MBC Praise Band

In May of 2001, Midway Baptist Church began a bold initiative of offering a second Sunday morning worship service that included contemporary praise and worship music.  One by one, as if assembled by the Lord himself, musicians and vocalists began to add to the group.  Sean Endicott, Contemporary Worship Leader, along with his wife Erin, returned to Midway in early 2001, after living in Charlotte, North Carolina for a few years.  While in Charlotte, he was part of a worship team at a larger church.  When the Endicott’s returned back to their hometown, they planned to seek out a larger Lexington church to worship in the style they had grown to love in Charlotte; however, the Lord had other plans for them.  Sean agreed to lead our worship team and he, along with church pianist Angela Eaton and electric bass player, Mike Drury formed the nucleus of the band.  Blake Jones had recently moved to Midway and was playing around town at local events.  He was recruited to come and play for an event at MBC.  Very shortly thereafter he brought his vocal and instrumental talents (playing guitar, mandolin, banjo and dulcimer) to the band.  Soon after, the Popovitz and Harris families began attending Midway Baptist and the group gained a drummer in Tim Popovitz and violinist in Chiara Harris.  Lanette Morgan, who is active in the sanctuary choir and children’s music later started setting in with the band to provide vocals.  John Wheatcraft came to MBC in 2005 to add to the sound of the band with electric guitar.  During this time of contemporary worship, Letha (Tomes) Drury initiated a projection system that provided song lyrics for the praise music, as well as sermon aides and announcements.  With support from the Technology Ministry Team, many improvements to the projection and sound system have been made, including moving the projector to the sound booth and adding a screen to the sanctuary overflow room in 2005.

This talented group of musicians has been at the core of a whole new style of music and worship.   We are weekly enriched by worship environment that their music provides.  The spouses of the band members have also contributed to many different areas of the church including children’s ministry, building committee, Sunday school teachers and Deacons.  Along the way, the group has become very close and has developed as a strong support group for one another.  Over the years there have been efforts to give the band a name; however, they feel that lending a name to the group would give more emphasis to the group itself, rather than the worship atmosphere their music provides.   Each member of the MBC Praise Band feels that is a tremendous blessing to use the gift of their musicianship to enhance the worship experience for the congregation of Midway Baptist Church. 

The Midway Praise Team (from left to right) Sean Endicott, Worship Leader; Angela Eaton, piano; Letha Drury, sound and projection; Jeremy Popovitz, percussion; Tim Popovitz, drums; Blake Jones, guitar, mandolin and banjo; John Wheatcraft, electric guitar; Mike Drury, electric bass; Paola Cantalon, vocals and Lanette Morgan, vocals.  (Not pictured is Chiara Harris, violin.)

In January of 2005, the MBC Praise Band played a benefit concert at the Backroads Theater in Midway and raised over $2,500 for Tsunami Relief efforts.  They play several events each year, including the Midway Fall Festival as a ministry outreach for the church. From left to right- Blake Jones, Darrell Pittman (visiting musician), Lanette Morgan, Tim Popovitz, Sean Endicott, Mike Drury, Angela Eaton and Chiara Harris.