The Musical Mission Team: Eighteen Years and Going Strong
by Drs. Bill and Janie McCauley
After making a mission trip to the USSR in 1990, Dr. Bob Jones III envisioned new opportunities for evangelism behind the Iron Curtain. He also recognized the drawing power of music, especially in cultures long closed to the Gospel. Thus he gave the impetus for the formation of a new BJU summer mission team to Europe with the twofold mission of using music as a tool in evangelism and teaching biblical principles of music ministry in the churches.
The first BJU Musical Mission Team arrived on the field on May 31, 1991. We ministered alongside believers in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine just weeks before the collapse of Soviet Communism. Truly the fields of the USSR were white to harvest. The group was so warmly received by national churches and missionaries in both Eastern and Western Europe that the 1992 itinerary quickly filled up.
The 2008 team represents the 18th group dedicated to this summer ministry. Each team consists of a student choir, brass ensemble and pianist traveling with Drs. Bill and Janie McCauley and one or two additional faculty leaders. Over the years more than 400 different BJU students have ministered with the team. Eleven of the 23 students on the 2008 team are music majors. In addition to providing an opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission, the MMT has proved a life-changing spiritual experience for many students.
The MMT has presented over 1500 concerts and services. At each event the team performs choral arrangements of traditional hymns in the local tongue to minister to the hearts of believers and to provide a gospel witness to unbelievers. Programs also include early American hymns and spirituals. Each concert concludes with a gospel message. Students and faculty members share the preaching responsibilities.
We have been hosted by national believers and missionaries in 23 European countries: Germany, Poland, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Hungary, Austria, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Switzerland, France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
It has been a great joy to partner with American missionaries, national churches and co-workers from European missions organizations in giving out the Gospel. Our hosts work hard throughout the year to find just the right venues for the message of salvation to go forth to unbelievers during the team’s visit to their cities. Often the young people of the churches serve hand-in-hand with team members in special evangelistic projects.
Working both independently and with local hosts, team members have distributed more than 1,000,000 gospel tracts, Bibles and portions of Scripture. Scores of people who have received this literature have sent us letters of testimony to their salvation.
The team also conducts seminars consisting of several sermons on various topics of interest to local believers. In 2008 the MMT conducted four such Bible conferences. One of our standing prayer requests for this ministry is that the Lord will lead good young preachers to join each team.
Like all BJU summer mission teams, the Musical Mission Team is a missions training team. Former MMT members now serve on the fields of Germany, Russia, Austria, Spain, China, Singapore, Thailand, Japan and Chile. Other members are on deputation to go to France and Cambodia. Still others who are completing their education anticipate serving as full-time missionaries in the years ahead.
During each fall semester we select a team of students for the following summer’s ministry. It is our prayer that the Lord will continue to call BJU students to use their gifts for music and preaching in this unique missions ministry.