Southern Baptists who gathered for the state convention Nov. 18–19 at Cottage Hill Baptist Church in Mobile enjoyed several different styles of music at each session.
The University of Mobile’s (UM) University Singers opened up the first session Tuesday morning with the contemporary chorus, “Open the Eyes of My Heart.”
“We decided to have the choirs from the Baptist colleges perform at the conventions,” said Ray Burdeshaw, director of the office of worship leadership and church music at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. “We’ll be using choirs from Judson College and Samford University at future conventions.”
Aubrey Brook McGinnis, a member of UM’s University Singers, said she enjoyed the experience.
“It was a good way to get our name out there and expose people to our music. We also had a good audience,” McGinnis said. Elizabeth Godfrey, daughter of convention President Joe Godfrey, also sang in Tuesday morning’s session, just prior to Godfrey’s address.
Burdeshaw has been working all year making arrangements for the different people and groups who sang at the convention.
He said, “I knew the styles of different groups, and I wanted there to be a varied presentation that would meet the needs of all the people here. I chose the ensemble from Spring Hill because they’re a wonderful group, and it’s convenient for them to be here since they’re in Mobile.”
The ensemble from Spring Hill Baptist Church, Mobile, sang during the Tuesday afternoon session.
They were followed by the Alabama Singing Men and the Alabama Singing Women during the Tuesday evening session.
The Alabama Singing Men opened with a Celtic tune, “In Christ Alone.”
The Alabama Singing Women sang a version of “I Sing the Mighty Power of God,” and then the Singing Men and Singing Women came together to sing a powerful arrangement of “Fairest Lord Jesus.”
Wednesday morning took a more contemporary turn with performances by a group from First Baptist Church, North Mobile, led by Music Minister Jason Breland.
The last musician to take the stage at this year’s state convention was Butch Franklin, a member of Cottage Hill Baptist Church.
“Pastor Jay Wolf of First Baptist Church in Montgomery requested that ‘I Can Only Imagine’ be sung, so I asked Butch Franklin to sing,” Burdeshaw said.
Accompanying each choir on the organ was Cottage Hill’s Duane Plash.
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