A music and missions effort between Texas Baptists and Ukrainian Christians recently took a different tone.
The Breakthrough Band—a group of Texas Baptist music ministers and Singing Men of Texas members—brought its brand of contemporary worship music to the Ukraine during eight October concerts across the country.
Members of the Breakthrough Band—a group composed of Texas Baptist music ministers who are part of the Singing Men of Texas—performed eight concerts last month in the Ukraine.
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An intentional spin-off from the large Singing Men of Texas choir that last performed traditional Christian music in the Ukraine, the band sought to reach out to younger Ukrainians. More than 1,900 professions of faith in Christ were recorded during the concert tour.
"God moved in mighty ways during our Ukraine Breakthrough tour," said Michael Bridges, worship leader at First Baptist Church in Sunnyvale and member of the Breakthrough Band.
"We found the people of that great country open to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our style of music was exactly what the high school and college-age Ukrainians needed. I was so taken by their questions after the concerts. God moved many road blocks and allowed us to see his glory."
The tour is the latest effort in an initiative between the Singing Men of Texas, Michael Gott International, the Baptist General Convention of Texas and Ukrainian Christians. The Singing Men of Texas pledged to focus their international mission efforts through 2012 on the Ukraine. In addition to a 2010 choir tour and the Breakthrough Band's recent trip, another two choir trips are planned for 2012. Funds given to missions through the Texas Baptist Cooperative Program help finance the trips.
During the concert tour, the Breakthrough Band proclaimed God's love and freedom found through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Sean Mitchell, contemporary worship leader at First Baptist Church in Garland, shared his testimony through video of God's ability to change lives. The need for a personal relationship with Jesus resonated with a young audience of Ukrainians who are searching for meaningful relationships, band members said.
Gott shared an evangelistic message translated into Russian.
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"Not only did the tour yield a great harvest, it encouraged the Christians that we connected with. The Christians we met and served were grateful for our being there and overwhelmed that we would come such a great distance to share our music with them. A mission trip such as this can be a life-changing experience," said Steve Colburn, Singing Men of Texas member, worship leader and band member from Corsicana.
"I wholeheartedly recommend anyone who desires a deeper relationship with God, to experience a mission endeavor such as this. Ukraine is ripe for the harvest. Thank the Lord for those whose can now claim him as their Lord and Savior."
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