The hymns of the church play a crucial role in worship as a vehicle for teaching doctrine and reinforcing beliefs. Here in the South Bahamas Conference, the Music Department, led by Annette Dorsett, hosted a hymnal festival on April 26th at the Hillview Church to rejuvenate the practice of singing hymns.

Pastor Barrington Brennen, who has served as the Conference's Music Director in years past, provided the history of the hymn fest in the Bahamas.

Brennen said, "Adventists love to sing. And this is why we have the Hymn Festival. We had our first Hymn Festival in 1986. It was released, the new Hymn Book in 1985 at General Conference, and as the Music Director of the Conference, I organized our first Hymn Festival at Bahamas Academy on Wulff Road in the gymnatorium.

He also reminded the members of the importance of learning hymns in the church.

Brennen said, "Today, the praise songs only praise, if they are not written properly. So many musicians and non-musicians are mesmerized by the harmony of the music. We have to make sure [to] examine the theology, to make sure that our hymns, our songs, our praise songs match our theology. The hymns helps us to bring us back to who we are."

The festival continued with hymns sung in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, showcasing the diversity of the Adventist church and the unity that occurs through music. In between the music, the congregation also learned about the historical context and stories behind some of the beloved hymns. A significant part of the festival involved active participation from the congregation. Hymns such as "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name" and "How Cheering Is the Christian’s Hope" were sung collectively.

A special thank you is extended to our music ministries department, led by Annette Dorsett, for highlighting the importance of the hymns for spiritual growth and the teachings of the church.


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