波拜, 佩珀代因大学’s campus worship collective, has released their first full-length album on 所有流媒体服务. Composed of 12 original songs and centered around the themes “encounter” and “everywhere,” the self-titled album developed from the creative efforts of Pepperdine students, staff, and alumni, who came together over three years in an effort to elevate the name of Jesus.

“These songs come from God's heart,” says Lily Salanty, 佩珀代因大学’s associate director of worship and one of the staff leaders of 波拜. “Our students, staff, and alumni are responding in creativity with the Holy Spirit’s leading as we write and shepherd these songs in worship for Pepperdine’s student body and beyond to authentically encounter Christ. This album is an offering to the Lord, and I’m so excited to see what comes from its release.”

从天堂下载歌曲

Based out of Pepperdine’s 属灵生活中心, 波拜—and its first album—was created as a direct result of the campus’ vibrant and expanding worship movement. Responding to God’s prompting presence in 2022, students and staff members naturally came together in an effort to musically chronicle the lessons the Lord was teaching them. Over time, this collaborative practice developed an authentic community of creatives, who, in turn, drafted some 60 songs meant to honor and glorify God.

“I had never written a song in my life,” admits Amelia Mordan, a 西维尔大学 senior and one of the singer/song writers featured on the album. “I had always been a singer and musician, but never a song writer—I didn’t believe I could be one. I came in lacking confidence, but the 波拜 team around me told me, ‘You can do this. It is a gift you’ve been given.’”

Salanty and Ko Ku, worship director for 波拜, as well as worship staff members Jadyn Gaertner and Jordan Seah (’15), encouraged their undergraduate collaborators by hosting writing retreats, prayer and worship nights, as well as community songwriting sessions. In the midst of these different events, the staff members sparked creativity within the group by developing song writing challenges aimed at helping students to have fun, discover new genres, and find unexpected songs.

One of these writing challenges specifically helped Mordan develop her first piece of music. The activity called upon participants to draft a song based on a piece of scripture in the style of a particular musical artist. Both of these components were chosen at random out of a hat. Mordan选择了以赛亚书26:3和Taylor Swift。 The challenge sparked the new songwriter’s creative process and, within twenty minutes, she had drafted a verse and a chorus. Mordan’s song developed into a track called "You and Me," which focuses on the peace God provides his children. The song can be found on the newly released album.

“我在写作过程中学到了很多，”Mordan说。 “It challenged me to look to my mentors and ask them questions about faith. I’ve never been an individual learner, and so songwriting has allowed me to learn more about God with my peers.”

This edifying, communal experience was echoed by Nathan Lee (’25), an alum of WAVES WORSHIP and current Pepperdine staff member. Similar to Mordan, Lee had never written a song prior to joining Pepperdine’s worship collective. By engaging with the writing process, he discovered a new passion that furthered his Christian faith. Now six of the songs Lee wrote can be found on the collective’s inaugural album, including "无处不在”—one of the latest singles released by the group.

“为这张新专辑创作改变并提升了我与耶稣的联系，”李说。 “It has taught me what it means to listen and be in communication with the heart of God. You have to listen when writing worship songs because we’re downloading these songs from Heaven.”

In total, 13 Pepperdine students ended up contributing their talents as song writers, musicians, or vocalists to the full length album. This direct connection with the undergraduate student body was integral in shaping the direction of the overall project.

处处遇见上帝

Guided by the themes “encounter” and “everywhere,” the album was whittled down to 12, meaningful tracks that explore what it means to experience God in all places—a message that is relevant to college students as they navigate and discover their own sense of faith.

“我总是说，歌曲来自我们生活的土壤，”萨兰蒂说。 “Worship artists tend to write about what God is teaching them. Our students are in college, and they're relating to one other in what they are walking through as they songwrite together. It always fills me with wonder because, all of a sudden, we start finding lyrics and melodies and building off of that.”

Salanty reports that, in the composition process, the group was not aware that the themes of “encounter” and “everywhere” would float to the surface. Instead, they focused on being vulnerable and honest with one another about how God was currently moving in their lives. In the end, the themes sprouted from the group’s shared experiences as students, alumni, and staff members.

“这张专辑将给人们带来转变，”Mordan说。 “Hearing those you trust sing about something you’re not sure of can be very comforting for me, and I think it could be very comforting to a lot of people at Pepperdine who are wrestling with faith.”

This past April, 波拜 hosted a writers round where the students and staff shared the songs they wrote and the testimonies behind them with friends and family. “It was the first time some of the seeds of these songs were planted back into the soil of Pepperdine” Salanty explains. “The response from the students attending was absolutely beautiful. 主与那地方同在，感动人心。”

Beyond its relevance to Pepperdine and the University’s student body, the 波拜 album, its homegrown songs, and its insightful themes represent a landmark creative achievement for the campus. The three year song writing, recording, and mastering process signifies an enduring commitment to helping students experience God in new and exciting ways.

“Even if just one student listens to this album and encounters the heart of the Father, it will have all been worth it,” says Salanty.

波拜 现在可以流媒体和下载， 无论你在哪里听音乐。