Gospel explosion

Dozens of youngsters from toddlers to early teens gathered at the New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church last Sunday afternoon for their annual Youth Gospel Explosion.

Choirs from New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church and True Vine Ministries -- plus one from the Greater Macedonia Baptist Church of Wilson, Arkansas -- all participated in the celebration, designed for having children involved in worship and building a sense of community.

The New Bethel Choir -- all dressed in pinks and grays -- sang first, after a short prayer led by New Bethel's pastor, the Rev. Joseph G. Cotton Jr.

The groups had been practicing the songs for months, and some of them even included interactive dance moves to illustrate the songs' meanings.

The selected pieces ranged from simple classic rhymes such as "This Little Light of Mine" to more complicated Psalm-based hymns such as "His Praises Shall Continually Be In My Mouth" to contemporary Christian-pop hits like the Royal Tailor's "Hold Me Together."

Youth choirs from various churches perform during youth day at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Sunday, June 14, 2015, in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Some of the younger children, smiling shyly and showing missing baby teeth, initially were more reluctant than others. But soon after the program's start, the entire congregation rose to its feet and began to clap and sing along. Even minister Tommy Robinson was swept up in the groove, stomping his feet and dancing to the beat for a while.

"Get on up there and sing until you feel the spirit," he encouraged them.

Minister Robinson told the congregation about the importance of youth being involved in the church, as well as the importance of elder members welcoming them and praising the ways in which children enrich the worshipping process -- such as the choirs' singing.

"We have to let our youth know that we appreciate them," Robinson said. "Because, if we don't take the time to listen to them, [someone else] will."

After Robinson's sermon, the Rev. Bryant Whitted, pastor of the Greater Macedonia Baptist Church, also delivered a sermon as his church's choir was setting up. He spoke about how, in the hands of God, even things that seem to come in small packages are capable of performing great works. He drew a parallel between the children's choirs' soulful singing and David's slaying of Goliath.

Youth choirs from various churches perform during youth day at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Sunday, June 14, 2015, in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

"They laughed at him because he looked small," he said. "But David was anointed by God. And that was all he needed."

The Greater Macedonia Baptist Church's children's choir not only sang, but also performed several choreographed dances.

Perhaps the most fun among all the performances was their puppet show, or as they like to call it, their "Muppet Ministry" that went along with their songs.

"Someday we're not going to be here," Whitted explained. "But whether it's on an iPhone or a paper Bible, they'll still have the word of God, as long as we introduce it to them."

tgraef@semissourian.com

Youth choirs from various churches perform during youth day at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Sunday, June 14, 2015, in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

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