Thank you To the Moody Bible Institute’s Symphonic Band Members!

On Friday, January 15 the First Baptist Church in Mattoon, Illinois hosted the Moody Bible Institute’s Symphonic Band on the first concert of their Winter Tour Several months of preparation led up to this event. The American Baptist Men cooked and hosted a soup supper for both the band members and the community.  Many people graciously shared their gifts of hospitality to provide housing and food for the young people.  Others served as ushers and some brought friends to attend the concert.          

The group arrived and worked together like a well-oiled machine.  Each student knew his or her responsibility and almost 50 instruments were set up in short order.  The group’s President, Vice-President and other officers introduced themselves and quickly got to work.  The conductor, David Gauger II must surely be proud of such fine musicians and young men and women.          

It was our blessing to be able to enjoy such a wonderful musical program.  Over and over again I was told by the host families what extremely polite and gracious houseguests these young people proved to be.          

I’m looking at the publicity flyer of the Symphonic Band that is hanging on my bulletin board.  Prior to January 15 these were just a sea of faces of a group in concert dress.  Now when I look at the picture I think of the beautiful music they played, the stirring dramatic presentation that they premiered in our sanctuary and their quick laughter and joy that followed this group of God’s ambassadors.           

Thank you for coming to Mattoon and please keep spreading your word and witness in music for the glory of God!          

Thanks to all who prayed for these young people, helped in the feeding and housing of the group, or came out to support the fantastic concert. As we begin our Lenten Journey (which starts on February 17) the memory of the various voices around the cross portrayed by the symphonic band rings in my mind. I hear Mary, Peter, Satan, Christ Himself, and the clinical medical examiner at the scene of the crucifixion.

Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his Sanctuary
praise him in his mighty heavens.

Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre
praise him with tambourine and dancing
praise him with the strings and flute
praise him with the clash of cymbals
praise him with resounding cymbals
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord