Prophetic orchestra

Justin Rizzo - Worship Leader
Follow Justin on Twitter - justinrizzoihop
Justin grew up in Lockport, New York and moved to IHOP in January 2004 where he completed the onething internship. His desire is to minister in the house of the Lord by singing and proclaiming the Word of God and to see thousands impacted with the gospel.


Why this blog exists (this was originally posted by Justin back in March 2010)

Josue Vazquez – Alto Saxophone
Josue grew up in Cuernavaca, Mexico and came to IHOP in September, 2006. His passion in life is to be part of an army of worshipers that are trained in the order of heavenly knights to strategically destroy the forces of the evil one and break in with light and The Truth bringing freedom to the captives.

Krista Bowker - Flute, recorder, penny whistle, team caterer 
Krista's site - www.kristahope.com
Krista Bowker grew up in Salina, KS and has been on staff at IHOP for one year. Her goal in life is to partner in preparing for the return of the Lord and raising up the house of prayer in the nations of the earth.


“Christ in you the hope of glory.”

Susanna Erwin - Violin 
Susanna grew up in Hot Springs, AR and moved to IHOP in August 2006. Her passion is to intercede on her violin for the ending of human trafficking and to see orphans loved and adopted.


I remember my heart screaming that out in the practice room 2 years ago. This was not an uncommon emotion for me. I had been playing violin on and off since I was seven and never really landed on the "why" behind what I was doing. I had done the worship teams, the "let's try to 'make it'" rock bands, and had tried out the classical world, but nothing seemed to fit. True, at times each of those things satisfied an itch but as I grew closer to the Lord my appetite for fame and pleasure outside of Christ was ruined.

My heart was to serve Him and love His people.

Robert Kurtz - Upright bass
Robert grew up in Lindenhurst (Chicago), IL and moved to IHOP in January 2010 where he now attends the Forerunner Music Academy. His passion is to increasingly know and enjoy God & His Word, and to excel as a prophetic instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, & worship leader so that he would be prepared to serve & teach in a house of prayer context long-term in the nation of Spain.


Music has always been a big part of my life.  When I was a child my mother would play tapes while I was falling asleep of anything from Psalty the Singing Songbook to the golden oldies.  Growing up I was involved in singing in school & church activities, piano lessons, and playing the baritone horn in school band.  However, things took a whole new turn in the summer before 8^th grade.

Catherine McIntire - Cello
Catherine's blog - www.pureweakness.com
Catherine grew up in Rochester, MN and moved to IHOP in July 2005 where she completed the Onething Internship. Her passion is bringing holy encounter and healing to wounded hearts through music.


Praying with an instrument carries a high price tag. A musician who desires excellence, especially a string player, must give a large part of his or her life to growing musically. Hours upon hours are spent alone in a room with my cello. Staring at the wall or the practice mirror. Wondering why such a large percentage of my brief life is being sown into this expensive tool. 

Sometimes practicing brings far more questions than answers.

Chris Hawthorn - Trumpet
Chris grew up in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and moved to IHOP in August 2007 where he attended the Forerunner Music Academy. Chris desires to write and play music that will invite the manifest presence of the Lord, that the sick will be healed, the oppressed will be set free, and the hearts of believers and unbelievers alike will be inspired by the beauty and worth of Jesus.


I’m amazed at how the Lord has led me to where I am today in regards to playing my trumpet in the prayer room.  Looking back to when I started playing in a worship environment, I signed up for all the wrong reasons.

In this generation the Lord is marking and calling forth a new breed of singers and musicians that like David have the pursuit of ministering unto Him first and foremost (Ps. 27:4). These ones will lead others with knowledge and understanding because beyond simply knowing facts about Him they are actually pursuing a relationship with the person of Christ.