OSAGE BEACH – Though her heart and mind were lifted up to the Lord in worship, Amelia Holder’s ears couldn’t help but appreciate the sweet notes that filled the Grand Ballroom at Tan-Tar-A Resort.
“Oh my goodness, I couldn’t stop listening to her,” she said, referring to singer Candi Pearson Shelton, one of the vocalists who led worship during the Oct. 28th CORE: Leadership Development Conference at this year’s Annual Meeting of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC). “One of the guys near me left in the middle of the song because he wanted to get her CD before they ran out. She was that good.”
Other artists who led Missouri Baptists in worship at the 2014 Annual Meeting included This Hope, an all-male vocal quintet (featuring David Inabnit, Mikah Boudreaux, Tim Inabnit, Daniel Johnston and Jeane Bope); singer Danny Dukes and his band (Jared Humphries, Ryan Harvey and Phil Rogers); and David Bowden, a spoken word poet from Oklahoma City who showed Missouri Baptists a new way to worship.
“What he does up on that stage resonates with people of all ages,” said Holder, a messenger from First Baptist Church, Marceline.
Bowden, who typically recites his poems at youth-type events, said he jumped at the chance to share his poetry with a group of Christian adults.
“While the kids understand the heat of what I’m saying, the adults get the theology, and I love that,” he said. “The spoken word is a powerful thing. We were created with the spoken word.”
Ron Marsh, pastor at First Baptist Church, El Dorado Springs, asked Bowden if he would take a selfie with him.
“I heard (Bowden) for the first time at a conference last year and ever since then I’ve been interested in his career,” Marsh said. “My kids love him, too.”
Marsh said he also enjoyed listening to This Hope and the way group members encouraged Missouri Baptists to enjoy God’s presence in the middle of Convention elections and resolution votes.
“(This Hope) truly engaged the crowd with honest worship music,” he said. “The spirit was felt in this place.”
“Our goal is to always lead worship in such a way that it draws people to Christ,” said This Hope vocalist, Jeane Bope. “Thank you, Missouri Baptists, for letting us come and present our story to you and for your continued prayers. Please pray for us and that God would use any future concerts we do to glorify Himself.”