While most of the collectives dotting today’s modern worship landscape serve as the musical expression of one particular church, Central Florida’s SEU Worship was birthed not from a church, but from the collegiate community at Southeastern University in Lakeland, an inland town perfectly situated a little over an hour’s drive from both the beach in one direction and America’s theme park capital — Orlando — in another. Together, faculty, staff, students and alumni collaborate to write, record and share original songs that provide an opportunity for current students to gain relevant hands-on experience in every aspect of the music creation process.
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Although SEU Worship is new to the Air1 airwaves, the group has been quietly releasing music north of a decade. With more than a dozen projects in their arsenal, including a couple Spanish recordings, the Florida-based college has become known for its creative arts department. Offering more than 100 degree programs, Southeastern University is swiftly evolving into a leader in Christian higher education, particularly for those who feel called to worship ministry. Alumni include Elevation Worship’s Tiffany Hudson and Maverick City Music’s Sam Simon. Even more prospective students found out about the school and its unique set of offerings in early 2024 when SEU Worship was part of the “Pre-Jam Party” lineup for Winter Jam, consistently ranked as one of Christian music’s largest annual tours.
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Signed to a major label recording contract since 2020, SEU Worship’s main goal continues to be to equip the students it serves, by not only providing opportunities for them to learn how to lead worship and craft songs that glorify God, but also to supply the student body as a whole with theologically-sound anthems to carry them through their formative collegiate years and launch them into full-blown adulthood following graduation.
In turn, as SEU Worship’s reach grows beyond its own campus, they’re inspiring an entirely new generation all across the country with their timely pop songs flavored by themes that deeply resonate with youth. Other than Passion, there are very few worship entities aimed specifically at college-aged students, and SEU Worship is brilliantly filling that gap on a large scale with an educational model that allows for practical application and experiential learning, a soundscape that feels comparable to what’s popular in mainstream music and a lyrical trope that speaks the same language of today’s young adults.
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While the faces of SEU Worship are intentionally a bit of a revolving door, some consistent names continue to crop up as leaders of the collective, who are taking the reins in song creation, as well as helping to steer SEU Worship’s weekly chapel services — the main place where the worship outfit’s original offerings are always road-tested and where their records are often recorded.
Obviously gifted artists like Chelsea Plank, Jacob Lynch, Kenzie Walker, Sydney James and David Ryan Cook have all emerged as primary songwriters and vocalists for SEU Worship in recent years and are all prominently featured on the group’s latest full-length effort, “Move of God (Live).” The 11-track endeavor — released in June 2024 — includes viral hit “Monday Morning Faith,” poignant ballad “Slower I Go” and frenzied youth group favorite “FREE!”
Look for SEU Worship to be a part of more nationwide tours in the future as their impact continues to widen.
