The Austin Baptist Church choir participated in Governor Greg Abbott’s Inaugural Prayer Service last week of the 2023 Texas Inauguration.

“We were honored to be invited and it was a privilege to lead the service of worship and prayer,” said Todd Stearns, Austin Baptist worship pastor.

Stearns received a phone call from the Governor’s office requesting the local choir to sing after another choir had to cancel. With one week to prepare, the choir scrambled to work on three important songs.  

“They asked us to lead three hymns and I asked them if we could sing two great hymns of the faith and one special patriotic choir song. They agreed and so we led the gathered worshipers in ‘How Great Thou Art’ and ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness’,” Stearns said. “Our choir did an outstanding job presenting ‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic with America the Beautiful’.” 

He said he was proud of the team for adjusting work schedules and prior commitments to be able to perform for this special occasion.  

“It was indeed a special time of seeking the Lord for our governor,  lieutenant governor, state, and nation,” Stearns said.

Photo by Austin Baptist Church’s  Richard Bennett