Missouri Music Men minister in Jordan

AMMAN, Jordan – “Stand clear of the doors please . . . mind the gap,” stated a pre-recorded London voice as members of the Missouri Music Men boarded “the Tube” in a Heathrow Airport layover.

“The voice’s admonishment was a definite foreshadowing of things to come, as we were constantly watching our proverbial walk,” said John Francis, Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) worship specialist.

Seventeen Baptist music ministers from Missouri took a mission trip to Jordan this past July at a very poignant time in history. The original reason for the trip was for concerts of “Gospel literature;” however once there, with two concerts cancelled due to unrest, our flexibility was key, Francis said.

Lee Hinson, a familiar musician to Missouri Baptists, directed the vocal ensemble as it changed from musicians to ministers – leading worship, singing in several churches, Baptist camps and performing just feet away from where Moses stood atop Mount Nebo.

“There was a definite thrill, spiritually and historically, however the real thrill was meeting the people,” Francis said. “They were sweet and kind.”

He said the group was received with open arms and played with them in their orchestra, sang with them in their homes and shared their faith.

“God did incredible things with (the Missouri Music Men) despite everything Satan was doing to disrupt His plans,” Brad Matheson, representative of Global Missions Projects who sponsored the trip, told the group. “I cannot tell you how our hearts leaped when we heard of the decisions made for Christ as a result of your witness. The story of your journey and success has already made its way throughout the region and back to us even from the IMB office in Central/Eastern Europe. You gentleman have made a generation-worth of impact in this region.”

Ironically, Francis said, one week to the day of our flying out of Heathrow on our way home, came the bomb scare that disrupted air travel in Great Britain and the United States.

“If we had been there, at the very least it could have spelled disaster for our instruments which were carry-on luggage – not to mention inconvenience and our safety. As one member put it over and over, ‘God is sovereign,’” Francis recalled.

The Missouri Music Men is an organization of Southern Baptist musicians who come together to sing, talk shop and make strong ties. Their next concert is Oct. 5, at Hamlin Memorial Baptist Church, Springfield. For more information about joining or scheduling the group, you may call the 2006 President, Larry Danks at Noland Road Baptist Church at 816-373-0106, or call Francis at 800-736-6227, ext 450.