David Humphries talks about the work of Kingstanding-based Musical Outreach. Drew Kelleher reports.

Psalms One-Five-O

The ministry of Psalms One-Five-O is one sphere of a larger music ministry, King-standing-based Musical Out-reach, set up, as the name suggests, to reach into the community offering musical entertainment, instruction and facilities.

Since its humble beginnings in 1974 in David Humphries' garage it has expanded and now occupies more than three rooms filled with what looks like enough technology to launch a rocket.

"When we began," said David, "we drew up a list of things we needed and the approximate costs came to £30,000 - everyone thought 'where are any of us going to get that sort of money?' So we held the list up to the Lord and said 'Lord, if it is your will that this goes ahead you will have to provide these things.' Within a year we had everything that was on the list."

It wasn't long after the formation of Musical Outreach that quite a few young people were coming along to learn an instrument - while others including professional musicians came to teach and to help with other activities.

Over the past 14 years the group has reached deep into the heart of the community and has helped to launch a variety of names now in gospel music. The list of activities is seemingly endless including concerts, radio appeals, equipment lending, and supplying unemployed people with a four-berth caravan by the River Severn where they can enjoy a few days away from the bustle of the city.

"We teach contemporary music by way of acoustic, rhythm, lead and bass guitars as well as piano, percussion, synthesisers and drums. We also provide recording facilities for the unemployed and low-paid-musicians without charge that they may record their own songs and ideas."

Apart from David and Carol the Musical Outreach team members are: their son David, their daughters Lynn Humphries and Karen Johnson. Karen's husband Ray, David Maynard, John Bolton and John Hofstedt. As the group builds its resources and expands its horizons remaining space in the studios is at a premium, but David has a plan to solve that problem. He says the next step will be to convert the entire ground floor of their house for Musical Outreach users.

Explaining this radical step of literally giving over his house to the Lord's ministry he said: "If all the pews in churches were taken out so that they could fit more people standing up, there would only be enough room for two percent of the people - it is up to all Christians to use their homes for ministry." In the long run, says David, "We intend to extend our facilities and publish and record music to be used in conjunction with the teaching of music, and to provide some free recording facilities...we are also planning a 15 minute evangelistic programme for Trans-World Radio. Our vision is to open a base for Musical Outreach where we can centralise all our activities and make the most of our facilities."