Music camps educate, heighten ministry awareness

Music camps educate, heighten ministry awareness

It was a time of worship with a  twist as boys and girls practiced singing and playing instruments for the glory of the Lord. The children worked hard in class each day so they could be at their best for a camper talent show and share time at the end of each week.
   
More than 700 children spent part of their summer vacation at Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center as participants in the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions’ (SBOM) Older Children’s Music Weeks held July 15–19 and July 22–26. Children in grades 3–6 represented churches in Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and across Alabama.
   
Much of the children’s time was spent in classes preparing for a camper talent show and share time held each week.
   
Teachers chose themes for their classes, but all curriculum included teaching everything from hand bells to music reading skills to rhythm skills. Classes also included craft time, with the children using the theme of their class as an inspiration for artwork.
   
The theme of the worship sessions was teaching the children how to build a good life.
   
“We feel like the young people who come get about three months’ worth of music education,” said Keith Hibbs, program director and associate in the SBOM’s office of worship leadership and church music.
   
“Of course, we are interested in evangelizing that age and we always have decisions made for Christ, both first time commitments and rededications. Often, we have someone who [feels] a vocational calling,” he added.
   
Hibbs estimated that nearly 10 decisions were made throughout the two-week period.
   
“Our faculty is always amazed at the number of kids they see each year that come back and remember them, so they establish relationships. Not only a teaching relationship, but a friendship and a kind of mentoring relationship with the kids,” Hibbs said. “We have many campers who come back years later … to be camp workers or counselors, and they always remember the teachers they had and the impact those teachers had in their lives.”
   
One example is J.T. Harrell, who grew up attending music week sessions and is now minister of music of First Baptist Church, Gadsden.
   
This was Harrell’s fifth year as a faculty member at Shocco, and he said the most important thing he learned from the children was that they come from a variety of backgrounds seeking the same thing — a deeper relationship with Christ.
   
The theme Harrell chose for his class, “A Heart Like Christ,” seemed to reflect what he obviously hoped to communicate to his students.
   
“We feel like the impact made on the young people during those two weeks is a lasting impact not only for state convention work but mainly for the local church,” Hibbs said.
   
“The amount of instruction they receive definitely benefits the local church music ministry and their awareness of the state music ministry is heightened.”