New Baden United Methodist Church

107 West Hanover Street

New Baden, IL  62265                                                                                    Home Page

(618) 588-3588

nbumc1@charter.net

Pastor Pam Hoffman

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Joan Witte has been the music director at the New Baden United Methodist Church since 1991. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1985. Following graduation, she was director of the junior choir and later the chancel choir at First United Methodist Church of Mt. Holly, New Jersey.

Since accepting the position of music director at New Baden United Methodist Church, she has been responsible for leading all of the musical activities at the church. These have included playing piano and organ for services, directing and accompanying the adult and junior choirs, directing the chime choir, leading the contemporary praise singers, and leading the music for Vacation Bible School.

Joan considers leading music for the church to be a calling from God, and finds it a great joy to be able to serve Him in this way. Her greatest joy came in 1999 when she committed her life to Jesus Christ during a revival at the church and found the relationship with Him that she had been lacking. Since then, making music has not been about just fulfilling the duties of her job, but about praising God with the gifts He has given her and leading others into His presence.

Besides directing the music, Joan has been involved in other church activities as well, including teaching the adult Sunday School class, being a member of the United Methodist Women, and being a part of the prayer ministry.

In addition to her work with the church, Joan also teaches private piano lessons and plays the harp professionally. Since 2002, she has been privileged to visit several churches, giving concerts on her harp and sharing the personal testimony of what God has done for her.

She has been married to Michael Witte since 1985, and they have two children: Angela and Jonathan.

  At New Baden United Methodist Church, we believe that music is a vital part of worship, ordained by God to bring honor and glory to Him and to draw us closer into His presence. We try to reach a variety of people by offering a blended style of worship. Our services include contemporary praise and worship songs, as well as traditional hymns, choir anthems, and instrumental and vocal solos. The styles range from classical to gospel and jazz.

Currently we have a choir for junior high students through adults, which sings for services every week from September through May. During the summer months and periodically throughout the year, we have opportunities for vocal and instrumental soloists and ensembles to share their talents with the congregation. Since 1992, our choir has been an active participant in the Clinton County Showcase Christmas and Easter concerts, joining together with other church choirs from around the county to share the love of Christ with others in the community.

We openly welcome all who would like to join us in worshiping God through the gift of music, and gladly provide training to those who are new to singing or playing instrumental music for the church. We have been blessed to see how God has touched the hearts of many through music, and we are eager to share that blessing with others as we bring praise to Him with song every Sunday.