Echo Winter 2025 - 12

By Avery Bieber ('22 & '24)
T
om Ford ('91) was no stranger to a feeling of
excited anticipation as he faithfully walked
through the many doors God has opened
for him. His obedience and trust in the Lord
has allowed Ford to travel across various places in
the world, sharing his God-given musical passions.
Ford has a zeal for music, for its beauty and for
teaching others to experience its beauty.
Ford studied Bible and Music Education at Lancaster
Bible College but, before his college days, spent
the majority of his life in Taiwan as a Third Culture
Kid (TCK), where he witnessed his parents' ministry
and learned the culture and language of Taiwan,
which would serve him well in years to come.
Looking back on his education, Ford is appreciative
of LBC and the gift the college extends to families
in the mission field. " The only reason I was able to
go to college is because they offered a discount to
[Missionary Kids], " he said.
In this stateside adventure, Ford experienced
significant culture shock as well as a rigorous
schedule. Though his experience, however, was
culturally and educationally challenging, Ford
shared that he was nurtured and deeply impacted
by professors who encouraged him, both musically
and personally, including Dr. Dan Foster, Warren
Whitney, Dr. Timothy Sidebothom, Eileen Cawood
and Pat (Smith) Bleecker.
As a TCK, Ford did not have a home in the United
States. He shared, however, that Lancaster became
his home base, not only because of LBC but also
because of the community he encountered. Even
today, whenever he and his wife return stateside,
they come back to Lancaster.
12 ECHO
While choral conducting and teaching music is a
passion, Ford sees the value of the integration of
biblical truth that was central to his studies at LBC.
After teaching in many Christian schools, Ford has
learned the importance of this principle and has
modeled it in his own teaching.
" A lot of Christian schools have great teachers,
but they do not have the same biblical integration
training that I received at LBC, " he said. " I am very
grateful for this additional training to strengthen
my impact in the music classroom. "
After graduation, Ford began his teaching career
and married his wife, Faith, who later earned a
Biblical Studies degree from LBC in 2016. In 1992,
the Lord called the Fords back to Taiwan, Tom's
true home base, to work at the school he attended
while living in Taiwan. After some time and the birth
of their daughter, the Fords returned to the U.S.,
where they welcomed twin sons to the family.
While back in the U.S., Tom taught music at
Christian schools, led worship and directed choirs
in churches. In 2010, he was invited to teach at
Chengdu International School, Sichuan Province,
China. From there, Tom and Faith moved to South
Korea to teach at Seoul Foreign School for eight
years, and then to China once again to teach at
Concordia International School, one of Shanghai's
top international schools offering a holistic
American education to students from preschool
to grade 12.
Like a refrain that is repeated in a piece of music,
Ford and his family were called time and time
Echo Winter 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Echo Winter 2025
