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ABOUT US

Our Story and Purpose

Diverse Church Music began with two cousins meeting for lunch at Skippy's Gyros outside Chicago. Both were Wheaton alumni and musicians who had served in churches in paid capacities. One was a professional composer/arranger who was working on a project with Proskuneo Ministries. The other was also an experienced website designer who had worked with Phil Vischer. They envisioned a website that provides take-home ideas and resources for multicultural worship that are otherwise hard to find, also connecting pastors, leaders and organizations in the unified pursuit. A few months later, the website was launched. Diverse Church Music has helped churches and organizations around the world in the pursuit of multicultural worship ministry.

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We exist to spread multicultural worship music worldwide by helping address the “how” in addition to the “why.” We connect visitors with relevant books, organizations, churches, pioneers and conferences, and we also provide thought pieces and song ideas regularly in our blogs and social media. Uniquely, Diverse Church Music provides musical transcription/arrangement services by request. If a church, for example, really wants to play a song and its sheet music isn’t anywhere in cyberspace, send us a recording (e.g. YouTube) and lyrics, and we’ll arrange it for you. We serve you in the significant venture of multicultural worship!

Our Team

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James Z. Gilliland - Co-founder and Content Creator: James has served professionally as a worship arts pastor for multicultural churches. He is also a music teacher at the School of Rock and has transcribed music for Proskuneo Ministries and churches across the U.S., Canada and Europe. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Theory/Composition from Wheaton College and a Master of Divinity in Cross-Cultural Ministries from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. James is employed at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, teaches at School of Rock and serves at New Community Covenant Church in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, IL.

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Sam Cho - Research, Transcription and Social Media Contributor. Sam is a history buff, Gospel music enthusiast, and electric guitarist extraordinaire. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies with a Certificate In Early Christian Studies from Wheaton College, where he is now pursuing a Master of Arts in Historical Theology. He teaches at the School of Rock and serves at Wellspring Alliance Church in Wheaton, IL.

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Dan O'Reagan - Co-founder, Web Designer and Bookkeeper: Dan is a technology consultant, musician and experienced web designer who has served several professional organizations in the Chicago area. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Wheaton College as well as certifications from ITIL and Project Management Institute. Dan has also served professionally in ministry and currently serves at Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, IL. 

Want to join our team as a blogger, transcriber or another way of serving our mission? Let us know through our contact form.

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