See also: On Mission: Singing Churchmen to share the gospel in Ohio

The Singing Churchmen of South Carolina are looking for a few good men — younger men, to be exact — and they’re hoping South Carolina Baptists will help fund scholarships to defray the costs of joining the 90-member choral and missions organization.

“We took a poll,” said Lamar McCarrell, a retired minister of music and chairman of the Singing Churchmen’s scholarship committee, “and found that almost every member of our group was over 50.”

“In order to maintain this ongoing musical ministry,” he said, “it is imperative that younger singers and instrumentalists regularly join the group.”

To that end, he hopes South Carolina Baptists who have expressed appreciation for the musical witness of the Singing Churchmen will also consider a “tangible contribution” to help offset the approximately $300 expense new members must pay for dues, uniforms and annual retreat fees.

Offerings received at Singing Churchmen concerts go exclusively toward mission projects, so members pay their own expenses. In April, about 40 members of the group will travel to Cleveland, Ohio, to spend a week sharing the gospel in assisted-living facilities, hospitals, open-air venues and churches.

Some individuals and church choirs have already supported the scholarship fund, McCarrell said, which enabled three younger members to join the group in the past year. McCarrell, who also directs the group’s orchestra, hopes some people will consider becoming major donors, although any size gift would be helpful.

Roger Dail, minister of music at Mountain Springs Baptist Church in Piedmont, says he is a better musician because of his involvement with the Singing Churchmen over the past few years. As a bivocational minister (he also works in the security department at North Greenville University), he believes the scholarship would benefit younger, part-time worship leaders.

“It’s hard to find a large men’s group that sings good music about Jesus Christ,” he said, “and we believe strongly in missions. We are going outside the walls of the church in fulfilling the Great Commission.

Tax-deductible contributions to the Singing Churchmen scholarship fund can be sent to Mark Powers, SCBC, 190 Stoneridge Drive, Columbia, S.C., 29210. For further information about the Singing Churchmen, including a schedule of upcoming concerts, visit www.singingchurchmen.com.