The Sharon Church Inspirational Choir has been busy carrying out the theme of the choir for this year—Staying Ready for Heaven in 2007. Many times we get so busy focusing on things of this world that we forget this earth is not our home. Therefore, the choir thought they would take the time to focus on getting ready for our heavenly home by having Heaven on our minds.

They also decided to be more ministry-minded this year. Royal L. Harrison, Sharon Church senior pastor, had encouraged us to reach out to our community. The choir accepted this challenge and has worked on becoming a ministry by studying, praying, fasting, and then ministering throughout the community. So far this year, the Inspirational Choir has performed at Portland State University, New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Heaven Bound Deliverance Center Church, and Maranantha Church among others.

In March, the Inspirational Choir hosted the 7^th annual Lift Every Voice Workshop community choir. The choir consisted of 50 singers from various denominations and 10 different churches. After a week of rehearsals, the choir performed a concert Sabbath evening. To illustrate the focus on ministry, the choir donated half of the concert offering to the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, who recently lost their church in a fire.

This workshop is a wonderful opportunity to welcome non-Adventists to join us for fellowship and worship. One of the singers from the workshop, Tiffany, had occasionally visited Sharon Church. After singing during the workshop, Tiffany was invited to join the Inspirational Choir, and recently, Tiffany was baptized.

For more information about the Inspirational Choir, please visit our Web site at www.sharonsda.net.