By Lindsey Williams
Writing Specialist
The Mississippi Baptist Young Musicians Honor Choir seeks to show children that “their voice matters in worship.” Whether from a church or a school, rising 4-6 graders who have a sincere desire to sing can submit a video audition for a weekend of choral singing and worship arts, on Sept. 21-22, at First Church Florence.
Saturday will include all-day activities, followed by a worship concert performed by the hardworking Honor Choir children. Sunday morning, the Honor Choir will participate alongside the host church in their worship service.
Honor Choir kids get to try worship arts they may have never tried before, such as handbells, black light performances, percussion pieces, songs in sign, and more. “Our desire is to let the Lord guide us with the music choices,” said Wyndy South, MBCB’s Consultant of Worship Ministries and Coordinator of the Young Musicians Honor Choir. “Once we have an idea of where He’s directing us, we choose the worship arts that will align with that. My team is amazing, and we plan all of these activities so the kids can have an incredible weekend of worship.”
“We always plan to learn a song in a foreign language. We also sing one or two hymns, a contemporary song, and we learn a lot of Scripture. With visual arts, the kids share the message of salvation, and they themselves get to see that as they practice it. A lot of kids who join Honor Choir have also been a part of the Keyboard Festivals, and then they will go to SMACK (Summer Music and Arts Camp for Kids), too. So the seeds are being planted, watered, and grown with each of these worshipful events. I had the joy of seeing seven kids who came through these three events be saved and baptized last year.”
“We want these children to know their voices matter in worship,” South affirmed. “I don’t think they necessarily go into this event thinking, ‘I need to make a difference,’ but they come with an exuberance about these fun activities they get to do, and we get to share Jesus with them through these exciting worship arts. I really think one day they will look back and go, ‘Look how wonderful this was — Look what I got to do,’ and it will stay with them.
“All of this is possible because of what God has done in every team member’s lives and the way they serve God, their church, and these kids. I’m very fortunate that my team is just like a family, and they understand why we do what we do.”
The public is invited to attend the Saturday night concert Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m., free of charge, and witness the Honor Choir present amazing choral singing and worship arts.
“We hope churches find more ways to let their kids participate,” said South. “Whether they have four kids or 40, churches can sing intergenerational songs, let them play the keyboard for a prelude, or let them sing a song they have learned, with their voice or in sign, as an offertory. That’s a wide-open door for children to know their voice in worship is not only heard, it matters.”
For more information about auditions, visit Worship for Children & Students – Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (mbcb.org) for the 2024 Audition Form, and Young Musicians Honor Choir Concert – Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (mbcb.org) for additional information. The Video Audition Deadline is April 15.
The Mississippi Baptist Young Musicians Honor Choir is supported by the Cooperative Program. The Worship Ministries Department leads children in worship arts and plants seeds for the Gospel to grow.
