by Allyson O'Bryant, Student Public Relations Writer
Heartfelt worship, vulnerable conversations and gospel-centered community defined Cedarville University’s HeartSong fall tour, where ministry happened just as powerfully behind the scenes as it did on the stage. Over the course of the fall semester, student-led worship teams traveled from Cleveland, Ohio, to Kentucky, sharing music, testimonies and faith with congregations and students.
Students Share Faith Through Worship Across States
Throughout the tour, HeartSong led worship, while church pastors delivered the messages. But for the team members, ministry extended far beyond the music.
This aligns with HeartSong Ministries’ mission: “Whether at a large conference or small youth event, our teams intentionally balance music, Scripture, and life stories to engage audiences in a way that is distinctly Cedarville ... to create either a favorable first experience or enhance a long-term relationship with every person encountered on campus or on the road.”
HeartSong Builds Community Through Gospel Conversations
HeartSong is made up of student teams that travel throughout the year to churches, youth camps and conferences. Each team includes a trained leader, vocalists and instrumentalists, all serving under Cedarville’s Student Life and Christian Ministries division. That division focuses on intentional discipleship to equip students to share the Gospel in both their communities and careers.
For Carlie Shellem, a junior from Hollywood, Maryland, studying social work, it’s the personal connections that stand out about HeartSong., it’s the personal connections that stand out.
“Something that has stood out to me from the beginning of my time with HeartSong is its emphasis on people. I see this both in the ways teams are built and grown from the inside out to the intentionality present in teaching team members how valuable music is as a doorway to impacting people up close for the sake of the gospel,” said Shellem.
Music Ministry Encourages Evangelism and Discipleship
Music is not the end goal for HeartSong; it is a tool to reach others. The true impact often came from conversations sparked long after the music faded.
“Our heart is that we can lead in such a way to help everyone involved remember and respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Brandon Waltz, Director of Production Services at Cedarville. .
It was that focus on community and Christ that drew freshman Jude Burdick to Cedarville. After attending camps where HeartSong ministered, he knew he wanted to be part of it.
“It’s more gospel than it is music,” said Burdick, an IT management major from Barboursville, West Virginia. from Huntington, West Virginia.
During the tour, Burdick said God taught him to be open — both with his teammates and with the students he met on tour. Through honest conversations about struggles and faith, he saw God work.
“HeartSong is a very evangelism-heavy ministry. I grew up in Christian bubbles, so it’s pushed me to really jump out in faith and just embrace evangelism,” said Burdick.
Worship Team Reflects Christ On and Off Stage
Burdick hopes that through worship, others will better grasp the holiness and love of God.
“Worship is a response of wholehearted devotion to something,” said Burdick. “When we lead, we give them a chance to respond in wholehearted devotion to God. We want them to see His love, holiness, and face. And with palms in the air to respond to that with a posture of surrender.”
That same impact is felt by other HeartSong members.
“God has used this ministry to continually redirect and focus my heart upon what ministry truly is,” said Josiah Davenport, a HeartSong member and senior biblical studies major from Ankeny, Iowa. “I wouldn’t be who I am today without this ministry. I love HeartSong because it is all about centering on Jesus.”
With every song, every conversation and every mile traveled, HeartSong seeks to point people to Christ — not only at Cedarville, but in communities across the nation and around the world.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
