Melodic strains and soaring notes sought to remind participants of their need to ask God to “A — Accept our adoration and praise” at the Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting Nov. 17–18 at Eastern Shore Baptist Church, Daphne. The various musical interpretations took the place of the traditional sermon interpretation that marked the other three letters of the convention theme “PRAY,” an acrostic.
Contemporary classical vocal group Veritas provided special music during the evening session Nov. 17, which was a homecoming of sorts as 4 of the 5 group members are alumni of the University of Mobile (UMobile).
Veritas tenor Jeff Anderson struck a chord on a personal level when he shared about a hard-learned lesson. When he lost his voice for seven months, Anderson never thought he’d be able to sing again.
“I had allowed my platform and my position to dictate my worth,” he explained. “But I learned a valuable lesson — God didn’t create me to sing for Him. He created me to worship Him.
“Don’t get weary in well-doing,” he encouraged. “Don’t get so busy that you forget how important it is to spend time with Christ … to be renewed daily.”
And daily renewal can occur, in part, through worship.
Keith Hibbs, director of the office of worship leadership and church music of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, said, “In so many ways [the worship] highlighted the theme and amplified the challenge to pray. Music is such a usable, important facet of church life and convention life and can be used to unite us for worship and communicate a message.”
Other individuals and groups that also participated in the musical message of “accept our adoration and praise” included Alabama Singing Men; Alabama Singing Women; pianist Frank Jones; Ronnie McCarson, senior adult minister at Cottage Hill Baptist Church, Mobile; Anna Sailors, member of First Baptist Church, Montgomery; UMobile student Collin Clardy; and the Eastern Shore Baptist choir.
From timeless favorites such as “Come Thou Fount” to Hillsong UNITED’s “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail),” participants accepted the challenge to adore and praise the Lord.
“We designed the music program … to reflect different types of music we hear in Alabama churches … from hymns to worship songs,” Hibbs said.
Share with others: