Commitment to Serving the Lord Through Leading Others in Songs of Praise and Worship to Almighty God
Throughout the history of Tree of Life Bible Church's Adult Choir, there have been a few choir directors, but none more enduring than our own Sister Tina M. Vanison. As the church's Minister of Music, she has directed the choir for more than 15 years! Choir members have come and gone, but the one constant has always been her steady guidance in directing and leading the church's dynamic choir.
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(Past and Current Adult Choir Members: Back row from left to right: Christine Hunter, Bendu Jackson, (late) Minnie Harrison, Minister Leon Jackson, Minister Grant Harrison, Minister Wes Beal, Kim Holston, Vivian Gravette, and Telia Farber. Middle row from left to right: Crystal Smith, Donna Jackson, Kevin Jackson, Hope Jackson, (late) Francis Jackson, Bonnie McDonald, Minister of Music Tina Vanison. Front Row: Minister Derek Burns.)
The Adult Choir meets two Thursday Evenings each month. After vocal warm ups, the choir practices a mixture of traditional hymns, such as "Amazing Grace" and "Pass Me Not" and current Gospel tracks from the Kirk Franklin and Donald Lawrence! Besides singing famous songs written by others, the choir also sings Tree of Life Bible Church original songs written by Minister of Music Tina Vanison.
Are you a member of Tree of Life Bible Church and are you considering joining the Adult Choir? Stop by the church during one of the choir practices and get to meet the other choir members. Listen to the songs and prayerfully decide if you too would like to join this excited group of choir members.
Not a member of Tree of Life Bible Church, yet? Are you feeling a little low and would like to hear some uplifting singing? Feel free to stop by the church during choir rehearsal for some spirited renditions of Gospel music!
Choir History
It all began in 1979 . . .back then, they wer called "children". There was one, two, and tree songs with no music, just the sweet sounds of their voices singing a cappella under the Old Oak Tree, in the yard of Mr. and Mrs. Archie Jackson of Vienna, Virginia. The only other help they had was a duet, also sung a cappella by then, Minister James A. Vanison (currently Pastor) and his wife, Sister Ada Canison, titled "Just the Two of Us!"
As the congregation began to grow, the "children" grew. They added Calvin Parker, Gail Jackson, Wanda Jackson, and Brenda Jackson. So of our songs were "Going Up Yonder", "We Can Make it Together", and "Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand."
A few years later, the Old Oak Tree services became the Tree of Life Bible Church and the "children" became "the choir". They also had accompaniment and their first director, Sister Vivian Vanison. Adding along to the Choir's membership were: Lisa Jackson, Raquel Jones, Kim Jones, Donna Jones, Curtis Syndor, Raymond Black, Roy Lambert, Maurice O'Bannon, Mattie O'Bannon, Sylvia O'Bannon, Jody Vanison, Mother Agnes Jackson, Mother Gladys Berry, First Lady Ada Vanison, Josephine Jackson, Bobby Taylor, Steven Taylor, Hope Jackson, Kelly Vanison, Jimmy Jackson, Corrine Miller and Gina O'Neal.
As Tree of Life moved to Centreville, Virginia in 1983, they lost most of their choir members and a year later, Sister Earlene Thompson was the director of the choir with eleven members strong. They stirred the church happy with songs such as, "I'm So Happy", "Solid Rock", and "Ninety-Nine and a Half Won't Do!" The members were very close and would hold rehearsals for three to four hours. In the summer of 1985, God stirred the hearts of many people through the ministry at Tree of Life Bible Church, and as a result, the choir began to grow. There were goals to be set and their first one was to purchase new choir robes. The choir achieved their goal and marched in on New Year's Eve in their new choir robes!
By 1989, the choir membership had once again changed! Interest in the church choir had grown so large that a second choir was formed, namely the "Tiny Tots Choir" returning to the desire for hearing children lifting up the name of Jesus in the church! Now headed by Sister Tina Vanison as Minister of Music for both the Tiny Tots Choir (directed by Sister Gillian Parker) and the Adult Choir, the choir membership increase to now include Minister Calvin Parker and his wife Gillian Parker, Deacon Leon Jackson and his wife Donna Jackson, Grant Harrison and his wife Minnie Harrison, Sister Ada Vanison, Sonya Barber, Bonnie McDonald, Mary Anderson, Ray Sullivan and his wife Audrey Sullivan, and Lionel Bruton. They lead the church in songs of encouragement and praise with such songs as "Yes, There is an Answer", "Safe in His Arms", and "I Must See Him for Myself!"
Throughout the mid- and late-1990s as the choir membership changed, yet again, Sister Tina Vanison continued leading the choir (directed by Christine Hunter, Jeannetta Nunn, and Derek Burns) with her musical abilities. During this time the choir added Hope Jackson, Telia Green, Makeysha Jackson, Bendu Jackson, Christine Hunter, Crystal Carter, Jeannetta Nunn, Wes Beal, Francis Jackson, and Derek Burns. During this decade in the lives of the choir members, many of the members were blessed to have children during this time, sometime with the entire soprano section pregnant at the same time. During this time, the songs the choir sung included, "My Minds Made Up, No Turning Back", "Amazing Grace", and "Your Grace and Mercy!" It was during this time that the choir mastered its first CD.
In the early 2000s, the choir is once again changing, and what have we learned? Change happens and that as a good choir we must change as well while holding to the good ways from the past that have brought us thus far! Our membership is still strong with members including Tinnell Bruton, Amanda Bruton, Desirae Jackson, and Latoya Gravette!
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