Oregon and Romanian Choruses’ First Meeting and Rehearsal

P1000321x Romanian seminary auditorium, originally uploaded by oamcsinger.

Pictured: The auditorium of the Adventist seminary where the men of the Oregon and Romanian first met and rehearsed on Tuesday.


From John Korb, OAMC singer, bass
Received Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 1:20 PM Pacific


Picture this. In the chapel of the Romanian Adventist Theological Institute (Institutul Teologic Adventist), in the village of Cernica near Bucharest, 200 men from two choruses, originating from two continents thousands of miles apart, finally joined together and lifted their voices in praise to God. At that moment, with the downbeat of “Soldiers of the Captain,” all the hopes, dreams and miracles prayed for since our first invitation to Romania more than eight years ago came together in four-part harmony.

The Romanian Adventist Men’s Chorus (RAMC) of about 120 men circled one half of the chapel. Ninety members of OAMC lined up across from them. Facing each other, RAMC director Alin Apostol led his members singing in Romanian, “Soldiers of the Captain, stand for Him and fight!” OAMC answered the “call for action” singing, “Jesus, Captain help us, soldiers true to be. Living dying, ever fighting Lord for thee.”

“We came to Romania as two separate choirs,” Lou Wildman declared. However, he reminded us that “we are brothers in Christ and we would now become one chorus.” Singers from both choruses took their seats. As the rehearsal progressed, OAMC’s anthem, “We Have This Hope” filled the chapel, only this time it was sung in the beautiful Romanian language.

With this integration of both choruses, another chapter in the 15-year history of the OAMC ministry has begun. David Schmidt, OAMC chorus president, shared that what began as a request for some special music for Easter at the East Salem, Oregon, church has grown into an international chorus making its debut during the week of Romanian Orthodox Easter (Passover) celebration.

“Our vision was for one concert, one Easter weekend,” said David. “God’s plan was for 15 years of ministry touching the lives of hundreds of chorus members and thousands of others who have attended the chorus festivals. We never could have imagined that God would bring us to Romania.”

There is one more day of rehearsal then it is off to Bacau, which is slightly north and east of Bucharest for the first concert.

Please remember us in your prayers as we perform for our first Romanian audience on Thursday.