Date

5-23-2025

Department

School of Music

Degree

Master of Arts in Ethnomusicology (MA)

Chair

Kimberly Martin

Keywords

Multicultural Worship, Multicultural Church, International Church

Disciplines

Music

Abstract

This study follows Praise International Ministry (PIM), part of Praise Assembly of God in Springfield, Missouri, United States, for their first year of ministry. The pastor of the ministry is a Korean immigrant, and the ministry has served people from at least ten different nations, including China, Japan, Mexico, and Egypt. The goal of the study was to find out how a congregation made up of multiple cultures could attain unity.

To answer the above question, the researcher observed the congregation by attending services, as well as serving on the worship team and attending leadership meetings. In addition, she conducted in-person interviews and an online survey. The key findings were that attendees learned more about each other and God by being in a congregation with people different than them. Creating an environment that encouraged conversation was the most beneficial aspect of the ministry. With the findings, the researcher created a five-module curriculum that can be used for a workshop to teach church leaders how to introduce multicultural worship in their congregations.

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