My seven-year-old son is fascinated with the concept of time travel. He will tell you with absolute certainty that he is going to make the first effective time machine, and I believe him! I’d like to do a little time travel with you. Let’s first travel back to the year 1983. I was a 10-year-old girl being asked a very important question by my grandfather. “Baby, what do you want for Christmas?” Although my friends were asking for Cabbage Patch Kids and Care Bears, my answer was given definitively and without hesitation, “I want a music director’s stand that’s just my size, Pop.” (Yes, that’s a touch weird.) And so it was that hours and hours of “playing choir” commenced. My sweet little sister was kind enough to stand there day after day and sing. I had the privilege of singing in children’s choir at church at this age, and the Lord placed a passion for this form of music in my heart. It was undeniable and constant. I didn’t yet know why.

Let’s jump in the time machine and move forward to 1987. I was on my first youth choir (old-school term) retreat. We sang a song that weekend about the Holy Spirit and something shifted in me. I remember talking to an older student in the group about what I felt, and for the first time I truly experienced musical worship that moved my spirit. My passion for choir and the community therein multiplied.

All aboard the time machine and on to 1991...I had moved across the state line to Alabama to begin studying music education at Samford. One of my first Sundays in Birmingham, a friend invited me to a new church called Brook Hills. I will never forget walking into the service and getting chill bumps upon hearing worship music led by a band and praise team. A few months later, there was a blurb in the Worship Guide about a Christmas choir. I was thrilled! I remember walking into the first rehearsal and being greeted by people from all different life stages and experiences. As soon as we began singing, that diverse group was unified in purpose. By the time the performance weekend came, I had a family away from home. Experiences in the worship ministry were key to my spiritual growth throughout my college years.

Let’s now travel to the present, shall we? The Lord has continued to magnify my passion for worshipping Him and serving His church through the choir. For the past 3 years, I’ve had the honor of directing the choir at Brook Hills. (I’m tearful as I think of that little girl waving her arms around and the Lord’s purpose.) He’s allowed me to share Truth by directing choirs both in public and private schools. I’m amazed as He continues to enrich genuine community in the choir here at Brook Hills. In more instances than I can count, I’ve seen the choir be the hands and feet of Jesus for each other. Some of the most difficult chapters of my life would have been impossible if not for these dear friends.

Let’s head way back now to about 600 years BC. Jehosaphat was preparing his people for battle and guess whom he sent in first? The singers! 2 Chronicles 20:21 says: “And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and sang, ‘Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.’” The choir has a similar charge every time we lead in worship. We are coming into “battle” and singing Truth to set the stage for His Word to be preached. What a privilege, responsibility and joy!

Last stop - let’s head to an unknown date in the future: A time when all believers will be sitting at the feet of Jesus. Revelation 5:13 says: "And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: 'Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.'" Oh church, won’t you join us now? Let’s experience a glimpse of this scene in the present.

We would love to have you join choir and be a part of leading the way into battle as we lift our voices and hearts together in song. It’s an amazing experience with a precious group of folks seeking to serve Him well. (Did I mention that we have a really good time?) Hope to see you this Wednesday night in Modular 17 at 6:30!!

Kasey and her husband Joel have been members of Brook Hills for 24 years. They have 2 children: Ashby, 11 and (time traveler) Sam, 7. Kasey teaches 5th and 6th grade choir at Briarwood Christian School and can give you exact lyrics for just about any 80s song.