Who We Are
Our Vision
Our Mission
Core Values
God-honoring, theologically sound music
Giving our best in music and worship
Accessible music that encourages growth in singers and audience
Enduring, engaged, authentic congregational music
Varied music appropriate to all facets of community and life
Collaboration of instructors and students in seeking God-honoring music
Instructors who are aligned with these values
Education that supports the local church body
New music informed by the best of centuries of musical heritage
Where We Are
Central
Camps
PermaCamps are in Harrisonburg, VA, Holmes County, OH, and Hawkesville, ON. We have held mobile camps throughout the U.S. and Canada, including in Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wyoming, and two communities in Alberta.
Online
We have a growing online presence, including our website, YouTube channel, Sing for Joy curriculum, and other online resources, which are available for people regardless of location.
Who We Serve
Churches
What we’re doing:
- Providing Mobile Camps and MiniCamps to bring instruction right into individual church communities.
- Providing Draw Near, a curriculum to teach hymn-singing.
- Providing Into His Presence, a songbook for worship.
- Surveying worship practices and needs so that we can help where most needed.
Churches
Our goal: We envision congregations deeply engaged in worship through scripture, singing, and prayer, who are becoming like Jesus through regularly hearing the story of God and responding in repentance, praise, and obedience.
What we’re doing:
- Providing Mobile Camps and MiniCamps to bring instruction right into individual church communities.
- Providing Draw Near, a curriculum to teach hymn-singing.
- Providing Into His Presence, a songbook for worship.
- Surveying worship practices and needs so that we can help where most needed.
Schools
What we’re doing:
- Creating a K-12 curriculum, Sing for Joy, for schools (the first five levels are available).
- Providing classes for schoolteachers at our PermaCamps, including primary and secondary education classes.
- Publishing textbook recommendations and other resources on our resources page.
Schools
Our goal: We envision schools whose graduates understand music, sing in church, and have the tools to participate in healthy community music-making. Students are brought to this place by school boards and administrators who understand why God gave his people music, and by teachers who are skilled in teaching music.
What we’re doing:
- Creating a K-12 curriculum, Sing for Joy, for schools (the first five levels are available).
- Providing classes for schoolteachers at our PermaCamps, including primary and secondary education classes.
- Publishing textbook recommendations and other resources on our resources page.
Families
What we’re doing:
- Offering a range of opportunities for adults and children at our PermaCamps. Family package is available in Virginia.
- Providing articles and resources on subjects including family worship and teaching children.
- Providing Follow Me, a children’s songbook available in shape-note and round-note versions.
Families
Our goal: We envision families who sing together, and who sort wisely through issues that confront them concerning music and media.
What we’re doing:
- Offering a range of opportunities for adults and children at our PermaCamps. Family package is available in Virginia.
- Providing articles and resources on subjects including family worship and teaching children.
- Providing Follow Me, a children’s songbook available in shape-note and round-note versions.
Individuals
What we’re doing:
- Hosting Perma Camps in Ohio, Ontario, and Virginia to provide individuals with an experience of instruction and growth.
- Publishing online articles and resources and YouTube videos to provide inspiration and instruction.
- Sending updates on our work and regular thought-provoking and educational articles in our quarterly newsletter. You can sign up for our mailing list here.
Individuals
Our goal: We envision Christians who have the musical skills needed to worship God in the ways he has given us, who honor God through musical choices in daily life, and who offer themselves in love to Christ and his church.
What we’re doing:
- Hosting Perma Camps in Ohio, Ontario, and Virginia to provide individuals with an experience of instruction and growth.
- Publishing online articles and resources and YouTube videos to provide inspiration and instruction.
- Sending updates on our work and regular thought-provoking and educational articles in our quarterly newsletter. You can sign up for our mailing list here.
Our Communities
Anabaptism is not a single denomination or a church group. It is, in fact, quite diverse and includes many different church groups with similar historical roots and perspectives. These churches originated in Europe during the Reformation as a distinct, non-centralized movement that was neither Catholic nor Protestant in theology or practice. The movement, called by some the “Radical Reformation,” emphasizes lived obedience to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.
Some groups that we tend to serve are various groups of Mennonites, Beachy, Amish, River Brethren, Charity, Brethren, Kleine Gemeinde, and unaffiliated Anabaptist churches. We serve individuals from non-Anabaptist churches as well.
