Student follows God’s call through ‘Christ-centered’ performance, study

For Alfred Situmorang, a Doctor of Musical Arts student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, following God’s calling on his life meant leaving his native country and bringing his family with him. Since he felt called to lead others in worship and then teach others to do the same, he does this through his studies and practice while in school.

Living in Jakarta, Indonesia, Situmorang grew up in a Christian home where both of his parents were strong believers. It was not until he was in college, however, that Situmorang said he heard a sermon that changed his life.

“I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior during my college years in 1993,” Situmorang said. “I had this traditional Christian background, but it was more of a formality. It did not become my reality until I heard someone preach a sermon on Romans 3:23 and I realized that I had fallen short of God’s glory.”

Since his salvation, Situmorang has sought ways to serve God through his gifts. His main gift is through playing the piano.

“I have loved playing piano for a long time,” Situmorang said. “I find it easy to worship God while I am playing songs that praise Him.

While living in Jakarta, Situmorang attended a masterclass on how to be a church pianist taught by Don Wyrtzen, a leading figure in Christian music known for his skills on the piano from Mansfield, Texas. While he was already serving as a church pianist, Situmorang felt that it was a good thing to attend the class to understand more about how one can lead worship from the bench of a piano.

“While Dr. Wyrtzen was teaching this class, I played for him and talked with him for a little bit,” Situmorang recalled. “He mentioned to me about Southwestern and that I should apply to the school and for scholarships. That was in 2012 and then in 2015, I came to Southwestern to begin my studies.”

Situmorang and his family moved from Indonesia to Fort Worth, Texas, to follow God’s calling on his life. During his time on Seminary Hill, Situmorang has learned from many different professors about how to refine his gifts, but also how to practically live as a minister of the Gospel.

“I think I am very prepared for the ministry God has called me to because of what I have learned here,” Situmorang said. “I have learned how to balance my life between being a musician and being a theologian” and “how to incorporate my theological beliefs into what I am doing.”

He added that he has learned how to make his performing “Christ-centered more than just self-centered.” He said that the importance of his performance is more about who he is performing for, God, rather than what he is performing.

Situmorang enjoys being able to practically apply what he has learned in the classroom as he is the accompanist and traditional service pianist at First Baptist Church of Burleson, Texas. He plays for the traditional service, choirs, guest singers, and collaborators that may require a pianist.

“I have served at First Baptist Burleson since 2018 and I have been serving under Dr. Nathan Burggraff,” Situmorang said. “It is nice because he is my doctoral supervisor, so I know that I will not have any scheduling conflicts between church and school, but it is also nice that I get to see him in action as a worship leader.”

At Southwestern, Situmorang is the accompanist for Southwestern A Cappella, a select student ensemble from the School of Church Music and Worship. He said that his greatest highlights of working with the group are “getting to work with students and going to conferences like the Sing! Conference,” referencing the annual international music conference hosted by worship leaders Keith and Kristyn Getty.

He began his time at Southwestern in 2015 knowing that he wanted to serve God in some ministerial capacity, but he has kept his hands open for how God will use him.

“So far as where I want to end up or what I want to do, I will rely on God,” Situmorang said. “He is going to deploy me wherever He wants me. As far as my plan, I feel called to three areas: teaching, performing, and church music ministry.”

He added that he sees performing and teaching as “inseparable” because “how can you teach your students without giving examples to them?”

Though Situmorang said he enjoys learning new theories and methods for church music history, he enjoys learning from esteemed scholars the most.

“My music history professor, Dr. Allen Lott, is like a living encyclopedia,” Situmorang said. “He has been very influential in my studies here as I feel like I can learn so much from him since he is the longest-serving professor here.”

Situmorang added that Burggraff, his doctoral supervisor and associate professor of music theory at Southwestern Seminary, is influential in his life as he works closely with him.

While he thinks there are many things to consider when someone feels God calling them to ministry, Situmorang said that prospective students, whether a student from the U.S. or another country, should consider three things when discerning God’s call.

“When God calls you to church music ministry, I think you need to look at schools and places that can equip you in three areas,” Situmorang said. “I think you need to make sure they are good academically, that they are good theologically, and that they are good at equipping people for local church ministry.”

He added that Southwestern Seminary is good in those three areas and that “students who want a well-rounded education should consider Southwestern.”

Situmorang and his family moved thousands of miles from Jakarta, Indonesia, to follow God’s calling on his life. Though it is not the easiest of subjects to study, he feels that he is continuing to follow God’s calling by studying at Southwestern.