— Her Story
A Journey of Worship,
Ethnomusicology, and Healing.
About Rebecca Robertson
Rebecca Robertson's story begins in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, where she grew up as a Missionary Kid surrounded by the worship and languages of the global Church. At seven years old, she accepted Christ in an international congregation that shaped her earliest understanding of God's heart for the nations.
"At thirteen, God gave her a vivid vision of the throne room — every nation present, every instrument sounding, every language understood. That moment marked her calling."
Her journey into ethnodoxology began in 1999 during her first visit to the ILC campus, where she felt instantly at home among people who loved Scripture, culture, and global Kingdom work. A year later, during an ethnomusicology training in Burkina Faso, God confirmed that this field was her path. Mentors like Mary Hendershott and Tom Avery helped her see how her Missionary Kid background uniquely positioned her as a cultural bridge.
— Field study, ethnomusicology
Rebecca later served with the IMB in the Horn of Africa as an ethnomusicologist on a church‑planting team among nomadic Muslim communities. She connected with the Global Ethnodoxology Network and attended the Arts in Mission conference in London, where she met leaders who would shape her ministry for years to come. This season launched her into graduate studies focused on Islamic and Abrahamic contexts.
Her academic formation unfolded across Africa, Israel, and the United States. While living in Jerusalem, she studied modern Hebrew and took DIU classes online from her apartment late at night. A Messianic Rabbi and his wife became key mentors, helping her understand Jewish life, Scripture, and ministry in deeper ways.
Suffering & Restoration
God restored her life — and renewed her calling.
Rebecca's ministry has also been shaped by suffering. In 2024, after a sudden marital abandonment, she found herself without a home or resources. The CEWA and DIU community became her shelter — literally and spiritually — walking with her through trauma, counseling, and healing.
"God restored my life and renewed my calling, deepening my compassion for the hurting."
That season transformed her ministry — adding a tenderness and authenticity that now informs how she trains, mentors, and serves communities walking through their own seasons of loss and rebuilding.
Today
Completing her PhD. Stepping into leadership.
Today, Rebecca is completing her PhD and stepping into leadership as the new Chair of CEWA. Her calling remains the same: to build bridges across cultures, equip the global Church, and help communities worship God in spirit and truth.
