Chamber Orchestra Tours
Ministering here and there and in the air
Janice Wisinski
Issue date: 3/19/07 Section: Arts and Entertainment
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The orchestra ministered the first night during a Wednesday night service at Colonial Hills Baptist Church in Indianapolis. Their music pastor, Rev. Jim Roschi, said the group was "a tremendous blessing to our people."
During the next two days, the orchestra ministered with music and testimonies at four different school chapels. "We really enjoyed the group," said Dan C. Nelson, Administrator at Colonial Christian School. "They did an excellent job of representing CCC and exemplified Christ in their music, testimonies, and interaction with students."
Nelson mentioned that seeing the Livingstons, who were the tour's sponsors, Sarah Custer, a junior music education major, and Dr. Nichols once again was a special blessing, as well as their dinner with junior Bible major Jonathan Hicks.
At Community Baptist Christian School in South Bend, Indiana, the orchestra started their program with a lively classical piece, "Finiculi, Finicula" by Denza, a number that especially captured the attention of the band members at that school, because they also play this piece.
"It was neat that our band kids heard your college orchestra play the same piece," said pastor and school principal Mark French. "I appreciated the members of the group trying to mix with our students. Since we had a combined assembly of grades 1 through 12, there was a wide range of ages; but your students mixed with all the ages."
The orchestra also played at Heritage Hall Christian School in Muncie, Indiana. "Their professional approach to the ministry was refreshing," said high school principal Neil Habegger. "The group was a great blessing to our students and faculty."
On Friday night, the orchestra participated in a youth rally, which Beth Perry, freshman interdisciplinary studies major, found especially memorable. "The orchestra members and our fearless leader, Dr. Nichols, got to participate in a youth meeting . . . we had a blast," said Perry.
"We played dodge ball, chuck it, and a number game. Not only did we get to spend time with some Christian teens, but we bonded as a group. There was a great spirit of enthusiasm, and I felt as if our purpose of representing Clearwater to these teens was aided by our involvement in their activity. It will definitely go down as a favorite orchestra memory for me."
On Saturday, the orchestra spent their day off in Chicago. "Downtown Chicago was cold," Nichols said. "But we ate deep dish pizza and chocolate from Ghirardelli's. What could be better?"
Josh Hoag, junior church ministries major, agreed with Nichols. "We had a blast in Chicago," Hoag said. "We all froze. That alone made it memorable."
On Sunday, the final day of tour, the orchestra enjoyed ministering at churches in Aurora and Bolingbrook, Illinois. before flying back to Florida Monday.
For Kendall McGuire, a freshman music performance major, the return plane trip provided a special opportunity for ministry. She chose to share her faith with a family on the plane. "I found a family of five sitting in the back, said McGuire.
"As I began to chat with them, they asked many questions about me and our group. When the mother wondered why I chose to go to a Christian college, the door was opened and the conversation took off from there. I found out that they were a Greek Orthodox family; I had the opportunity of sharing with them my conversion experience, and what God's grace has done in my own life"
Hoag, a veteran of five tours with CCC musical groups, said this tour was the best of the trips with which he has travelled. "We had the unified group and for the most part just stayed together and enjoyed each others' company," said Hoag.
"Obviously the churches and concerts were our main focus, and the opportunity to meet people and be a blessing to them was, bar none, the highlight of my trip. Seeing little children's eyes light up with excitement at all the new instruments was a lot of fun. We were blessed in countless ways."
In one sense, for Hoag and the other orchestra members, the tour brought a tinge of sadness as well as great joy. "It was hard in a way," said Hoag. "This is Dr. Nichols' last year here; we all love him and look up to him with such respect that the thought of losing him really hurts. He has been such an encouragement and friend in my three years here, and I hate to see him leave."
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