HEAR THE SPIRIT
CONGRESS MUSIC CONTINUED
Each of the artists allowed participants to experience something of their own culture and context. For
example, the Korean Children’s Choirs blessed a nearly standing-room only venue with their singing and
choreographed movement.
Composed of 450 children, the choirs are in reality a compilation of 10 different choirs. Each of the nine
radio stations of the Korean office of the Far East Broadcasting Company, of which former BWA President Billy
Kim was the Korean director until 2008, has its own children’s choir that throughout the year regularly performs
on that particular station. These nine choirs were joined by the children’s choir and children’s orchestra from
the 30,000-member church where Kim is pastor emeritus to participate in the 20th Congress. The children
began raising the necessary funds three years ago and throughout the preceding year gathered together for
practice and prayer. According to Heidi Young Hae Kim, the director of the PR and Follow-up Department of
the Korean office of the Far East Broadcasting Company, there is hope that the children’s choirs will serve as
a visible reminder of the growth of Christianity in South Korea and an encouragement to each country to more
fully commit to world evangelism.
The variety of artists at the International Music Fest included Beth Lazor, a hula dancer from Hawai‘i, twotime
Grammy nominee Tish Oney, the True Spirit choir from St. Louis, Missouri, of the USA, the Nagaland
Baptist Church Council Male Choir, the Korean Children’s Choirs, the choir of Con Amore of Norway,
international concert recording artist Kate Campbell, the First Baptist Church, Honolulu Classic Ensemble and
the “One Heart for God” Hula group of Hawai‘i.
Others included Rodney Macann of New Zealand, the Southwestern Chamber Chorale from Texas in the
USA, the Ka Aai Ole Hula Halau Dancers of Hawai‘i, pianist and soloist Bill and Jeanine Walker, the Liberdade
Choir and Orchestra of Brazil, the “Surrender” Praise Band of Hawai‘i, the Korean Baptist Church Waikiki
Worship Dance Team of Hawai‘i and the Saint Paul’s Baptist Church Gospel Choir of Virginia in the USA.
Throughout the gatherings there was an optimistic atmosphere focused on looking to God and praising
God’s name.
When our languages and words fail us, it is music that helps us exchange and experience each other’s
cultures and it is music that brings us together. As the concerts reminded us, it is through participating together
in worship that we are able to concurrently “Hear the Spirit.”
Elijah Brown is assistant professor of missions at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas, in the
United States.

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