JANUARY 20-22, 2023 – The New York Staff Band recently gathered at the Salvation Army Eastern Territory College for Officer Training in Suffern, New York after a longer than usual break between Christmas and the first rehearsal of the new year. Due to several events and scheduling conflicts, the band couldn’t meet again until near the end of January, so it was decided to spend the weekend rehearsing and catching up as several busy engagements lay ahead.
The band has also been trying to schedule a ministry Sunday at the CFOT for quite some time to encourage the cadets and try and give a glimpse into the possibilities of having high quality worship music at their corps each week. It was good to gather with the officers and cadets of the school. We believe the band had a positive impact and hope that we can serve as a source of encouragement to the field in the years to come.
Highlights of the morning included a testimony from Eb Bass player, Michael Devault, as well as the moments prior to the meeting beginning where the band played several preliminary items as the congregation quietly gathered. Training School Principal, Lt. Colonel James LaBossiere challenged the band and congregation with his sermon on living a life that is pleasing to God and a call to holiness. The meeting ended with the always favorite, ‘They Shall Come From The East’ by Kevin Larsson and it was a real treat to use our traditional ‘Rock of Ages’ as the benediction.
We hope to see music ministry in the corps be a priority as it has so many layers and will be so useful to the new officers entering the field. Music is used for worship and is a good way to bring new families into corps buildings. It enhances discipling among corps members and is a rich part of our Salvation Army heritage. It is the prayer of The New York Staff Band that this ministry continues, and we hope that this small gesture of gathering at the CFOT would be an encouragement and the beginning of new seeds planted.
Having the NYSB minister to the cadets and staff of the College for Officer Training was a great blessing, considering the busy schedule of the band. We are grateful that they took the time to lead us in worship and hope it will be an encouragement when the cadets reach the field. – Christian Riesebieter (CFOT Music Director)
Simon Morton (NYSB Bb Bass)
