We finally have internet back in our dorms at Wingate! Update coming soon!
This morning marks the All-Staters last rehearsal at Wingate University before we head out on tour! As usual, this morning is a bit stressful for everyone involved because crunch time is coming and everyone wants to be ready for the first concert. But although there is a sense of urgency, there is even more excitement! Perhaps I shouldn't assume, but I think it is safe to say that almost every All-Stater in the 19 year history has looked forward with great anticipation to leaving the practice room and going on tour. It is the reason they are here - to go out into the world and share the message of God's love and joy with everyone they meet. So for this very reason, Wednesday is tremendously exciting!
Sadly, this morning was also our last time with Dane. He shared a moving story with the All-Staters about being an, "Enemy Lover." Essentially, he was connecting this idea of being a person who loves their enemies to our theme verse, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, by saying that this is one way in which we honor God with our bodies. Showing love to those around us - even if they have wronged us or disagree with us in some way is honoring to God. This was quite a powerful devotion that made the All-Staters think as they head out on tour for the week.
After devotion, the All-Staters warmed and woke up with 4-3-2-1. (among other things) This seems to me to be growing into their favorite warm-up. The massage train is also quite popular among the All-Staters. The final moments of rehearsal were spent spot checking some sections of the songs that the All-Staters are having a bit more trouble memorizing. These moments fly by quickly and soon we are off to lunch!
As is tradition, after lunch on Wednesday before heading out on tour, we sang for the cafeteria staff to thank them for serving us! There has been a large soccer camp eating with us in the cafeteria this week and they were excitedly crowding around to hear the choir sing. As the All-Staters were leaving, I could hear the soccer girls telling their peers how impressed they were with the singing.
We then headed off to the Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital. I think they were painting the stairs so we crowded into elevators to get to the floor where we would be singing.
Clif made a friend!
At the children's hospital, the All-Staters did not sing for a live seated audience, but more for the hospital staff and families of the children as their voices of love and hope echoed up and down the halls. Singing at hospitals is always completely unique because anything can happen at any moment and you never know who will hear you or walk through. This time, there were numerous staff that congregated for a few moments during multiple songs as they went about their work. However, one of the most special moments was when a couple walked by and stopped to listen during God is Our Refuge. They stood shoulder to shoulder and were holding each other tightly listening to the word, "God is our refuge and strength in times of trouble..." Maybe this couple and their child was the reason All-State was supposed to sing at the children's hospital today. This is All-State.
After a nice (driving) tour of the Panthers and Knights stadium, we arrived at Pritchard Memorial Baptist in downtown Charlotte. Some good rehearsal this afternoon helped to sure up some small sections for the first full concert of the 2017 North Carolina Baptist All-State Youth Choir.
After a few final minutes of preparation, the All-Staters headed into the Sanctuary at Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church for their first full concert! As I have said many times before, this concert is almost always the most nerve wracking because it is the first time the All-Staters perform the entire program from memory. In rehearsals there were a few parts that had never gone completely according to plan, but in typical All-State fashion, the All-Staters rose to the occasion.
It is always great to see former All-Staters, friends and family at concerts throughout the week. They all showed up tonight at Pritchard for a good size audience in a very large Sanctuary. It was truly a beautiful place to worship and praise God through music.
In my book, today was a huge win for the All-Staters! They came into the day feeling unsure about their ability to perform everything from memory, hit all their parts, and successfully make it through the entire program. They finished the day by giving a moving concert and sharing the message of Jesus with all in attendance.
Tomorrow we head to Southern Pines and Aberdeen for the day. A man in attendance at Pritchard asked if we were going to go golfing tomorrow and I told him that we would be busy - busy spreading this message of Jesus with everyone who will listen.
Hope to see you all at a concert soon because the 2017 North Carolina Baptist All-State Youth Choir is bringing down the house at churches all around North Carolina!
Your Faithful All-State Blogger,
Carter
