faith as her bedrock, the cornerstone holding her world together in the midst of her own stress and struggles.
For Pistelli, worship is the outward expression of her faith. Auditioning for chapel band at the request of her roommate, the physics major was surprised by her introduction to the opportunity — her roommate was looking for a guitarist, not a pianist, after all.
Yet Pistelli remained open, and, on guitar, embraced the chance to fulfill a dream that she’d hidden within herself since being a prospective visitor at Taylor back in high school. Remembering the visit, Pistelli said Taylor’s chapel was one of the things that drew her to the university. Someday leading a band felt like an impossibility.
“I can't believe I actually get this opportunity,” Pistelli said. “It's just so fulfilling to be able to lead people to encounter God … because it's not just me up there encountering God, and it's not just them out there. It's us as a community, and it's so special, because worship is such an essential part of our relationships.”
Of course, that’s not to say leadership comes without challenge.
Madakadze noted the pressure and perfectionism such a performance-based role can create. More than just the issues of scheduling practice times and choosing setlists, chapel band leaders are expected to set the tone, not only for their band, but for the chapel congregation as a whole.
“It can be easy to focus so much on wanting the set to be very perfect, and then not actually realize that I should also be worshiping together with the congregation,” Madakadze said. “I've had to learn that even when the set is not perfect, at the end of the day, God is still working.”
For Pistelli, the challenge comes less through perfection and more through remembering God’s presence regardless of the emotion of a performance.
Citing “Highlands (Song of Ascent)” by Hillsong UNITED as a current favorite worship song, Pistelli acknowledged that all chapel attendants may find themselves at different points in their walk with Christ — including chapel band members themselves.
“Sometimes, I don't necessarily feel anything, and that can be discouraging at times,” Pistelli said. “But also I realize … our relationship with God is not about feeling.”
She said in those moments, prayer is what focuses her. For Madakadze, it’s quiet time alone with the Lord, often in one of the prayer chapels on campus.
The importance is on finding God and trusting him to prepare his servants for his purpose — be it in the dry season of the earth or the dust of the heart.
