The Southern Staff Band Ministers in Greenville
By Brad Rowland /
The Southern Staff Band (SSB) visited Greenville, South Carolina for an impactful weekend of music ministry in early March. The ensemble, which gathers three times annually, began the four-day journey with a day of rehearsal on Thursday, March 5, before diving into a full weekend of hands-on ministry.
On Friday, March 6, the band presented a trio of educational ministry concerts for young people in the Greenville area. Youth from the nearby A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School of Engineering visited the Greenville Kroc Center in two morning shifts, listening to the band and learning about some of the unique instrumentation of a Salvation Army ensemble. This was followed by a concert for the young people of Greenville’s Red Shield Youth Center, following a similar pathway of worship through music as well as entertainment and education.
“I was pleased with the variety of ministry opportunities in Greenville,” says Nick Simmons-Smith, SSB bandmaster and territorial music and creative arts education secretary. “Majors Mike and Christine Harris put together a busy weekend of events that enabled the band to engage with all sections of the Greenville community.”
“The school concerts have been a staple for these band weekends, as we are able to reach those outside the four walls of the corps,” Simmons- Smith continues. “The concerts are educational and fun but also contain the gospel message through music.”
On Saturday, March 7, the band ministered at North Greenville University through a concert that was also recorded for further distribution to the student body. Later in the day, the SSB presented a concert at the Greenville Kroc Center, bringing soldiers, officers, donors, and friends of The Salvation Army together for worship.
Major Michael Harris, area commander and senior Kroc Center officer in Greenville, is also a long-time SSB member in the tuba section, allowing for a unique opportunity for “double duty” throughout the weekend. Major Harris spoke during the Saturday evening concert, thanking the donors and volunteers in attendance for their continued support of Salvation Army ministry in their community.
“I do want to send a special ‘thank you’ to those who donate to The Salvation Army,” Major Harris said. “We simply could not do any of this if the Lord did not put it upon your hearts to send money our way. And in that comes your trust that we are going to do something good with it.”
Simmons-Smith refers to Sunday morning worship as “the pinnacle of the weekend” for the band’s ministry in Greenville. Territorial Program Secretary Lt. Colonel Allan Hofer spoke on “Loving Like Jesus” with a focus on Luke 10:25-37. He described our three-fold calling to bring individuals to Christ, help to disciple them, and to serve suffering humanity in the name of Jesus Christ without discrimination. He also offered a powerful challenge to all in attendance that also rang true with the SSB’s mission and aim.
“Go and help the fallen,” Lt. Colonel Hofer said. “Go and love those who need to be loved. Please go and show compassion to those who need compassion and mercy. If you know someone who is hurting in your family, in your church, in your work, come alongside them. Go and live out this liberating gospel of Jesus Christ.”