Deuteronomy 31

⁶ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

It’s been over a year since I wrote an article like this, back when the CSB was celebrating it’s 50^th anniversary by crisscrossing the country and joining forces with all other North American staff bands at Roy Thomson Hall. How the world has suddenly changed in just a few weeks at the hands of the deadly Covid-19 virus. Borders, businesses, airlines, schools and a large part of the world’s economy are now closed. Many people find themselves jobless and quarantined in their homes while our health care professionals and essential services workers risk their well-being every day to get us through this unprecedented event. Now in the second month of physical distancing practices, with case numbers and death toll rising, it’s easy to ask where God is in all of this. With our church buildings shuttered, and all worship services, large gatherings and camps cancelled until further notice, what is the role of the church during this time? As church musicians and leaders how can we still carry out the mission when so many doubts and fears abound?

I think we already know the answers to some of the questions. Knowing that God doesn’t need bricks and mortar buildings to carry out His mission in the world, He has enabled His followers to mobilize online and in our homes on a global scale. I commend our territorial leaders and the creativity of our Public Relations, Communications as well as the Music and Gospel Arts Department for immediately providing a weekly online Sunday service to give us encouragement, inspiration and comfort. The same goes for the leaders at dozens of corps across the territory who have learned and adapted new technologies, tapping into the resourcefulness of their corps family to broadcast livestream services and use the latest online video teleconferencing technologies to keep worshipping together and supporting each other. I also marvel at our many musicians who have contributed their talent by way of recording solos, or duets and posting them on Facebook to #HandWashingAndHymnTunes. You may never know how much of a blessing you have been, but I guarantee that you have because your efforts have blessed me. All of this is proof that God is right here in this crisis with us, and we know that in His time He will make beautiful things out of the disease and brokenness of this fallen world.

I have to admit that when physical distancing rules came into place it seemed a bit like a novelty. Who isn’t in favour of a week or two off from the daily grind? We all have busy lives and are now gaining an acute perspective of just how stretched we were prior to the pandemic. However, as the days and weeks wear on, I realize how deeply I am missing my church family, and I begin to sense increased anxiety in my colleagues and friends. As I said earlier about increasing case numbers and the death toll, it hits home even harder when those numbers now include people we actually know and love. More questions and fear, and what to do?

I can only answer that as a musician and a leader. As a musician I say play on! Now is not the time to lay down our instruments. Now is the time to mobilize any way we can to share the good news of the gospel even more and claim the words in the Bible and the songbook that our music was written for. This is the moment we were called to be present for, and the message is needed now, at this moment, more than ever before. As a leader I encourage you to take the advice given by Dr. Eugene Habecker with reference to crisis leadership:

 “…in crisis situations, three things must be done exceptionally well: absorb chaos, give calm, and provide hope.”

As I look and listen across our great territory, I see that happening everywhere, every day in all facets of the army’s work. For our SA musicians and leaders, I encourage you to continue to lean on God’s promise found in Deuteronomy 31, and lead the way in giving calm and providing hope.

The CSB will remain present on social media platforms, creating split-screen hymn tunes and marches, and also assembling mini-concerts using footage from past events. I’m also happy to say that we will be posting many portions of the recently released CSB 50 DVD from last year’s celebration at Roy Thomson Hall. We hope this helps you to stay connected with us, bringing calm and hope in this time of great uncertainty.

 

Until we meet again, 

John Lam