By Tony Martin
Editor
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — HeartSong Youth Music and Worship Arts Camp was held June 24–28 on the campus of William Carey University, drawing 85 campers, 20 adult sponsors, and 30 staff members for a week focused on worship leadership.
The camp, hosted by the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, is designed for students who have completed grades 6 through 12. It serves as a follow-up to SMACK (Summer Music and Arts Camp for Kids), which is geared toward children in grades 3 through 6.
“HeartSong is a worship leadership camp for students,” said Kris Smith, director of the Worship Ministries Department at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board. “It’s essentially the next step after they graduate out of SMACK. It’s been in existence for a long time.”
The schedule included rehearsals for solo and talent show auditions, church group meetings, large group games, worship experiences, and a variety of classes.
Class offerings included:
- Art
- Blacklight
- Conducting
- Discerning God’s Call to Ministry
- Handbells
- Instrumental Ensemble
- MBASYCO Audition Prep
- Organ
- Recreation
- Drama (Renown)
- Social Media in Ministry
- Songwriting
- Videography
- Worship Band: Bass Guitar
- Worship Band: Guitar (Beginner and Intermediate/Advanced)
- Worship Band: Keyboard (Beginner and Intermediate/Advanced)
- Worship Band: Percussion/Drums
- Worship Planning and Leadership
- Worship Production (Sound, Video, Lights)
- Worship Team: Instrumental (audition required)
- Worship Team: Vocal (audition required)
Camp leaders and assistants included Ashley Glasz, Steve Hammick, Camren Wages, Billy Knight, Darwin Brooks, Anthony Turner, Kenny Adams, Ben Mann, Katie Rupert, Jimmy Thornhill, Matthew Gatty, Dylan Laird, Dennis Ellinburg, Judy Turner, Jennifer Pannell, Will Shadow, Allison Powell, David LeCompte, Samantha Stokes, Daniel Pannell, Katelyn Pace, Hope Nanny, Melody Thornhill, Hanna Holm, James Pannell, Mike Hudson, Carol Smith and others.
Smith emphasized that the camp is designed for leadership development in worship.
“There are some students that come just to have a good time, but so much of the camp involves individualized training for students who want to be worship leaders,” he said. “They can take worship planning and leadership classes, or classes in leading from the keyboard, guitar, or bass — learning how to use those skills to lead in church settings.”
Many campers are already involved in their local church music ministries.
“Steve Hammick from First Baptist Church in Greenville brought two students who play in his band every Sunday, and they were fantastic,” Smith said. “It was their first year at HeartSong, and Steve texted me that Sunday saying, ‘My guys are raving about this.’ These days, many churches don’t have traditional student choirs, but students are still leading — on praise teams, playing instruments, or singing.”
The camp culminated in a worship concert at the end of the week.
“The students had choral rehearsals, an instrumental ensemble performed, the blacklight team did a presentation, the drama group introduced songs — there aren’t many camps where students walk away with something to show like that,” Smith said.
Smith also encouraged churches to consider sending students even if they don’t have large youth music programs.
“A lot of guys think they’ve got to take a big group to camp, and they don’t,” Smith said. “If you have even one student showing aptitude or sensing a call to ministry, send them. We can pair them with another group for devotions or small group time. But don’t wait for a big group. Even one student can benefit tremendously.”
