LAKELAND A survey taken at the Dare to Share Jesus 1999 Florida Annual
Conference Event showed that music and worship were among the most popular parts of the
event for laity and clergy. Another was the sermon preached by Cuban Bishop Ricardo
Pereira.
At the Dare to Share Jesus 2000 Florida Annual Conference Event May 30-June 2 in
Lakeland, those two elements are being combined into one event to celebrate the Cuba
Florida Covenant.
The Cuba Florida Covenant Celebration Experience June 1 at 7:30 p.m. will feature
another sermon by Pereira and music by the Monte de Sión Praise and Worship Band.
Monte de Sión (Mount Zion) is the first praise and worship band founded in the
Methodist Church in Cuba. It was started in 1990 at the Methodist Church of Marianao in
Havana during the churchs spiritual revival and liturgical renewal.
The members of the band range in age from 16 to 28. They lead worship in their local
church each Sunday and are the featured musicians at Cubas annual conference event,
youth camps, retreats and district conferences. Their purpose is to "usher the people
of God into His presence by praising and worshiping Him."
In 1994, the group recorded its first collection of original songs, "Jehová
Reina" ("Jehovah Reigns"). Their second recording, 1997s "Quiero
Serte Fiel" ("I Want to be Faithful to You"), features new praise songs
with Cuban rhythms.
The annual conference event concert is one of the last dates of the Monte de
Sións statewide tour that begins May 18. Although the tour is scheduled to end June
4, it may be extended if coordinators receive commitments from areas not already
scheduled, said Larry Rankin, director of the Conference Council on Ministries
Missions ministry office.
Concerts are scheduled for Coral Way United Methodist Church in Miami May 18, Christ
Church United Methodist in Fort Lauderdale May 20, Everglades Community Mission in
Pembroke Pines and Trinity United Methodist Church in Lighthouse Point May 21, Pine Castle
United Methodist Church May 25, Community Hispanic Mission in Casselberry May 26, Christ
Hispanic United Methodist Church May 28, and First United Methodist Church, Kissimmee, May
29.
Although most of the tour is in place, Rankin said the band still needs help with
transportation and musical equipment. He said the band will be traveling in a 15-passenger
van, and a driver has volunteered for most of the tour, but the band will need a driver
May 16-20 and again after June 4, if the tour is extended.
The band needs musical instruments and equipment the members can use during the tour.
Although Rankin has requested that each individual tour stop provide as much of the
equipment as possible, the band prefers using the same equipment for the whole tour.
The band needs a keyboard, electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, cymbals, drumsticks, a
pair of congas, a cowbell with stand, hi and low timbales, bongos, and a plastic
jan-block. They also need a sound system that includes amplifiers, speakers, monitors, a
16-channel mixer, 10 microphones, connectors and cables.
For more information on Monte de Sións tour contact Rankin at 1-800-282-8011,
extension 131, or LRankin@flumc.org.