Homeless choir inspired by music

By MIKE AVERILL

TULSA — Stormy Morton always wanted to sing in a choir. She
just never thought it would take being homeless to find her
voice.

Morton is a member of Voices of Hope, a choir consisting of
people staying at The Salvation Army’s Center of Hope and a couple
of its employees and volunteers.

“I used to meet with people over drinking and drugging. Now I
meet with people over singing the praises of the Lord,” she said.
“This is much more relaxing and keeps me out of trouble.”

The idea for the choir came from participants in The Salvation
Army’s Genesis, a life skills class for people who are starting
over. Case managers helped them write an official proposal to make
sure they were serious and to keep them accountable.

Now they’re seeing the results of that effort.

“Music is a way to touch the spirit of a person and transcends
deeper than the mind and emotions,” said Denise Wells, music
director at the Center of Hope. “I’ve seen a change and resurgence
in their attitudes. Life does come from the ashes and people can
start over.”

The choir has been rehearsing weekly since November and
performed four times.

Gale Baker said that performing is a way for the Center of Hope
to provide something to the whole community and not just those in
need.