Meet the Southland Music Services Team
Micah Gillespie
Micah has served as the lead composer for Southland Music Services since 2022. During his time at Maranatha Baptist University, Micah traveled on various ensembles and developed a passion for evangelistic ministry. He graduated from MBU in 2021 with a BA in piano pedagogy and church music. His work for Southland Music Services involves writing, arranging, editing, and recording. His passion is for rich, high-quality music for the local church.
Words: Fanny Crosby; Edmond Budry
Music: Micah Gillespie; George Handel
Voicing: SATB
The Almighty Lord is the only One worthy of praise. In each respective verse of this familiar hymn, Father, Son and Spirit are lifted up in praise for what He has done for the believer and what He will still accomplish. This fresh SATB arrangement and triumphant piano accompaniment adds momentum to the message and climax on the last verse with a repeated “Amen” and glory given to the Triune God.
Words: W. P. Mackay
Music: John J. Husband
Arranger: Micah Gillespie
Voicing: SAB
As society continues to capitulate to evil, the church of Christ should pray fervently for God to revive hearts and fill His people with His Spirit. Using the original melody of this classic hymn, Micah Gillespie arranged a new version that includes a lilting, upbeat piano arrangement and a fresh SAB voicing mixed with a variety of time signatures and keys.
Words: Mary Ann Baker; Micah Gillespie
Music: Micah Gillespie
Voicing: Vocal Duet
Jesus’ disciples found themselves in a deadly storm in Mark 4, unable to save themselves and alone on the Sea of Galilee, while Jesus Himself was asleep in the boat. Similarly, believers today often underestimate Christ’s love and power in the darkest of life’s storms, thinking He does not care. But just when all seemed lost to the disciples, Christ stood and spoke to the winds and the waves, commanding them to obey their Creator. Based on the hymn, “Master the Tempest Is Raging”, the stark contrast between Christ’s peace and the storms of life is vividly depicted in the turbulent and flowing piano and obbligato parts followed by a calm middle section with rich harmonies in the vocal duet parts.
Emaley Gillespie
Emaley Gillespie is an Ohio native who studied Piano Pedagogy at Bob Jones University. She later served full-time at The Wilds Christian Camp as their pianist and administrative assistant. In January 2023, she married her childhood friend, Micah Gillespie. With a heart for local churches, Emaley is passionate about providing resources that inspire the next generation to serve the Lord through the gift of godly, conservative music.
Truth is the foundation for all that the Christian believes. Yet truth is under attack both in the church as well as in the world. While many seek truth, the Wicked One and the present age actively oppose, avoid, suppress and veil the truth through manipulation and deceit. The aim of this recording is to remind God’s people that who He is, what He has done, and what He has said will remain. The CD features a 15 voice choir and a full live orchestra.
Emily Herbster
Growing up in a pastor’s home, Emily was heavily involved in the church’s music ministry through accompanying, teaching and singing. At Maranatha Baptist University, she studied piano pedagogy and participated in various opportunities to minister through the college choir, band, and as a piano accompanist. She has a growing burden to see the need for beautiful, conservative arrangements that elevate worship services while remaining simple enough for the average church musician.
Despite the judgments that were being executed against God’s people, the OT prophet Micah offers hope in the character of God: “Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage?” (7:18) God’s forgiveness is never refused to the contrite heart who comes to Him with faith in His power to save. Our God is incomparable! Print this 4-part hymn for your congregation to learn!
Words: Mary D. James; Judson W. Van DeVenter; Emily Herbster
Music: Emily Herbster
Voicing: Two-Part (optional SAB)
Written for the teen camper choir of summer 2024, this simple two-part arrangement (optional SAB) is ideal for a small church choir or youth group. The lyrics are adapted from the well-known hymn All For Jesus by Mary D. James and the chorus of I Surrender All by Judson W. Van DeVenter. The text describes the Christian’s desire to surrender all of his life, time and resources for Jesus Christ.
Micah Herbster
Micah graduated from Maranatha Baptist University with a BA in Pastoral Studies and an MA in Biblical Studies. His passion is to write doctrinally-sound lyrics to encourage God’s people to think truth. He believes that music is a powerful vehicle for the transportation of Truth between the head and heart and loves studying the lives and poetry of past hymn-writers and draws inspiration from men like Charles Wesley, Isaac Watts and William Cowper.
In Psalm 37, David commits to follow the Lord, knowing that in the path of obedience is God’s best for his life. This simple chorus applies the truths of Ps. 37:4-7 to the daily decisions in the believer’s life. Print this 4-part hymn for your congregation to learn!
Truth is the foundation for all that the Christian believes. As our theme song for Summer 2024, the aim of this song is to remind God’s people that who He is, what He has done, and what He has said will remain. Let God Be True is arranged for SATB and includes a piano accompaniment.
Authored by Micah Herbster and written by Micah Gillespie, All to Stand served as the theme anthem for Summer, 2023. The emphasis of this triumphant arrangement is taken from Ephesians 6 where believers are instructed to "stand, and having done all to stand." The vocals of this single features a core recording choir, summer staff members in the orchestra, and all of the summer staff members on the final chorus of the song. Take a listen and be sure to download the hymn version for your home, youth group, or church!
Amy Herbster
With a passion for well and classically trained musicianship coupled with the desire to serve the local church through the gift of music, Amy Herbster has spent most of her life propagating the need to steward music wisely. She has an earned degree in Music Education, years of experience accompanying in churches, and has served alongside her husband, Mike, to develop the music program at Southland.
During the Christmas season, the believer’s heart is filled with wonder at the King of Glory who took on flesh. The Lord of all creation became a helpless human baby in order “to seek and to save that which was lost”. This beautiful Christmas piano recording features the arranging and performing artistry of Amy Herbster, and combines familiar carols into medleys designed to focus our meditation on specific truths about the Messiah’s birth.
Because of God’s saving grace, Christians can confidently await future glory with Christ in heaven. Hope and peace are now possible for the believer even during troubling circumstances, knowing that in the end he will be “Finally Home” with the Lord, beholding His glory and being transformed into the image of Christ. Meditate on the grace, hope and glory of salvation described in these hymns arranged on the piano by Amy Herbster.
Nothing apart from the truth of God can give true stability and prompt exuberant praise in life's most challenging circumstances. This collection of arrangements from the Herbster family serve as a reminder that lasting strength in times of weakness comes to those who have their eyes fixed on Jesus Christ.
On this recording, the Herbster family (Mike, Amy, Micah, Emily, Malachi, Ellie, Michala, & McKenna) share arrangements of hope and truth for times of challenge. Their prayer is that the listener’s heart would be encouraged by the music!
Charity Talosig Schmitz
A Chicago native, Charity Talosig Schmitz grew up in a Christian home and was saved in seventh grade. Music was important to the Talosig household, so Charity was enrolled in violin and piano lessons at a young age. Charity majored in Piano Pedagogy and Arranging and met her husband, Ben, at Maranatha Baptist University. Her prayer and burden is that her music will glorify God and minister to both believers and non-believers.
Words: Elvina M. Hall
Music: John Grape
Arranger: Charity Talosig Schmitz
Voicing: TTBB
In this arrangement for TTBB voices and piano, Charity Talosig supplemented the familiar hymn tune with a melodic piano accompaniment, drawing the listener to meditate deeply on Jesus’ sacrifice for sinners. He paid it all; it is only the believer’s reasonable service to give it all back to Him.
Words: Johnson Oatman Jr.
Music: Charity Talosig Schmitz
Voicing: TTBB
Within every Christian should be the desire to press forward in their walk with Christ. Higher Ground is a hymn that encapsulates the tension every believer has as they grow to be more and more satisfied in Christ and yet yearn for new heights of joy that they have not yet experienced. The hymn text is paired with a new TTBB arrangement by Charity Talosig that portrays the yearning in our hearts to one day see Christ as He is and be like Him.
Words: Edwin O. Excell
Music: Charity Talosig Schmitz; Edwin O. Excell
Voicing: SATB
There is no greater blessing in the believer’s life to sing about than salvation from sin and death and eternal life through Christ. Christians’ mouths should be filled with God’s praise each day for His unspeakable gift, and this hymn does just that. Each verse of this SATB arrangement examines a different aspect of the freedom we have in Christ and is paired with a fresh tune that is joyful and triumphant throughout
Joseph Greene
Joseph Greene is a composer and musician based in North Carolina. Currently, Joseph is a senior at Maranatha Baptist University, where he is studying Bible and Music. As both a student and a composer, it is important to him that his musical gifts are used to glorify God. Writing music for Southland has allowed him to develop his composition skills while also getting sacred music into homes, churches, and youth groups, where God's Word is communicated through song.
Words: Alfred H. Ackley
Music: Micah Gillespie
Voicing: TTBB
Although Christ does not walk the earth anymore, He is certainly alive today and even lives in the hearts of every true believer. In celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, this TTBB arrangement colorfully paints the words of the old hymn text by Alfred Ackley with a new tune, a joyful flute obbligato and a triumphant piano accompaniment.
Truth is the foundation for all that the Christian believes. Yet truth is under attack both in the church as well as in the world. While many seek truth, the Wicked One and the present age actively oppose, avoid, suppress and veil the truth through manipulation and deceit. The aim of this recording is to remind God’s people that who He is, what He has done, and what He has said will remain. The CD features a 15 voice choir and a full live orchestra.
Joshua Hill
Josh Hill was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, as a missionary kid. He is currently studying composition, arranging, and voice at Maranatha Baptist University. Josh is grateful for the chance to publish work alongside people who share his convictions and passion for God’s music and is excited to see how God will use Southland Music Services for His glory. You can browse more of Josh’s original hymns at sacredsong.ie.