Wales is NOT England

So don't say that it is.
I don't have much access to internet, but I've got a guy here that will be posting (in my name) on a place where you can get updates aboutour mission trip. Go here
www.tmcwales.blogspot.com

Everything is going very well. The missionaries were blown away by the wonderful reponse last night. They had never tried anything like this before and didn't know what kind of response they would get form the people here. It was more than they could have imagined. I guess I should have them read the last two verses of Ephesians 3. (My favorite verses!) gotta run. Check back at www.tmcwales.blogspot.com for updates.

A Good Day

We had a good day at Hilldale today. The choir sounded great on their song and Tyson did a great job with the solo. The congregation sang well - even on songs that were a little new to them. Our guest speaker, Dr. Geoff Hammand, President of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, delivered a powerful challenge to us to Seize a Divine Moment.
Then, Sunday night we heard mission reports in the service, had a good number in AWANA and LIFE University and - the part that has to do with music/worship - we had a great handbell rehearsal and StudentZ PraiZe choir rehearsal with 40 students there.

And... I had two flute players and a clarinet player tell me they were going to come to our Wind and Fire rehearsal.

It is so fun to have everyone all excited about our music/worship ministry. I see really great days ahead as we work and rehearse together getting ready for missions and worship and special events adn "the tree" and more. Woohoo!

Whenever I can get access to a computer and the internet I'll put a note here on the blog about my mission trip to Wales.

Wales - Religion and Rugby

Here is a link I think you will find very interesting.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/networks/wales/aod.shtml?wales/allthingsconsidered

a Presbyterian Chapel



A Baptist Chapel



Please remember me and the Tennessee Baptist Men's Chorale as we sing in Wales next week.

Adoption Day

In choir last night I mentioned that Adoption Day was coming up on October 2. We're very excited to officially add Benjamin to the family. You can see a little more about him - OK, probably a lot more if you spend some time - on my other blog http://www.papalyndel.blogspot.com/
Here's a picture of Benjamin playing a piano keyboard. You can tell music runs in the family.

Here's a cool verse for you to consider. -Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Wales

I'm going on a singing mission trip with the Tennessee Baptist Men's Chorale to Wales next Monday. I'll be gone for 10 days. The people of Wales have a great singing tradition. Every little town has a men's chorus. Many of our hymns were written in Wales: "Immortal, Invisible", "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah", "Praise the Lord Ye Heavens Adore Him", "O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus", "Like a River Glorious" and more. However, over the years, the people of Wales - as in all of Europe - have become very secular and church attendance in an Evangelical church is at about 2%. The purpose of our trip is to try to connect - build relationships - with the men in the choirs there. We will be singing joint concerts with some of the choirs and singing in the Chapels (small churches). We hope to also be an encouragement to the believers there who are very discouraged by the spiritual state of their nation and low numbers of Christians.

A castle near where we are staying.

The TN Baptist Men's Chorale is made up of Worship Pastors/Ministers of Music from all across Tennessee. Here is an article in one of the Welsh papers about us.

The article points out that "the churches in America still sing the hymns from the Welsh tradition as a vibrant way to express their worship of God." What of wonderful testimony of our singing. The article also says that this tour is our "thank you" for the rich musical tradition of the Welsh.

Retreat Sign up form

You can pick up a form tonight in rehearsal.


I need to know SOOOOOOOON! The camp wants money!!!! I need your deposit to reserve your spot.

41 Students!

Wow! We had a great start to our Studentz Praize choir. We had 41 tonight for our first rehearsal. Wow!