Welcome To Sandtown

Can anything good come out of Sandtown? After all, this small town in West Baltimore is one of the poorest in the nation. Unemployment, crime, poverty, illiteracy, substance abuse, and teen pregnancy are a way of life for this community.

But God can take the worse and most hopeless of circumstances and bring something good out of it. That is what happened when a few people in the community refused to give up hope. Soon New Song Urban Ministries was born and the hope began to spread. A church was built, then a health clinic and a school. The joy continued to spread, and out of the community came the children. In fact, they came dancing and singing; 38 of them formed the children’s choir called Sandtown.

The choir released their first major recording distributed by Gotee records in May of 2003. The project is a treat for urban music lovers, bursting with songs about overcoming and glorifying God.

According to New Song Arts founder Steve Smallman, "the ministry is the program." "It exists to teach children the importance of hard work, trust, creativity, focus, teamwork, and delayed gratification." All the things needed to perform on stage are the same things needed in the real world.

The children in the choir range in ages from 8 to 14. They rehearse twice a week, adhere to a strict attendance policy, and review play-by-play of all their performances. New Song Arts demand commitment and professionalism from their students, and gives them the tools and rewards for both.

All of the kids live in Sandtown. They have survived against incredible odds. They have no formal music training, and were basically recruited from off the block. But what they do have is an incredible spirit and will to express who they are in Christ. And when they sing and perform, they do it with supernatural authority and confidence. Being in the choir causes them to think bigger thoughts, and to dream bigger dreams.

It’s hard to make it when your mother is a junkie and your parents are divorced. The children of Sandtown deal with these issues everyday. But when they need support, encouragement and someone to talk to, they are there for each other. The choir not only brought them to Christ, it brought them to each other.

The project features some of Gotees best Christian artist like the Katinas, Lisa Kimmey of Out of Eden, Toby Mac, Aaron Neville and Michael W. Smith. Sandtown is not a little kiddy sounding choir; they are a mature and authentic voice delivering what they live and believe. And when you hear them, you will know that they are real. They will blow you away, and challenge all those who stereotype the neighborhoods like they come out of. Sandtown, the ironic hope of the future.