Sandy Daubard, music director at First Baptist Church, Fairfax, had positions to fill on her youth praise team and used creative thinking to get the job done. Daubard held a missional music camp in August, which drew several older children and youth to the church and into music ministry.
“The idea came from meetings with music leaders in my region as we brainstormed how to reach into the community for church and ministry prospects,” Daubard said. “I have always felt that music reaches people, and I want to teach children how fun music is.”
Daubard planned a camp to attract children from grades 4-12 that would teach the basics of music while encouraging the campers in their faith. Over the course of four evenings during the first week of August, each camper had beginner lessons on guitar, drums and keyboard.
Refreshments and a short Bible study were also a part of each camp with Daubard teaching the study. She invited a mother-son musical team from North Carolina, Melissa and Caleb Zeigler, to instruct the campers.
Musically prepared and experienced in church music leadership, the Zeiglers gave tips on how to lead in worship, rehearse in a band, transition worship styles, and read chord charts. Campers learned what the Bible says about worship and how to be worship leaders who serve through music.
“I believe when children are given the opportunity to be an integral part of music ministry, they are given tools for learning what worship truly means, and these tools can be taken with them as they grow into responsible adults,” said Zeigler, herself a church pianist at age 13. “They will always be wanting to get involved and be a part of something greater instead of waiting on someone else to do it.”
Fourteen-year-old Josiah Loadholt has been singing in the praise band for two years and said he learned some new things at the camp. Loadholt admitted he was nervous the first few times he sang in front of the congregation, but knows his church family “loves me and wants to guide me in my walk.”
The camp yielded three new praise band members and younger prospects who Daubard hopes will grow into music leadership. Two boys from the community have visited the church because of the camp.
For her part, Zeigler said it was “extremely important for churches to take the time to develop their youth for ministry. We need to train our young people for all the different areas of ministry, and music is one of those avenues that most young people get.” – SCBC