Asbury students perform on the National Mall while sharing the Gospel through a transformative experience
Asbury University’s Salvation Army Student Fellowship (SASF) Brass Band and Vocal Ensemble recently brought music and ministry to the heart of Washington, D.C., offering students a powerful opportunity to combine artistic excellence with Gospel witness. Led by Dr. Nathan Miller, Asbury Associate Professor of Music, more than 30 students traveled to the nation’s capital as part of a thriving partnership with The Salvation Army.
The Asbury SASF ensemble performed at prominent locations on the National Mall, including the World War II Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial, during a weekend that drew more than 500,000 visitors for major public events, the National Kite Festival, and peak cherry blossom season.
Our students not only performed with excellence but also bore witness to the Good News of the Kingdom of God.”
Miller’s words capture the dual purpose of the trip: to refine students’ musical craft while equipping them to live out their faith in public and meaningful ways.
Experiences like this prepare Asbury students to confidently integrate their vocation and calling, developing both professional-level skill and a deeply rooted sense of mission.
Beyond public performances, Asbury (AU) students led ministry in more personal settings. They organized and led a fully student-directed worship service at a Salvation Army residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, offering encouragement through music and testimony to individuals in recovery. The AU group also led worship for a Salvation Army congregation in Montgomery County, Maryland, extending their impact beyond the crowds of the Mall into local communities.
The trip also highlighted the strength of Asbury’s community. Alumnus Mark Ridenour ’81 joined the group, mentoring students and investing in their growth, while two incoming freshmen participated in several performances, gaining early exposure to Asbury’s distinctive approach to music and ministry. These moments reflect a culture where learning extends beyond the classroom and relationships shape both artistic and spiritual formation.
This momentum aligns with the Music Department’s broader excellence, seen recently in productions like “The Old Maid and the Thief,” which showcase the talent and creativity among Asbury students. Together, these experiences demonstrate how AU prepares musicians not just to perform, but to serve with purpose wherever they are called.
The Asbury University Music Department offers a Music major (with emphases in composition and arranging, instrumental performance, pre-music therapy, vocal performance, and church music leadership), a Music Education major (with emphases in general music education, instrumental music education, vocal/choral education, and combined instrumental/vocal education), and a Music minor.