The Southern Africa Union Conference (SAU) has held its first music festival in more than three decades, bringing choirs from across the Union together in Bloemfontein for a weekend of choral worship [date needed].

Bloemfontein Manne Koor opened the programme with a rendering of The Lord’s Prayer. Batho Choir, one of two local choirs taking part, opened the musical programme itself.

Among the participating choirs were Orlando West Choir, New Brighton Choir, Unambitho Choristers, Batho Choir and Bloem City Choir, alongside others from across the Union.

During the weekend, participants consecrated their mobile phones for media evangelism. The initiative, run jointly by the Union’s Stewardship and Personal Ministries and Communication departments, asked participants to dedicate their personal social media accounts to sharing the gospel, and many committed to doing so.

Southern Africa Union Music Festival

The festival was tied to the All Things New campaign, with choirs encouraged to use both their voices and their online presence to extend their ministry.

Dr Bulelani Bomela, SAU Music Director, said the festival had been a long time coming. “This is a historic moment for the Southern Africa Union,” he said. He also thanked students from the Central University of Technology (CUT) Seventh-day Adventist Student Movement for the energy they brought to the gathering.

SAU President Dr Paul Shongwe attended, along with departmental directors, pastors, choir members and families.