Alumni Spotlight – Annelies Harmon
“There is no greater joy than to be able to share God’s Truth freely and openly with my students on a daily basis.”
MBU graduate Annelies Harmon (’13) now serves as music teacher at Fourth Baptist School in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Harmon graduated from MBU with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and sees the benefit of her education every day, both in ministry in her church and in teaching at her school.
“God used the opportunities to minister in my extension church to develop a heart for students from all backgrounds,” Harmon says of her preparation for ministry while at Maranatha. “The opportunity to teach early childhood music at Kiddie Kampus also ignited a desire to teach and use music as a vehicle to bring God’s love into little ones’ lives. Interactions with fellow classmates, faculty, and staff consistently challenged me to be the encouraging smile and listening ear to enable others to keep following God’s calling.”
Harmon remarks that through her current ministry in her church, God has been teaching her to be consistent and faithful. She references 1 Thess. 5:24, “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” She has seen God’s faithfulness borne out in her own life and is encouraged that God will care for her even through trials that arise in her life.
In addition to teaching tone chimes, two different handbell groups, general music, and elementary choir at Fourth Baptist School, Harmon also leads sectionals and coaches voice for Junior and Senior High choirs. “There are many ways in which Maranatha helped me fulfil God’s calling to teach. Expert faculty members gave me a strong musical foundation which pops up in my classroom on a daily basis,” notes Harmon.
She goes on to explain how her music history, theory, choral, music education and conducting courses have all been very useful in her teaching. Harmon shares that Maranatha’s Bible core continues to impact her and her students. “The strong Bible core greatly strengthens my walk with the Lord, influences me to view my position as an opportunity to be a servant leader, and allows me to spark spiritual discussions with my students.”
A private lesson studio also fills part of Harmon’s schedule, and she has seen the benefit of her Maranatha training fleshed out in that arena as well. The human relations course has given her better understanding and effectiveness when conversing with students’ parents and her coworkers, and the core education courses have enabled her to make successful lesson plans and on-the-fly adjustments.
Harmon observes that her biggest challenge in teaching is keeping her life balanced. She can easily take on responsibility after responsibility and end up neglecting the one most needful thing, as Martha did in Luke 10:40-42. In response to this challenge, Harmon says, “I am learning to pray and prioritize ministry opportunities. My primary calling is my relationship with God.”
Harmon is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Music Education with a Kodaly concentration. Her reason is, “Simply to be a better teacher. I want to offer my students a quality education so that they can go out into the world and be lifelong musicians to God’s glory.” Harmon wants to learn about a greater variety of approaches to music education and found the University of St. Thomas a great place to do that. It allows students to complete coursework in the evening while freeing up their days to continue teaching, and also has high-grade, experienced professors for their courses. “The longer you teach, the more you realize how many educational discoveries lie ahead,” remarks Harmon. “I could take courses and certifications all my life and still find new, exciting ways to teach!”
Article written by Peter Holloway