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by Bandmaster Joseph Akpan Divisional Bandmaster/ Music Secretary Akwa Ibom West Division Nigeria Territory –
It was a celebration of holiness and the music of the Lord as over 200 junior and senior musicians recently participated in the Akwa Ibom West Division’s inaugural music camp held at Ekom Village.
Apart from the Festival of Praise, music teachings and rehearsals that were featured, campers had the privilege of sharing in Bible studies and listening to inspiring lectures from Salvation Army officer speakers and music leaders.
The theme for the weekend was “O That He May Count Us Faithful” and it was wonderful how the Holy Spirit’s presence was felt throughout the camp programs. During the weekend, musicians participated in a March of Witness on the streets of the village; an open-air meeting conducted at the royal palace of the “Eteidung” of Ekom (traditional head of the Ekom village) which saw 22 people including the Eteidung and members of his family giving their lives to Jesus after a Bible message by the divisional commander and special guest, Major Smart Umoh.
The message was preceded by a vocal solo “Heaven Came” by the music secretary and director of the camp programs.
God needs Christian musicians he can count on and use to pull down the “Jericho places” of man’s life and his environment and glorify his name. I saw beauty reflected in a picture of the last Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Parade [in Pasadena, Calif.] and a thought came to my mind: “I hope that The Salvation Army Band will lead the glorious march into heaven sounding even louder and clearer than the joyous hallelujah instruments, with our songsters by the side to celebrate ‘victory’s song.’ And how much more pleased God would be to see the beautiful colors that the timbrelists will add to the march, smiling all the way to testify that amidst the tempests and the storms, Jesus has made us triumphant in the combat.”
We all look forward to that one great fellowship of the saints and if I may borrow the words of Commissioner Linda Bond in the Strategic Priorities, “we have got to make that glorious future now.” Commissioner Kay Rader once wrote that we need to give ourselves with renewed zeal and enthusiasm to wholehearted, aggressive and evangelistic outreach and ministry and I’m fully in support of this.
