Youth Pursue God and Artistic Excellence at TMI
On Sunday, July 28, Commissioner Kelly Igleheart, territorial commander, posed an inquiry to delegates and staff of the 2024 Territorial Music Institute (TMI): “My question for you today is ‘Who are you pursuing?’”
The theme verse of the week was 2 Timothy 2:22: “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” The fitting prompt from Commissioner Igleheart, in tandem with that verse of challenge, illustrated the overall desire of the nine-day intensive, as hundreds came together at Asbury University under the theme “PURSUE,” seeking both artistic excellence and spiritual growth.
Delegates navigated a busy and thorough daily schedule during the week, choosing a major track as well as supporting classes. Major options included brass band and percussion, dance, theater, theater production, visual arts, piano, worship team, and worship arts skills. Sixteen elective classes also met daily, ranging from videography to sewing, piano for worship, life skills, and brass technique. In addition, leadership tracks were offered in instrumental, choral, worship team, and creative arts venues, with four choruses singing praise to the Lord during the institute.
“TMI 2024 was an exceptional year with outstanding faculty, wonderful guests, and delegates who achieved a new standard of excellence,” reports Nick Simmons-Smith, territorial music and creative arts education secretary.
“It was also great to be back at Asbury University, who helped us tremendously with excellent facilities, equipment, personnel, and a warm spirit of welcome,” he continues. “It felt like we were on sacred ground.”
Delegates arrived on Sunday, July 21, and quickly dove into an extensive audition process. That evening’s “Welcome to TMI” program struck a balanced tone for the week to come, pairing excitement with a high-level expectation of education and worship.
Monday began with “Morning Manna,” a staple session of each day at TMI and what Simmons- Smith often describes as the centerpiece of a busy daily schedule. Olivia Munn-Shirsath, teaching pastor at Wellspring Church in Queens, NY, was the special guest speaker, breaking down the theme verse in each morning session.
In her Thursday session, Munn-Shirsath outlined a multi-step forgiveness process, illustrating the need for forgiveness while also challenging delegates and staff.
“Forgiveness is not forgetting,” she said. “Forgiveness is not the absence of pain. Forgiveness is not denial or repression. Forgiveness is not becoming a doormat enabling abuse. And forgiveness is not always a one-time event. It is usually an ongoing and nonlinear process.
“But forgiveness is releasing someone from your right to judge them,” Munn-Shirsath continued. “Forgiveness is freedom for you as the forgiver. It can even release physical healing in your body. Forgiveness is both conscious and voluntary. It's a choice of will. Is there anyone that you need to forgive?"
Munn-Shirsath also pushed delegates and staff to seek out support systems when returning home, indicating that “finding people you can run with and run alongside in this pursuit of Jesus can push you and spur you on in a way that almost nothing else can.”
To complement the spiritual discipline instilled each morning and the artistic focus of class sessions, each evening featured a night program with the entire institute gathering together. Monday centered a calendar-appropriate Olympic theme, with an outdoor festival and light-hearted “Night of Nonsense” program later in the week. The annual solo recital was also a highlight, featuring impressive delegate presentations in brass, dance, vocal, violin, marimba, and musical theater disciplines.
Three evenings centered on group performances, with a mid-week “preview” concert on Wednesday, a creative arts production on Saturday, and a pair of concert finales on Sunday, July 28. Each of the four choruses ministered with beautiful vocal melodies during the week, and Simmons-Smith cites each of the institute’s four bands as “presenting challenging material, expertly played” during the week. This was headlined by the institute’s top brass group, the Holz Band, and their presentation of “The Present Age,” conducted by special guest Jonathan Evans of the International Staff Band.
Saturday’s creative arts finale grouped visual arts, dance, and theater together illuminating the overarching theme of “PURSUE” in a stirring production. For the first time, the visual arts gallery served as the backdrop to the entire evening.
“The stunning artwork from the class quite literally set the stage for an incredible show,” says Bethany Farrell, territorial creative arts director. “Our creative arts delegates artfully demonstrated scenes and situations that lacked righteousness, faith, love, and peace in a monochrome color scheme, and transitioned into full, vibrant color as the performances demonstrated scenes with these virtues,” Farrell says. “The message was evident that the pursuit of Jesus brings life and joy.”
“The creative arts finale was another success,” Simmons-Smith comments. “The dance, drama, and musical theater groups displayed excellence through the arts and also tackled important issues of the day. It was an uplifting, challenging, and inspirational performance.”
Prior to the pair of finale concerts on the institute’s final day, TMI delegates and staff assembled for a Sunday worship service, supported by the Holz Band and TMI Chorus. The band shared “Christ in Me,” penned by renowned composer Kenneth Downie, who wrote the piece specifically for the Holz Band to share during this TMI service.
Munn-Shirsath focused on Luke 19:1-9, centering on God’s pursuit of us, and asked delegates, “Will you come home?” near the conclusion of her message. The pursuit of God was not only the stated theme of the institute, but also a clear through line that challenged and inspired both delegates and staff during an exhilarating week.
“It is my hope that the delegates and faculty of TMI continue to pursue God, as He pursues us,” says Simmons-Smith. “I know that they will deepen their faith and also get plugged in at the corps to serve back at home.”
During Sunday’s worship service Commissioners Kelly and Donna Igleheart, territorial leaders, poignantly helped to put the week into perspective for the delegates.
“At this very moment, there are more than 600 people gathered at either TYI (Territorial Youth Institute) or right here at TMI searching for truth and purpose,” said Commissioner Donna. “Today, our hearts are with all the young people of this territory. You mean so much to us… Thank you for saying ‘yes.’ You could be many other places, but you’re here. There is no doubt that the Lord is working in this place, and you are loved, you are seen, and you are greatly valued.”
“I do not want you to leave this experience with just the word ‘pursue’ on your t-shirts, I need it to be pressed on your heart,” Commissioner Kelly said. “He is still pursuing you. He seeks after you. He wants 100 percent of you.”
“Our prayer today is that you are fully dedicated to the Lord who loves you, who pursues you, who cares for you, who dies for you, who knows your past and has forgiven it. It might be hard, but it will be worth it.”