New Chapel Ministry Team Announced
As part of the expanded Spiritual Life vision, Abby Dingus and Grant Parker will lead Lipscomb Academy’s chapel experience effective August 1, 2021. Abby and Grant will work in concert with Melanie Grogan and Amy Welch, new directors of spiritual life, to deliver spiritually formative experiences encouraging profound encounters with God.
“Psalms 63:1 reminds us there should be an earnest thirst for worship within each of us. I want our students to thirst for chapel as the Psalmist thirst for water in a dry, parched land,” stated Dr. Brad Schultz, head of school. “Abby and Grant exude that thirst for worship. It’s hard not to be swept up in their Godly joy and enthusiasm for worship once you begin talking and listening to them.”
The daughter of Ugandan missionaries, Abby has spent her life helping others walk into freedom through a life in Christ. Modeling the example practiced by her parents, she chose the path of ministry sharing the transformative power of a relationship with Christ. Appointed worship and college pastor in 2017 in Searcy, Arkansas, after a two-year internship, Abby dedicates her time leading and mentoring young adults.
"I am beyond grateful to be a part of the Lipscomb Academy community. As I hear more about the vision for spiritual life that Grant and I get to be a part of, the more excited I become. It will be such an honor to teach, empower, lead, and serve Lipscomb students in cultivating a life of worship,” said Abby. “If worship is only based on our feelings or passion, we will find that it is not sustainable. However, if we worship God through our numbness or doubt, we find something far more beautiful on the other side. I believe that God wants to meet us in our honest worship, and that is what I desire for this community to experience."
Abby graduated from Harding University with a Bachelor’s of Arts in General Studies emphasizing Bible and Public Relations. She additionally graduated from Ten Thousand Fathers Worship School (2019), an institution focused on training, purposeful coaching, and spiritual mentoring for worship leaders and pastors. Currently, Abby has completed the first year of spiritual direction training at Lipscomb University’s Institute for Christian Spirituality. She will be moving to Nashville this summer with her husband, Kyle.
“Abby and Grant will be a wonderful addition to our campus,” said Melanie Grogan. “They are both passionate about holding space for others to commune with God. Their passion for helping people connect with the Father, Son, and Spirit exceeds far beyond chapel. We are excited about the energy they will bring.”
Grant, a Nashville native and Lipscomb Academy graduate, has lifelong experience in worship. He, like Abby, followed the example of his father, a worship minister for more than two decades, and now uses his passion to further the Kingdom. A graduate of Lipscomb University with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Music with an emphasis in Contemporary Music Production, Grant has been a worship leader at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ since 2016.
“I’m so excited to come back and be a part of the Lipscomb community again!” said Grant. I’ve entrenched myself in theology and worship for the last few years, and I truly believe that God has intentionally prepared me to be here. I’ve been hoping and praying for an opportunity to use my gifts to serve the Lord, and I can’t think of a better place to be.”
Grant values community and views life through the lens of the mission field - everywhere God plants him is a pastoral opportunity. He brings his talent of inspiring youths and adults to worship to Lipscomb Academy in hopes of leading others into the throne room of God.