November 7, 2025
CONYERS, Ga. — Music filled the air to mark the celebration at Rockdale Baptist Church on Sunday, Aug. 10. The church honored Karen Tanner, the church’s pianist, and Martha Hyde, the church’s organist, for more than 50 years of continuous service in the music ministry at the church.
To make the celebration special, the church invited former choir members and worship pastors, said Ron Gardner, the current worship pastor. They came back and sang in the anniversary choir for the worship celebration.
The two honorees started the worship service with a 15-minute extended prelude/mini-concert and received a standing ovation for offering their talents to the Lord with beauty, excellence, and grace.
The prelude was followed by the anniversary choir singing Tom Fettke’s “The Majesty and Glory of Your Name” as the call to worship, and later, at Tanner’s request, the anniversary choir presented an arrangement of “I Can Only Imagine”.
After an inspiring sermon on “The Rich, Young Ruler” from Matthew 19 by Pastor Billy Moss, the anniversary choir returned to the loft behind the pulpit to lead the congregation in singing “Jesus, Messiah” as the song of invitation and commitment.”
Just prior to his message, Moss expressed his appreciation for Hyde and Tanner, citing that his mother was an organist in the church she served for three or more decades.
He declared, “The worship service was truly electric, and spirit-filled from the beginning with Martha and Karen’s mini concert to the very end when we acknowledged their decades of faithful service and celebrated them with a reception. They have spent their lives in service to King Jesus, and it shows in all they do for Him in our church. Praise the Lord for His faithful servants.”
Gardner explained, “After the worship service, we presented Karen and Martha with beautiful plaques and a gift from the church commemorating their 50+ years of service. Then we moved to the fellowship hall for a reception in their honor. Members of their family were on hand for photographs and all the festivities of the day.”
Rhon Carter, the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s music/worship catalyst, served as the worship pastor at the Rockdale Church from 2001 to 2006 and declared, “Karen and Martha’s dedication to the music ministry has touched countless lives, filling the sanctuary with joy, inspiration, and soul-stirring melodies for half a century.
“I can attest to their unwavering passion, talent, humor, and the beautiful harmonies they bring to every worship service.”
Gardner added, “It has been my joy and privilege to work and serve alongside these wonderful ladies for the past 19 years during my tenure at Rockdale. Their passion to serve Christ and His church through their musical gifts is a joy. Also, their flexibility to embrace changing music styles and approaches to worship has been refreshing.
“I not only consider them as ministry partners but friends/family. Sunday was not a celebration to 'nudge' them toward retirement, but hopefully an encouragement to them to continue serving with their gifts until they are no longer able.”
“During our 19 years of serving together at Rockdale, Karen has been the regular Sunday worship pianist and then transitioned to our Sr. Adult Choir as pianist to help that ministry group be more effective. Martha has served as our Sunday worship organist for those 50+ years, but in more recent years, she rotates between organ and keyboard strings depending on the style of the song. For more traditional songs/hymns, she plays the organ. For modern worship songs, she plays the violin or keyboard, string reduction parts."
Tanner emphasized, “Martha and I are both blessed with God’s gift for playing the keyboards for His glory. It has been very easy for us to work together because it is a ministry we share with others."
Tanner recalled that Hyde was playing piano accompanied by someone else on the organ when her family first attended the church, which they eventually joined. A few months later, the organist stepped down, and Tanner moved to that instrument while Hyde became the church pianist.
"In preparing our music for the worship service every Sunday," Tanner emphasized, "it is important that we are prepared spiritually as well as musically. Our greatest joy is being a part of the music/worship ministry and working with each different music director/worship pastor through the years."
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