Senior adult choirs work well as outlet for outreach, fellowship and service

Music is a vital part of the worship experience for most Christians, and senior adults are increasingly involved in the music ministries of Alabama Baptist churches. 
   
Ray Burdeshaw, a state missionary who serves as the director of the worship leadership and church music office for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, said senior adult choirs have become what youth choirs used to be.
   
“Senior adult choirs are eager, excited and committed,” Burdeshaw said. 
   
Although the exact number of senior adult choirs in Alabama is unknown, there are certainly thousands of senior adults participating in some sort of music ministry in churches each week, Burdeshaw said. 
   
Special events like the Senior Adult Choir Festivals held each year are well attended, according to Burdeshaw, and are something the seniors look forward to and plan for each year.
   
J.T. Harrell, minister of music at First Baptist Church, Gadsden, calls senior adult choir practice the highlight of his week. 
   
The choir meets each week for a 45-minute rehearsal and usually sings at church once each quarter. 
   
They also sing for senior adult revivals and other special programs, including their annual choir tour, which has taken them to New England, the Midwest and other areas of the country. 
   
Through his work with senior adults, Harrell has seen how important this group is to the overall ministry of the church. 
   
“These people are the ones who are reaching out, who are here on a weekly basis and who are truly the pillars of the church,” Harrell said.
   
Billy Rich, minister of music at Southside Baptist Church, Dothan, said many of his senior adult choir members say they live for their Tuesday morning gatherings.
   
“A lot of them are older and by themselves now,” Rich said. “We get together in the morning, and then they go eat together or go visit someone in the hospital. It’s exciting to see them still be willing to get involved in ministry as well as be ministered to.”
   
Sue Adams, a member of the Joy Singers choir at Cottage Hill Baptist Church, Mobile, said her participation in this year’s senior adult choir musical and choir tour has been very enjoyable and meaningful. 
   
She said the fellowship with other members has been wonderful for her as well.
   
“Two years ago, my husband died, and I truly need the fellowship of this group,” Adams said. “I would really encourage other churches to [allow senior adults to minister] like this.”
   
For churches contemplating a senior adult music ministry, there are a few needs to consider. From a music perspective, Rich said, music selections may need to be simpler than other choir arrangements.
   
“There is a lot of music that has been written for senior adults, with ranges that aren’t quite as high, maybe written in two parts instead of four,” Rich said. 
   
“For a church that’s just getting started, a larger church in the association might be willing to share music they’ve used in the past.”
   
In addition to selection of music, Harrell said he is careful about the time senior adults are required to sing and gives breaks during rehearsals to allow their voices to rest.
   
Access to the choir area can also be a challenge for some senior adults. 
   
Often choir lofts are elevated, which means climbing stairs to get there and then maneuvering steps and chairs once in the choir area. 
   
For this reason, Rich said each time the senior adult choir sings, he has ushers stationed at the stairs ready to assist members up and down and to remind them of the steps. 
   
Harrell is quick to say the challenges of a senior adult choir ministry are outweighed by the benefits the choir offers, specifically in the example senior adults set for younger members of the congregation.
   
“Many people have the idea that senior adults are stuck in their ways, but I’ve found that senior adults are willing to do whatever you need them to,” Harrell said.
   
“They realize there is another generation coming up, and they want to see youth, children and young adults involved in the church. They want the church to have a strong heritage and legacy.”