Mark Powers is seeking the “best and brightest” Baptist high school musicians in South Carolina to take part in Baptist AllState next January at White Oak Conference Center.
To that end, he hopes pastors, youth leaders and music directors will help him get the word out and encourage musically talented students in their congregations to audition for the event. Baptist AllState 2013, to be held Jan. 25-27, will offer a weekend of professional clinical instruction and motivation for high school musicians interested in chorus, orchestra or praise team. (Nominations are due Oct. 15. For details, visit www.scbaptist.org/worship/baptistallstate.htm.)
Powers, director of the worship and music office of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, is confident other high school students can experience what Jordan Beeler of Aiken discovered during her four years at AllState.
“AllState allowed me to make the most of my talents, knowing that God gave them to me for a reason,” said Beeler, who attended South Aiken High School and is a member of Cedar Creek Baptist Church in Aiken. “I realized that God gave me this gift. He put me in place to attend AllState and grow there. It was a great opportunity.”
Powers said Beeler and fourth-year seniors like her witnessed the full revival of Baptist AllState, which returned to its roots about five years ago as a January weekend event rather than a summer touring festival.
Beeler was nominated as a high school freshman by her music minister at Millbrook Baptist Church in Aiken. She returned every year, even after her family moved to Cedar Creek.
“For three years I went by myself, and I didn’t know anyone at AllState,” Beeler said. “I met people and made friends that I communicate with once or twice each month. This [past January] I was able to encourage some of the younger girls who were like me. They weren’t sure they should try out for a solo part, but I just told them, ‘You have to go for it because you don’t know what God’s plan is for you.’ “
Powers said those who attend Baptist AllState are some of the “best and brightest high school musicians in our Baptist churches.” They are nominated by a leader at their church, and then they submit a video audition.
He said Baptist AllState exists to call out and equip gifted young people who are the worship leaders of tomorrow and to give students a connectedness with one another “so they know God is at work calling out people just like them and impacting lives.”
Scott Wallace, pastor of Chesterfield County Community Church, saw firsthand the value of Baptist AllState. His daughter, Morgan, and son, Nick, attended AllState last January. “Following the AllState concert at Trinity, we decided to invite the praise team to perform at our church,” Wallace said.
“They just seemed so focused on leading a church in worship and not just providing a performance,” Wallace said. “As the service began, the praise band performed, and then we just sat back and listened to these students share personal testimonies and more songs. It was an incredible time of celebration.”
For young musicians who aren’t yet in high school, the worship and music office will offer Honors Children’s Chorus and YouthSingers at White Oak on the same weekend. For more information, visit www.scbaptist.org/worship/hccys.htm or call 803-227-6168. – SCBC