Music That Reaches The Soul
Music is, by one definition, an art form whose medium is sound. We enjoy various genres of music and are compelled at times to search for particular forms of music to fit our moods. Music has always been a means to bridge gaps and has been used over long periods of time as a means of communication. There is a quote that says, “Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul.” It is this expression of what music is that defines a group of people in our community that have devoted
their lives to the ministry of music. The Lewis Harden Community Choir has just such a love for music. It is their belief that ministry comes in many forms and that God leads us to work for Him in the gifts that He bestows upon us. It is the gifts of voice and song that this group ministers to others.
Once called the Effingham Community Choir, this group was founded in February 1995. It is made up of family and friends that enjoy praising the Lord through music ministry. Shelia Harden, one of the original members, states that she had always grown up in the church singing and had a desire to reach out to the community with song. She noticed that the area church choirs did not go out and just fellowship and she wanted to address that. She talked her idea over with her sister and then with the help of her father-in-law, Mr. Lewis Harden, she was able to get the necessary suggestions for reaching the area churches with her idea. At their first meeting there were approximately twenty-five members with the youngest being only thirteen. “Our first song together was ‘Hallelujah, Salvation and Glory’ and we all felt it just fell into place”, said Shelia. It is their love for praise and worship that they are called to this particular type of ministry.
“When we practice it turns into more of a worship service”, Shelia states. Their motto is Psalm 96:1, “Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.” Shelia goes on to say that they try to reach out to people in spirit and in truth
through song.
When asked if they have any CD’s available she is quick to point out that their mission is to sing for the Glory of God and to minister to others. “It is more about the ministry of the music than performing”, she says. “We are hoping to reach
someone when we sing.” However, they do travel to sing at various functions and services. They have ministered in the surrounding counties, as well as Effingham, and are now working on a trip to Naples, Florida. They were also asked to sing on a program with Evelyn Agee, a well-known gospel singer, and under the direction of James B. Flowers of Mass Production, a singing group in Savannah.
In addition to traveling about to sing, they are also a visible part of Effingham County. As stated before, Shelia sought guidance to achieve this goal through her father-in-law. He passed away in 1996, and it was at this time that the choir decided to change its name from Effingham Community Choir to The Lewis Harden Community Choir. They have since been involved with the City of Guyton Tour of Homes, various functions at the Veteran’s Park in Springfield, and at various other functions throughout the county, including the MLK Day Celebrations where her husband is the president of the activities. “We try to make sure that where we are, there is a belief in God. We try to go where we can in order to minister to others”, Shelia explains. “The door is open to all of God’s children who really want to praise the Lord in ministry.”
It is easy to see that this group is family oriented. Shelia, along with her husband and oldest daughter, sing in the choir. Each of them has brothers/sisters in the choir as well. There are also cousins, mothers and daughters, and husbands and wives. “It is an atmosphere and a place that we can come together and worship and raise our children”, says Shelia. There are several churches in the community that are represented through the group members – Macedonia Missionary Baptist, Royal Temple Holiness, and New Hope AME to name a few.
Shelia feels very blessed to have so much support from the community for their group. She feels that there was a need for something like this in the community and that the Lord opened the door for them to begin this ministry. It has been going strong since its inception and they will be celebrating their 15th Anniversary on the second Sunday in February 2010. “I am always amazed at the support we have when we hold our anniversary celebration”, she says. “You can feel the Lord moving throughout the people as they join us in song and worship.”
For more information on this amazing group of Effingham Citizens, you can contact Shelia Harden at 912-772-3505, or the group’s secretary, Roxanne Moon at 912-661-4519. “We know things are not going to come easy in life. But we continue to press on and do what God will have us to do.” And that is the philosophy of this choir of dedicated members who believe that it is the ministry of music that “flows from heaven and reaches the soul.”
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