Regarding our Wales trip there has been an enormous amount of work done, but there is still yet much to do. Our missionary contacts have changed somewhat and I am uncertain as to how or if this will change our preliminary processes. I would appreciate your prayer in this regard as so many details for concerts, travel, promotion, and ministry are dependent on those who are there in Wales.
More specifically, let me ask you to pray for a young man named Kent Morris, who has now been assigned to our project. Here are other specific prayer needs regarding details:
- Pray for the officers of the Caernarfon Male Choir as they meet this week to discuss our joint concert at the Pritchard Jones Hall on the campus of Bangor University
- Pray for the leaders of the Rhos Male Choir as they plan for our combined concert in that city in the Stewt Theater
- Pray for the directors of both of these choruses as we enter into conversation about material we will sing together at the concert - this material can be an important part of how the Lord might speak to the hearts of our fellow musicians there
- Pray for Ed Seabough and the people of Travelink as they assist in wire transfers and other details of securing concert halls, piano and other services needed
- Pray for a few of our own who are still trying to decide about their ability to make the trip
- Pray for wisdom for me in selecting the right music to effectively communicate our message
We will update the blog with information as is appropriate, and will remind you to check it through other means as we continue to try to stay connected through the process of preparation.
3 comments:
Yeah Paul! I hope this is a great help to all of us. Looks like you've already got the hang of it!
Sure . . . I'll keep an eye on this blog.
The info sheet on London tourism (in the last Travelink bill) was very interesting. I would be very interested in taking the London Tower tour, either on our tourism day or during the extension. (Perhaps a thread should be started for members to express their tourism interests, and groups events could be planned for the extension based on postings.
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Some go on mission trips to be blessed. I go on mission trips to bless the lives of others. I think it is easier to come home from a mission trip and say "My life has been changed," than to come back being able to say "We have changed the lives of others." My prayer is that God will use us and show us how He wants us to change lives. I pray that we will be sensitive and responsive to His leading and bear fruit for the Kingdom. My prayer is that the testimony of this trip will be how God can work and move through the ministry of the Tennessee Mens Chorale to accomplish His will and that He will reveal to us what has been accomplished in His name. THAT is why I am going to Wales. If I am somehow changed or grow in my walk with the Lord, that's great. But that is not why I am going. For me, that is just a fringe benefit of the honor and privilege of accomplishing His will on this mission trip. Soli Deo Gloria.
My excitement about the Wales trip is building all the time. I just wanted to take a minute and tell you our story.
I first heard about the opportunity back in November of last year as it was being announced to the chorale, after one of our rehearsals. I listened as all the plans were presented and as they talked about the opportunities we would have to encourage some of the local dying churches and sing with other men’s choirs in Wales who sing many of the same hymn tunes we sing today, but have long since forgotten their history and meaning. My heart began to pound a little and I sensed a leading, but knowing already that it would be quite expensive, I began to dismiss the whole idea from my mind. Then I distinctly remember hearing Jonathan Nelms say this - as he was about to close in prayer.
“If you feel God leading you to go on this trip, I’m going to pray - not only that your pastor will support you in asking your church to help make it possible for you to go – but I’m going to go a step further and pray that he will spear-head the effort. And I want you to pray this prayer with me.” Some of you will remember that.
So, he prayed and I casually prayed the prayer with him. I began to debate as to how I would bring it up to the church but kept putting it off. About a month later, at the end of our Living Christmas Tree rehearsal, we were about to wrap things up and Bro. Mike, our pastor turned to me and said, “Do you trust me?” I said, “I guess”. He asked again, “Do you trust me?” I said “YES!” Then he began to explain to the choir and cast about the upcoming Wales trip. The choir had already been standing in the tree for an hour and a half, but I guess he felt like he had a “captive audience”. After giving a brief explanation, he asked if someone would make a motion in the next business meeting to begin a fund. I was overcome with emotion and couldn’t even speak. I thought back to that prayer I had prayed so casually and thought, “Oh ye of little faith.” My faith was weak, but I believe God honored Jonathan’s prayer and my feeble attempt to at least give God a chance. And now, here he was recommending that a “Wales Fund” be set up to send me and Jetta.
It was a frightening thing to begin to make plans (and deposits) not knowing whether the next deposit would be there when we needed it or not. It has truly been a step of faith and I’m beginning to believe it’s really going to happen. So far, the money has always been there when we needed it.
God is good and we look forward to the fellowship with all of you and to seeing how God is going to use us on this trip.
Thank you Paul, Jonathan, Charlotte, Ricky, Lyndel and all of you who are working so hard to put this together.
Kelvin & Jetta Smith
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