Up until a few years ago, I sang with my husband, Keith, and friend, Carolyn Sexton, in a gospel trio called Greater Joy. We sang in our church, at fundraisers, in shelters, campgrounds, beachfronts, at events and wherever we were invited. A few years into singing, Carolyn attended a Southern Gospel Music School called Steve Hurst School of Music in Tennessee. The following year, our trio attended and learned so much about serving through our music.
We worked with touring groups we covered in our concerts: The Talley Trio, The Martins, Hope’s Call and others. We even worked on a song with a teacher who wrote it. That was an amazing experience, because only after we sang the song through did he tell us he was its creator. We sang in front of people whose parts we were performing…can you even imagine how intimidating that can be?!
I will forever be grateful to: Steve Hurst; The Talleys; Joyce and Judy Martin; Eddie and Jessica Harrison; Donna Beauvais King; Mary Anne Oglesby Sutherly; Kathy Woodward and so many others for the things they taught me and the Jesus they shared. You guys rock!
Besides the mechanics of singing, tips and tricks for making as much of a joyful noise as we were able, we learned positive behaviors/service to those we sang for. One of the lessons that stuck with me and carried over into other areas of my life was: show up early and stay late.
We did our best to be an hour early to all events to ensure that we had time to set up our sound system, get to know the people coordinating the event and attendees.
I will never forget the time we were at a local church dinner and a woman spilled her coffee all over the floor. Carolyn and I cleaned up the spill to the protests of those around us that we shouldn’t have to do that. We didn’t have to, we wanted to. That incident opened up a special relationship with the dinner guests and facilitated a deeper connection between us. There were many other incidents that taught me the true reason we were there: to love on others and share God’s love.
The 13-plus years we shared as a group will always be precious to me. There’s a bond amongst those who share such rarefied experiences and learn so much together.
www.stevehurstschoolofmusic.com
