Keith Meyers, a senior at Grace Christian University, has had a transformative experience as the Chapel Worship Coordinator Intern. His story reflects the essence of Grace’s education to help students learn, grow, and serve. For Keith, this internship has been a pivotal chapter in his development as a worship leader.
A Purposeful Internship Opportunity
Keith’s path to this internship began with a unique opportunity designed just for him. Faced with the need for additional internship credits to complete his bachelor’s degree, his academic advisor stepped in to craft the Chapel Worship Coordinator Intern position. This solution reflected Grace Christian University’s commitment to student success.
What began as a way to meet academic requirements quickly became an opportunity for Keith to grow as a leader. The role wasn’t just a one-off solution but a starting point for a new internship position at Grace. Keith’s mentorship of a potential new intern for the following year ensures the position will continue to impact future students.
Learning Through Leadership
Keith’s internship taught him how to organize and lead a team effectively. His leadership went beyond assigning tasks; it was about identifying team members’ unique skills and helping them grow and develop those skills to their full potential.
“I’ve learned that leadership isn’t just about filling a need,” Keith explained. “It’s about using worship as a tool to help others grow in their skills and their desire to worship God.” This approach shifted his understanding of leadership and deepened his commitment to creating a community where chapel worship serves as a unifying space for everyone to come together in genuine praise that glorifies God.
Growing Spiritually and Personally
One of the most profound lessons Keith learned was how to live a life centered around worship. His prior experience as a worship director at a local church introduced him to the challenges of balancing personal aspirations with ministry responsibilities. While he valued the role, he felt it didn’t align with his deeper musical career goals.
At Grace, Keith’s perspective shifted. Living on campus and leading worship in a community focused on faith transformed his approach. He realized worship wasn’t just an event or a job; it was a lifestyle. “It’s something that encompasses every part of who you are, not just what you do,” he shared. “I’m learning to live a life centered around worship, rather than compartmentalizing it as a career task.”
This personal growth also extended to his spiritual life. Keith began to see worship leadership as a way to grow closer to God while helping others do the same. By aligning his spiritual goals with his professional aspirations, he found renewed purpose in his role.
Serving the Grace Community
Keith’s passion for service shines through his commitment to the Grace community. As the Chapel Worship Coordinator Intern, he didn’t just lead worship services; he invested in others. By mentoring team members, organizing chapel worship, and creating a welcoming atmosphere, Keith ensured that every chapel service he led was an opportunity for the whole campus community to connect with God.
Keith also served by making sure the chapel worship team felt prepared for each service. During worship rehearsals and chapel services, he worked closely with peers to refine their skills, ensuring every team member felt valued. His focus on development ensured that chapel worship became a meaningful time for both the leaders and the congregation.
One of Keith’s favorite chapel memories was the Christmas Chapel he helped organize. Not only was he part of the planning, but he also had the opportunity to sing a solo piece, a moment that meant so much to him. Christmas has always been Keith’s favorite season because it’s all about celebrating the birth of Jesus, our Savior. He wants to use the gifts God has given him to bring Him glory. For Keith, worship is the perfect way to turn hearts and minds back to Christ.
Balancing Growth and Service Beyond Grace
Keith’s service extended beyond Grace Christian University. Since his freshman year, he has served on worship teams at local churches, including First Baptist Church in Middleville and, more recently, Peace Church. Through these experiences, he honed his skills while building connections within the broader Christian community.
Post-graduation, Keith hopes to continue serving Grace as a full-time chapel worship coordinator. He sees immense potential in the current freshman class and dreams of helping these students develop their gifts over the next four years. His vision for the future reflects his desire to use his talents to build up Grace’s chapel ministry and inspire others to serve God through worship.
Advice for Students
Keith’s experience as an intern has given him wisdom to share with others, particularly those just starting their journeys. His advice is grounded in the principles of learning, growing, and serving:
Learn Through Taking a Step in Faith
Keith encourages students to pursue unexpected opportunities, even when they feel unqualified. He experienced this firsthand when he took a step of faith and stepped into the role of chapel coordinator. At first, the responsibility felt overwhelming, but through the internship, he grew in confidence, leadership, and his ability to serve others through worship. That experience taught him that the best lessons learned often happen when we trust God and step into the unknown.
Grow Through Mentorship
When Keith became a chapel coordinator, he quickly realized the importance of asking for support. “We don’t all have time for everything,” he noted. Balancing worship planning, schoolwork, and relationships wasn’t something he could do alone. By seeking guidance from mentors, he became a better leader and grew in ways he never expected.
Serve with Humility
As a chapel coordinator, he’s had moments where things didn’t go as planned, missed cues, technical issues, or songs that didn’t land the way he hoped. In those moments, he’s come to understand that “Mistakes are inevitable, but how you respond to them matters. If you make a mistake, take responsibility for it, but don’t let it trip you up for the rest of the journey,” Whether on stage or in his personal walk with Christ, Keith strives to keep his heart focused on service rather than perfection. He’s learned to embrace each challenge as an opportunity, trusting that God works even through missteps.
An Eternal Impact at Grace
Keith’s internship experience embodies Grace Christian University’s education philosophy to help students learn, grow, and serve. Through his leadership, spiritual growth, and dedication to service, he has left a lasting impact on the Grace community. His story shows the impact of a Bible-centered community and the potential of every student to make an eternal impact.
As Keith looks ahead, his passion for worship and service keeps growing. But more than that, he knows it’s God who has led every step of the way, bringing him to Grace, sustaining him through the challenges of college, and providing the internship that kept him here. Keith praises God for that. Because of His faithfulness, Keith has been able to pour into this community, just as the community has poured into him. Through leading worship and mentoring others, Keith remains committed to a life centered on Christ, using every opportunity to glorify Him and inspire others to do the same.
Are you ready to take the next step? Explore internship opportunities, degree programs, and more at Grace Christian University.
