Our social media platforms can hardly keep up with the news these days.
Quarantine, disease, worry, and complaints—it’s a lot to take in.
But an encouraging new video trend is providing an antidote to the negativity.
And you have to see some of these videos for yourself.
Virtual choir or worship performances are going viral on YouTube, bringing hope and the gospel during a time of need.
You’ve already heard about the online concerts hosted by well-known Christian musicians and performing artists.
These concerts are available to watch with your family from the comfort of your own home, and they’re a great way to spend an evening worshipping together.
And everyday believers are now jumping on the bandwagon, sharing virtual performances of their own via Zoom and YouTube!
We’ve all been using Zoom meetings to virtually “hang out” with family, friends, and coworkers, but choirs are starting to tap into the potential of this communication platform to perform together as well.
Choir and Worship Team members are missing the time they would normally spend together, so they’re doing their best to make up for it by sharing music over the internet—and they’re inspiring everyone in the process.
The trend started when high school students began recording videos of themselves singing their pieces for concerts that were cancelled when schools closed this spring.
Caitlyn Walsh, a choir director at an Illinois high school, leads just one of the choirs that’s posted a video online.
“We wanted to raise the group’s spirits,” Walsh said, reflecting on why she and student Grace Anderson came up with the initial idea to perform virtually.
With an ever-growing number of views, Walsh’s choir is now famous for their performance, and the students are thrilled they’ve been able to encourage people beyond their immediate families and community.
“We got to spread happiness in a way that we never thought could happen,” said Anderson, who helped record, edit, and post the video.
“It’s more important than ever in times like this to make and share music,” explained Walsh, adding that, in this time of isolation, music can be a powerful mode of communication.
“It’s quite universal, no matter what your age is or what language you speak. Music is that common thread throughout the globe.”
And now churches and Christian choir groups are adding the Gospel voice to this uplifting trend!
With churches closed, it’s been difficult to enjoy and demonstrate Christian community to the world. But many believers have recognized that, just as Walsh said, music is a universal way to connect with and encourage others.
“It is somewhat stirring to not be able to be with people. Not being able to celebrate [and worship] together,” reflected Junius Dotson, who headed up a Discipleship Ministries virtual choir project at Easter.
“I think people were feeling the need to be in community with each other, even as we are social distancing. Music is going to bring us together in ways we can’t physically be together right now.”
Dotson helped produce just one of the virtual choir performances going viral recently. He noted that all the participants enjoyed the chance to contribute and make music together, even from the safety of their own homes.
“Some persons are singing with family units. Some persons were singing in their pajamas,” he laughed. “I saw some persons in their choir robes.”
Overall, Dotson said, it was an inspiring experience for everyone involved.
Others have echoed Dotson’s sentiments, joining the trend to share hymns both new and old with choirs of all sizes!
“It’s not just that people may have more time on their hands,” said Jon Camp, who headed up a virtual choir project at Abilene Christian University around Good Friday.
“People have really been craving connection, to be part of something other than what they’re finding in their household. They want…to be able to connect with their community in that way.”
The Abilene choir project, a recording of “The Lord Bless You and Keep You,” included more than 500 voices.
Meanwhile, Cedar Cliff High School in Pennsylvania shared a more intimate rendition of the same hymn.
Here are a few more of the recent virtual choir performances sweeping across the internet:
LifeWay’s Worship’s Palm Sunday concert:
Journey Christian’s Mother’s Day blessing:
This moving recording of “Amazing Grace.”
Make sure to sing along and be encouraged by what God is doing, even during quarantine.
You can even get your own virtual choir together and join the trend!
