By Jerria Martin | Martin is a minister and director of Drug Free Communities of Dallas County

Singing is something that we all do or have done before, whether it’s in the shower, in our cars, along with or before our local congregations or even in professional settings.

Music is awesome.

Hearing our favorite songs on the radio, no matter where we are or how we are feeling, tends to lift our spirits and take us to our happy place.

Songs are powerful because where words fail, music speaks.

This idea is captured perfectly in the short poem, “Music.”

“Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it a rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul.”

Music is a gift from God. What makes this gift so amazing is that all of us have the chance to sing and make a joyful noise to the Lord.

Singing is even more powerful when we do it together.

I unfortunately don’t have the greatest singing voice, but when I stand to sing in harmony with a congregation or group of people, the sound is surprisingly beautiful.

Hearing and participating in these kind of harmonious melodies always reminds me of how diverse folk can come together collectively using their unique God-given gifts to enhance and bring about positive transformation in our communities. Selma is so lucky to have so many great organizations, churches and social clubs that work in unison to accomplish these goals.

So many wonderful events are the fruit of their labor. One of my most favorite events that includes the entire community has always been the Selma High School Choir Concerts.

The choir usually partners with other schools, organizations, and churches to put on motivational performances.

On Sunday afternoon at 4:00 pm, in the Selma High School Auditorium, the Selma High School Choir will partner with Drug Free Communities of Dallas County for the Choir’s Annual Fall Concert.

Our students have been working hard to put on a production that is both inspirational and educational, with a drug free, gang free theme.

I hope the entire community will come out to support them in their attempt to bring hope to their peers and our city.

Our kids can continue to be a part of the problem, or they can be a part of the solution.

Thanks be to God that the Jr. Hope Dealers at Selma High have chosen to be the latter.

Let’s support their good decision. We must all come together to sing “a new song” in Selma because there is powerful, awe-inspiring and motivational hope in singing.