One of the great joys of the ministry that I get to do is to make music with our student choir here at Cornerstone, The Celebration Singers Student Choir. Let me share why...When I was in high school, I had a friend invite me to come be a part of the youth choir at First Baptist Church in Mineola, Texas...the Chapel Choir. I enjoyed singing and playing the piano, but when I experienced the first rehearsal with that group, I was blown away. I didn't realize that sounds like that were possible with kids our age! All of it was possible because of one man who eventually had a huge impact in my life...Mr. Tommy Lander, the minister of music there at First Baptist. He expected excellence from us, and would settle for nothing less than our very best...after all, it was the Lord Jesus we were singing to and for, and who would bring his 2nd best to the King of kings?
I was inspired, and during the years that followed, I knew that one day I wanted to provide an opportunity for other students to experience the same joy, the same stirring within their souls that I had experienced. I wanted them to hear the voice of God as I had heard...after all, it was on a summer choir tour that God spoke His calling into my life.
Fast forward to the year 2000...13 students dared to take a challenge from me to sing at our first official Christmas production. Now whether out of fear, sense of duty, or love of music, I don't know...but these students stepped up to the challenge and made the first sounds that would turn into the Celebration Singers.
Working with students is a challenge, no doubt. Everyone of them in our large group (we average 80 students per week now, on a Monday afternoon of all times!) come from various backgrounds and social standing. With the incredible help of great section teachers (yes, we have come a long way!), something beyond magical occurs...it's spiritual. Young voices are blended across sections, across differences and beautiful harmony is produced.
What a beautiful picture of the body of Christ. Every section doing its job to delightful excellence, focused on not just the ability of the individual section but the bigger picture of the whole, produces something that individually is not possible...harmony. If one section lags, lacks focus or proper intonation, the whole choir suffers. If one person within the section decides to not follow proper vowel or consonant rules, the section suffers...and thus the whole. It is exactly what Paul was talking about in Romans 12. Read it.
Students, thank you for reminding me every Monday of the joy of the body of Christ.
1 comment:
Amen sir, our whole family is excited about Festival this year. It is truly an amazing experience, to have so many students singing those beautiful songs to the Lord Almighty, all at once in harmony. It is an awesome way to worship the Lord! I give thanks to you and all of our section leaders for taking the time to teach us.
In Christ,
Caitlin:~)
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