Montana Bible College Launches New Worship Leadership Degree Programs
- Mandi Foster
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
Certificate, Associate, and Bachelor's degree options available Fall 2026
Don’t you love a great worship song? As believers, we look forward to Sunday mornings at church, gathered with fellow believers, and singing songs to the Lord. Here at Montana Bible College, we have a similar experience at chapel services, joining in song to God.
As a Christian college, MBC is always eager to offer new opportunities to students. The ultimate goal is for them to use what they have learned for the glory of God and the edification of others. As MBC’s new mission statement declares:
Montana Bible College provides quality education that shapes Christian leaders through Academics, Service, and Discipleship.
Worship is an integral part of the advancement of Christ’s Church as well as an integral part of the Christian walk. Thus, beginning in fall 2026, Montana Bible College is launching a new Worship Leadership Program!
Chairing the program is Joanna King, wife of Montana Bible College President Joe King. Joanna holds a Master of Divinity in Worship Leadership from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. She has served as a worship leader in a variety of church and ministry contexts for nearly 30 years.
As she prepares for this new role as chair, Joanna took some time to share her vision and excitement for this new opportunity for MBC students.
Question: Can you give an overview of this new program at MBC and what it entails?
Answer: This new endeavor has three degree programs (Certificate, Associate, and Bachelor) to meet the needs of worship leaders who serve in volunteer or vocational ministry positions. The program offers classes that range from technical aspects of planning services, arranging music, and leading bands or ensembles to the history and theology of music in the church. The BA also adds classes to prepare the student for broader church ministry applications.
Q: Tell me about your passion for this program!
A: I see worship as an integral part of sharing the gospel, especially in a church setting. Through music that teaches and touches hearts, worship leaders can use their gifts and their teams to till the soil of the heart to prepare it to receive the Word. I’m passionate about future worship leaders understanding the importance of their role.
Q: What will your new role entail?
A: As Chair of the Worship Leadership Program, I have already worked with our VP of Academics and Registrar to line out the specific courses we will be offering for the various degrees. Our goal is to utilize students within the program to assemble a worship team for weekly chapel services. In that context, students will get hands-on experience planning worship services and technical support. As Chapel Director, I will also be coordinating with local speakers and presenters so our chapel experiences are enriching for students, staff, and faculty.
Q: What is your vision for the program for the present and future?
A: I’ll be doing a lot of the teaching initially. The hope is that as this program grows, we will be able to bring on other highly qualified instructors to offer more classes for musical proficiency. I’d love us to be able to offer a student choir or ensemble. But mostly, I want the program to be pleasing to the Lord. It exists for His glory.
Q: What do you hope students will gain and take into future ministry after the completion of this degree?
A: We don’t want to follow trends, but the trends do inform us that people are hungry for worship experiences. We need to make sure we are feeding them substance. This program seeks to prepare future worship leaders for taking on this responsibility.
We have to make sure that time spent in worship is scriptural, singable, and supportive of the delivery of the Word. We do not entertain. We evangelize. We encourage. We exalt Jesus.
And as He says in John 12:32, “When I am lifted up, I will draw all people to myself.”
Q: Anything you want to share would be fantastic!
A: I felt called to ministry when I was 14. I got my first guitar when I was 15 years old. Worship choruses were rapidly becoming the heart language of my generation of Christian youth. I immediately started learning those songs and using them to lead children and other youth in worship. I started playing with the worship team at the Baptist Student Union my freshman year at the University of Mississippi. By spring semester, I was leading the team. I got to attend the very first Passion conference and attend a breakout session for worship leaders led by Louie Giglio. It was there I committed myself to remembering and sharing his definition of worship:
“Worship is our response, both personal and corporate, to God for Who He is and what He’s done, expressed in and by the things we say (or sing) and the way we live.”
The mission of MBC is to equip students to become effective disciple-makers.
I hope that through this program, we teach students who teach others who teach others…you get the idea…what it means to truly worship Christ.
Joanna’s heart for this program is clear, and MBC is blessed with her experience and leadership. She is passionate, excited, and ready to begin! As she reiterated, MBC’s mission statement is to equip students to be disciple makers. No matter where they go or what they do, MBC’s ultimate goal is for students to show Jesus to the world.
This new Worship Leadership program will enable musically inclined students to share the love of Jesus with every note.
For more information on Montana Bible College's new Worship Leadership degree programs, please visit https://www.montanabiblecollege.edu/bachelors-degrees/worship-leadership.