The 2023 Music Mission Trips trip combined the essence of music camp with a humanitarian mission. Twenty-four core musicians and singers, representing 18 countries, traveled to three locations for the duration of the mission trip. It was an opportunity to praise the Lord, improve their skills, and take the Gospel to others through music.
Music is powerful. “It is one of the most effective means of impressing the heart with spiritual truth. How often to the soul hard-pressed and ready to despair memory recalls some word of God’s—the long-forgotten burden of a childhood song—and temptations lose their power, life takes on new meaning and new purpose, and courage and gladness are imparted to other souls!” CG 523.2
The mission took place in California from July 16-23, Virginia from July 24-30, and Arezzo, Italy, from July 31-August 6. The three-week mission trip was spent in intense days of practice, six concerts, missionary visits to play for and pray with members of the community, and eight studio recordings.
At each location, the core musicians were joined by local professional or lay musicians to practice and perform at the concerts, which were open to the community. One local professional in Italy said, “I have never felt such a pleasant atmosphere in an orchestra as I experienced here”. He stayed for worship.
Wilson Pedrazas, one of the professional violinist who travelled to all three locations, said, “What is special about this orchestra is the relationships that the musicians have between themselves. Everyone is friendly with one another and that you don’t find in professional orchestras, so it’s very special and refreshing.”
We thank the Lord for blessing this event, as well as for the dedicated individuals that made this mission trip a reality, from the planning crew to the musicians that volunteered their time and talents. May God bless each one.