On Memorial Day, music echoed through three Magdala House programs, bringing together tenants, guests, clients, staff, and volunteers from different walks of life.
Members of Eastern Shore Baptist Church’s youth choir traveled from Daphne, Alabama, to St. Louis as part of their annual summer choir tour, sharing songs of faith, hope, and encouragement at Tiny Homes, Biddle House, and Magdala House Adult Day Care.
For many of our tenants, guests, and clients, it was more than a performance. It was a reminder that people they have never met care enough to show up, share their gifts, and spend time with them.
The youth choir of Eastern Shore Baptist Church rehearses weekly throughout the school year before embarking on a summer tour that combines music ministry with service opportunities.
Each year, the group travels to a different city, singing in churches, community venues, and ministry organizations while looking for ways to encourage others through worship.
This year, Worship Pastor Chris Turner was searching for local ministries in St. Louis where the choir could partner and serve.
That search led him to Magdala House.
“We were searching for local ministries and places that we could partner with during our choir tour,” Turner said.
What followed was a day that touched the lives of people across all three Magdala House programs.
The first stop was Tiny Homes.
Standing beneath an open sky, choir members gathered in matching green shirts between the colorful homes that represent stability and second chances for individuals rebuilding their lives after homelessness.
Residents and visitors gathered in lawn chairs as music filled the community.
The songs carried across the property, creating a peaceful atmosphere where neighbors paused to listen, reflect, and simply enjoy the moment.
At Biddle House, guests gathered in the dining hall to hear the choir perform.
Men sat quietly at tables as the room filled with music and worship.
For individuals working to overcome homelessness, daily life is often focused on immediate needs and long-term goals. The choir offered something different: a moment to pause and be encouraged.
The choir’s final stop was Magdala House Adult Day Care.
Clients filled the room, smiling, listening, and engaging with the performance.
Some sang along. Others clapped and watched attentively. The energy in the room was joyful and uplifting as music brought everyone together.
The visit created opportunities for connection, laughter, and shared experiences between choir members and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
It was a reminder of how meaningful moments can bring people together and strengthen a sense of community.
The choir performed a collection of contemporary worship songs including Goodbye Yesterday, God Really Loves Us, Gratitude, Yes and Amen, Jesus is Worthy, What I See, The Goodness, Be Glad, and Praise You Anywhere.
According to Turner, the songs were selected with a clear purpose.
“The hope of Jesus Christ,” he explained. “No matter the current circumstance of anyone, we hoped to give them hope that they are loved and can know Jesus as Lord and Savior.”
Many of the selections came from a youth choir collection and were chosen because they are current songs that resonate not only with students, but with audiences of all ages.
Throughout the day, that message remained consistent across every performance: hope, encouragement, and the reminder that every person is loved.
At Magdala House, we believe meaningful change happens through partnerships, compassion, and people willing to invest their time in others.
We are grateful to Worship Pastor Chris Turner, the students, volunteers, families, and members of Eastern Shore Baptist Church for choosing to include Magdala House on their summer tour.
Thank you for sharing your talents.
Thank you for sharing your faith.
And thank you for bringing hope, joy, and encouragement to our tenants, guests, clients, and staff.
Your songs may have lasted only a few minutes, but the impact of your visit will be remembered long after the music faded.`
