October 17, 2024
CUMMING, Ga. – A growing number of Georgia churches are recognizing the value of music education as a way to reach unchurches families.
“Many students’ and families’ first introduction to the church is through our conservatory door,” said Karen Bundy, director of the Conservatory of Music & Fine Arts at First Redeemer Church in Cumming. “From there, many begin attending worship services and children and youth activities. As a result, we have seen families come to faith in Christ.”
By marketing their music programs as schools of music, conservatories and preforming arts academies, churches are drawing hundreds of kids for private lessons in piano, guitar, voice, drums and nearly every kind of orchestral instruments.
What churches are finding is that it’s not predominately children of church members who enroll, but kids with no prior connections to their congregations.
Bundy said First Redeemer’s conservatory had a pre-pandemic enrollment of 500 students with three-fourths of those being non-church members.
Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta launched its conservatory in the late 90s and within 10 years had 300 students enrolled. Half of those were non-members.
“We get lots of outside folks that register, and for many, this is their first exposure to church,” said Brian Hedrick, director of the Johnson Ferry conservatory. “This ministry is an opportunity to get them inside the four walls of the church. From there, we’ve had many people join.”
Charles Brown, director of Hebron Church’s School of the Arts in Dacula has seen similar results.
“Unchurched families have found a connection point with a local church they did not have before,” he said. “Many counseling sessions have occurred between teachers and students.”
Churches routinely forge partnerships with music teachers in local schools, which have proven mutually beneficial.
“Teachers encourage their students to take private lessons to enhance their programs,” Andrea Chitwood, director of the School of the Arts at First Baptist Church of Newnan, where 60 percent of students are non-members.
Brown said parents are always on the lookout for quality activities for their children.
“Many see the foundational value in music education,” Brown said.
Music and arts education has a positive impact on the intellectual and emotional development of children. It also can help students get into some of the more sought-after colleges and universities.
Parents who understand these benefits are lining up their children for piano, guitar, voice, and other instrumental lessons. As a result, secular schools of music are popping up in droves in the suburbs, with hundreds of students in a single location.
Through schools of the arts, churches have the opportunity to meet this demand and share Christ in the process.
“At First Redeemer, we hand out Bible verse cards to the students each week,” “Bundy said. “I’m sure some of these cards get thrown away, but for those who come into our ‘house,’ we are going to make sure they receive the Word of God.”
“At Johnson Ferry,” Hedrick said, “we have teachers who have led some of their students to Christ in the lessons.
“When I interview prospective teachers, I turn away more because they lack the spiritual qualifications than lack the musical qualifications.”
In addition to reaching people with the gospel, some directors see the potential of raising up much-needed musicians for church ministry. Rhon Carter, music and worship catalyst for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, has seen the shortage of musicians in church.
“I could give you 20 churches right now who need pianists, and most of them are in our rural areas,” he said.
Chitwood said her school “exists to equip the next generation. It is a great way to train up new worship leaders within the church and enhance music ministry. At FBC Newnan, we have previous students who are now on faculty at the School of the Arts.”
