Our Experience

OAMC leaders share our vision for mission with John Lomacang of Three Angels Broadcasting.

by Bruce Schmidt

Twenty-six years ago, at OAMC’s birthplace in Salem, OR, a couple of dozen guys gathered for a one-time male chorus presentation for an Easter program at the East Salem SDA church.  At the time, the group of guys had no name because what’s the point of naming a one-time gathering of guys to sing at a local church?  It was a wonderful experience, and we all were grateful to have participated.

I think God must have been smiling because only He knew how the chorus would expand to include scores and yes, even hundreds of more guys and travel the world and seed the formation of other male choruses on other continents.  It’s my belief that the chorus would have faded away many times as we labored through the earlier years except for the direct, divine intervention of God.  As we grew, we faced serious issues such as tracking music, music arrangement changes, music folders, music storage, updating music, tracking music folders, scheduling concerts, arranging transportation for singers, planning and preparing meals, ad infinitum.  As these issues, and many others, arose, God brought the right people on board who had just the right gifts and talents the chorus needed to stay focused on our mission to preach the gospel of Jesus to our audiences and ourselves. 

As we all know, OAMC is a male chorus.  The irony for me is this: If the females should ever walk away, OAMC would immediately become only a memory.  Their importance and impact on the ministry of OAMC cannot be overestimated.  From the arranging of music and planning programs to arranging for local and international traveling, to preparing meals, to a host of other necessary tasks, the ladies are in the thick of it. 

But I digress.  Back to camp meeting 2019.  For me, it never gets old.  Each time is fresh, new, and exhilarating.  Meeting the guys again after several months of absence is refreshing and fun.  Rehearsing together as a chorus brings revival.  The prayer sessions, where we gather in groups of two or three in every rehearsal, brings it home.  I am renewed in the conviction that this is God’s chorus and His alone, and I am so grateful to have just a small, insignificant part of this glorious ministry for Him. 

The pinnacle of my camp meeting experience was the Saturday night meeting.  I try to get psyched up or get my head fully into the music.  The goal is to get my head into heaven and be fully immersed into the worship of my Creator.  During the singing of the final song, The Four Hymns of the Second Coming, it was very heartening to see the audience spontaneously stand during the first stanza.  It felt like the Spirit was present and speaking to every heart.  And no one does that better than Him.  May our ears become more finely tuned to hear His slightest whispers so we may immediately respond to His directives.