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Music and missions find common ground in Global Missions Project

  • July 24, 2022
  • Karen O. Allen
  • Featured, International News, Latest News, Ministries, Music
Worshippers gather in a German church for a Sunday morning Celebration Orchestra concert.
Photo by Karen Allen/The Alabama Baptist

Music and missions find common ground in Global Missions Project

To some, “GMP” stands for “good manufacturing practices”; to others, it is a chemical abbreviation for guanosine monophosphate; but to a growing community of instrumental musicians it means Global Missions Project. 

Missions efforts typically focus on things like medical needs, construction, Bible training or evangelism. All are meant to actualize the Great Commission, and GMP is no different except that it utilizes instrumental music. 

More than 8,000 Christian musicians have traveled with GMP to some 40 countries, blending their musical talent with their love for missions. 

Using their talents

GMP is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit, interdenominational Christian music ministry, providing opportunities for any church instrumentalist or vocalist to share the good news of Christ through their skills and talents. GMP takes teams of orchestras, jazz bands and choirs around the world to play evangelistic concerts interspersed with the gospel message. 

Celebration Orchestra gathers musicians from around the United States. Individual instrumentalists or small groups join with musicians from the host country to form a unique orchestra of strings, brass, woodwinds and percussion, performing traditional sacred and anthem-style music.  

Metro Big Band is a smaller group of jazz instrumentalists and a vocalist.

“Jazz standards from the ’40s, as well as swing versions of ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Joshua’s Battling Bones’ have audiences dancing in the streets from Volgograd to Bethlehem,” said Kathy Milburn, a 10-time GMP participant from Georgia.

“Even though the teams are very different in instrumentation and experience, it is exciting to see how united in mission every team is and how relationships develop so fast during the week we’re together,” said Richard Kingsmore, a GMP board member and arranger/orchestrator.  

Music is known to break through barriers by speaking its own “language” to connect people, enhance worship and bridge gaps. International friendships develop, as well as deeper connections among GMP participants. 

“We arrive in the host country as strangers but leave with lifelong friendships,” Milburn declared. 

History of GMP

Camp Kirkland, music director for GMP and a well-known composer, arranger and orchestrator, said the ministry started as a spinoff from conferences designed for church instrumentalists called “instrumental expos.”

“Up until that time, nothing had ever been offered for church instrumentalists,” he said.  

Kirkland and a fellow musician began to discuss whether or not church instrumentalists would be interested in using their talents through a missions endeavor. They distributed survey cards at expos and received more than 800 positive responses. GMP was born soon after. 

The first project was in June 2003 in Poland with an orchestra; the second came a month later with a jazz band in Finland. 

Although GMP started with instrumental music, it soon developed into intact groups of church choirs and orchestras led by their minister of music. In 2006 a group of 300 went to Russia, where they performed at Moscow’s Red Square. 

‘Passion’ for missions

Before COVID-19, Kirkland averaged eight trips per year, with some 125 to 37 countries since 2003. After a two-year pause, GMP is again full-scale, with trips planned throughout the year. He said he doesn’t write music much anymore because his focus is GMP. “Missions is my passion,” he said.

More host countries have been added, including Brazil, Croatia, Hungary, Guatemala, Israel and Scotland, among others. New international partners are added after they hear about GMP, and many hope to fuel their missions strategy by serving as a host country.

Relationships and referrals are vital in planning every GMP trip. If the board determines it is a good fit, the wheels are put in motion; once a project is approved, it is added to the website to begin recruitment. 

Grab your instrument and go

GMP participation is easy and cost-effective. Musicians and accompanying nonmusicians are welcome. No audition is required. Just go to the website, choose a project and register. GMP provides a project-specific flyer to be used for raising funds, and tax-deductible donations can be made online. 

Music is sent to registrants about a month before departure and rehearsals begin the first day in the host country. 

Each project includes excursions to learn about the host country’s culture, but the main focus is missions. Participants return changed and challenged. 

“It’s a wonderful experience for any musician!” said Roselyn Nicewarner, a participant from Louisiana. 

Whether an orchestra, jazz band or choir, the task is to proclaim the gospel through music and encourage the Body of Christ. 

“We want to grow our tribe,” Kirkland said. “Our goal is to get musicians out on missions.”

Discounts are available for first-timers and those who recommend them. Email info@globalmissionsproject.com for more information. 

Click below to read how a team of U.S. musicians recently served in Germany.

Team of US musicians strike a chord on German missions field

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