Delegates Learn to Reverberate for Christ at TMI

In late July, more than 250 delegates and staff convened for the 2026 edition of The Salvation Army’s Southern Territorial Music Institute (TMI) at Asbury University. The eight-day camp centered on the theme “Reverberate” with a focus on 1 John 3:18, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

Delegates navigate a busy and intensive schedule at TMI, allowing for a concentrated pursuit of artistic excellence. At the same time, spiritual formation is also key throughout the week, and that emphasis was clear from the institute’s opening day on Sunday, July 26. Commissioners Kelly and Donna Igleheart, territorial leaders, joined the institute at its outset, challenging the delegates to focus on the glory of God and the advancement of His Kingdom above all.

“Encourage each other. Make new friends. Listen carefully to when TMI speaks to you,” said Territorial Commander Commissioner Kelly Igleheart. “Key moments will happen away from the classroom, so listen to Him this week. God may kindle, or rekindle, a passion in you… May this week be a week of great growth, artistic excellence, and spiritual formation in Jesus Christ.”

TMI delegates participated in several classes each day while also forming ensembles that performed during the week. “Major” class offerings included four brass bands, four worship teams, three theater classes, two dance classes, and tracks in visual arts, piano, and theater production. TMI also included four choirs and four adult leadership tracks (instrumental, creative arts, worship team, and choral), each of which met daily. Those classes were flanked by a wide range of elective offerings intended to allow delegates to expand their horizons, including brass pedagogy, vocal technique, percussion, choreography, life skills, videography, photography, and more.

Steve Carter, a best-selling author, personal coach, and teaching pastor at Forest City Church, served as the special guest for TMI’s “Morning Manna” devotions each day. Carter shared from 1 John throughout the week, centering on “Reverberate” as the theme with citations and examples on how a movement can spread and have far-reaching impact for the Kingdom.

“You have to have an experience. You have to have an encounter,” Carter said. “You have to do those things before they can reverberate or echo through your life. Some of us don’t yet have that experience with Jesus Christ… But you simply must have that encounter for Him to echo through your life.”

Wednesday morning’s devotional time was particularly memorable, featuring a powerful time of response and commitment. Carter spoke on avoiding the hiding, shame, and fear that can lead people down the wrong pathway, but also encouraged delegates that “nothing will ever change [the fact that] you are considered a child of God.”

“Steve Carter was a master communicator, bringing an engaging scriptural message each morning,” notes Nick Simmons-Smith, territorial music and creative arts education secretary. “He also skillfully referenced the history of The Salvation Army throughout the week, as well as events the previous evening or even that same morning to tie things together.”

Each year, the TMI faculty includes dedicated leaders from around the Southern Territory, including divisional music and creative arts directors. This year’s staff also included Pip Hannevik (brass), Ed and Kellyn Mylechreest (creative arts), and Shalini Danielson (worship team) as special guests from each discipline.

Each day’s full schedule concluded with an evening program that brought the delegates and staff back together as a collective. This included Tuesday’s Solo Night, a Wednesday “preview concert” that showcased each band, worship team, and choir, Thursday’s special guest performance from Trey McLaughlin & The Sounds of Zamar, and Friday’s Creative Arts Final Production.

McLaughlin also held an optional, yet well-attended, masterclass prior to the concert that left a clear impact. Masterclass attendees performed alongside the group during the concert, and even though it was a concert setting, a time of powerful and memorable worship emerged.

Friday’s Creative Arts Final Production included ministry in dance, theater, spoken word, musical theater, visual arts, and a combined finale from the full creative arts cast of the week. The evening centered on the week’s theme verse of 1 John 3:18 and sought to answer the question, “What does love look like when it is lived?”

Bethany Farrell, territorial creative arts director, encouraged audience members to see themselves in the words of the verse and challenged that the evening should not be just a performance, but rather “an invitation to remember whose you are and who you are called to be.”

The final event of the week, a two-part concert featuring each major class on Saturday, August 1, was preceded by a morning worship service. Colonel Brian Saunders, territorial chief secretary, encouraged the assembled young people to pour into their corps when they returned home.

“Love is a verb. In fact, love is an action verb,” Colonel Saunders said. “I want to encourage you to remember that. It’s what reverberation is all about. Everything we do needs to be with love, sharing God’s love with those around us. Let our love and what God has given us reverberate through our lives, not just today but also when we get home and back in our communities.”

Later, Carter invited delegates to “fight against the temptation and the noise. Make the decision; decide to follow Jesus. Let the love of God wash over any doubt. Don’t miss this moment to receive what God has for you.”

The service concluded with a stirring time of response, with young people dedicating their lives to Christ for the first time or reaffirming their commitments to Him. Josh Powell, territorial contemporary music specialist, led a worshipful singing of the hymn “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” that echoed through the halls of Asbury University’s Hughes Auditorium in a powerful way.

Why should I gain from His reward?

I cannot give an answer;

But this I know with all my heart,

His wounds have paid my ransom.

“I am so proud of our young people,” Simmons- Smith says. “Time and time again, I would see ad hoc groups of young people praying, unprompted. Sometimes, these were young men who embraced each other and prayed out loud for one another. For me, the instant and genuine response to the Holy Spirit was a mark of TMI 2026.”

The two-part final concert concluded TMI, the delegates sharing their offerings with the Lord while also showcasing their artistic growth over the period of one short week. Each choir, band, and worship team honored the Lord with its collective testimony, and the performance of “Wena Moyo (He is Alive)” from the Ditmer Men’s Chorus will not soon be forgotten.

“TMI 2026 was another exceptional year with a strong spiritual emphasis and artistic excellence in every discipline,” Simmons-Smith says. “I really think we should be very proud of TMI. Not only do we offer a diverse collection of classes and experiences, TMI represents a level of excellence on par with any Salvation Army music camp. The level of spiritual depth and response from the