Mark Powers, South Carolina Baptist Convention director of worship and music, received the director’s baton of the Singing Churchmen as the group expressed their appreciation to Jim Gill, who retired from the convention staff in 2007 but continued to provide leadership until a new director was called.
The Singing Churchmen, formed in 1958, sing throughout South Carolina in churches and other venues and have also toured internationally to Puerto Rico, Romania, Taiwan and India. The Churchmen have presented concerts for the Southern Baptist Church Music Conference, Church Music Leadership Week, and for the American Choral Directors Association. Tom Westmoreland, former director of the South Carolina Baptist Convention church music department, founded the group.
The Singing Churchmen, a group made up largely of music ministers from across the state, will celebrate 30 years of service by director Jim Gill in May. To celebrate the anniversary, the Singing Churchmen will perform May 22, 7 p.m., at Roebuck Baptist Church in Spartanburg. The concert marks Gill’s last concert as director.
All former members of the Singing Churchmen are invited to attend and will be asked to join current members to sing “Midnight Cry” during the performance.
Powers will begin duties as director on Aug. 21 at the annual Singing Churchmen retreat.
The Singing Churchmen is open to any music director or worship leader interested in joining. For more information on the Singing Churchmen or the concert, log on to www.scbaptist.org/worship or contact the SCBC worship and music group at (800) 723-7242, ext. 4800.