New Reign draws in prospective students with a capella music

Oklahoma Christian University students sing a capella worship songs every day in chapel⁠—so why not draw in new students with the music?

Among Oklahoma Christian’s vast array of recruiting tools is the a capella group New Reign. Sponsored by instructor of business Wes McKenzie, the group travels the country singing to spread God’s word and attract potential students.

New Reign is comprised of six current Oklahoma Christian students: seniors Kayla Gomez, Nathan Schrader, Christian Reyes and Merideth Langley, junior Jarrett Carter and sophomore Hannah Dodson.

After watching New Reign perform while attending summer camps, Carter joined the group this summer.

“I grew up seeing New Reign at camps and stuff, so when I got to college, I figured I’d try out because it seemed like a fun way to spend a summer,” Carter said.

The type of music they sing is not limited to hymns heard in chapel; instead, it has a broader range. Summer Singers is another band Oklahoma Christian sponsor, but the songs and style they have differ from that of New Reign.

“We sing Christian music,” Carter said. “Not necessarily hymns, but more like the stuff they play on K-LOVE. The purpose of New Reign and Summer Singers is the same. The only difference is the type of music we perform and the fact that New Reign is a capella singing, while Summer Singers use instruments.”

New Reign also gives students the chance to meet new people and experience new things.

“My favorite part about tour this summer was getting to know people that I probably wouldn’t have been able to get to know otherwise,” Dodson said. “New Reign allowed my life to become a ministry to love others and share the Gospel with them through song.”

Carter encourages students contemplating whether or not to join New Reign to just do it.

“Just go for it,” Carter said. “That’s what I did. Sure, I wasn’t sure if I’d make it, but you won’t know unless you put yourself out there. New Reign is important to campus because it is one way of getting students to consider coming to OC. It is a tool to reach people that might not hear about OC otherwise.”

Carter said their next performance will more than likely be Lighting of the Commons, but nothing is certain yet. as their main schedule takes place over the summer.

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