Fully Scored | Ep. 81 – The International Staff Band

So we've spoken a little bit about some of those different events that ISB gets involved with.

And I know, Harry, you mentioned about that weekend away in Riska.

I know this is an international podcast.

We have listeners all around the world.

So I think it'd be really interesting to talk about that.

What happens on a typical ISB weekend away for those that may have never experienced it in person or that may not have yet and will one day? So should we unpack that? So what does the format of a typical ISB weekend look like?

It's interesting because it has changed over time.

And as I say, there was a real reliance on a coach journey.

That was always special because it started the weekend off and the camaraderie that came from that.

There used to be different sections in the band.

I think I've always been associated with what's known as the primary section.

Although my age now, I'm starting to move down the coach when we still have a coach journey.

But it was that and the respect that was shown to individuals that were in the band and the service that they're given and their absolute quality of being a bandsman.

But it has changed because now there's more and more car journeys, there's more and more stays in perhaps a hotel.

So we don't have so many billets.

We don't therefore engage at that level.

But I do find the band now is really engaging with a core.

And that starts really from the moment you set foot in a core building, because I do find most of the band membership find it very easy to talk to core folk, to people in the congregation audience about, you know, the reason we're doing it, the reason we're there and the impact the music has on them.

We find more and more that you're finding more and more people that attend a typical Salvation Army ISB festival who perhaps haven't been, haven't set foot in a Salvation Army core building for a number of years.

We also find there are people who find that they are new to this experience and it just blows them away.

and I think that is how I see this all evolving because at the end of the day we're in the business And it sounds very old fashioned of saving souls, but that's what we continue to do.

And I think the ISB is a fabulous vehicle for that type of ministry.

And unpacking a weekend is difficult because each weekend perhaps is slightly different.

But I'm sure that each member of the band has that moment where they're able to engage with someone.

and know that they're making a difference through the music that's being presented but also through sharing our own experience.