Story By: Preston Bennett

MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Located right on Main Street is Provenance Church, a plant church that has been in Montevallo since 2019. On Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, the Church gathers together for service at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays, and for dinner and Bible study at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. There is one more thing that happens at the Church the most people don’t see.

On Thursday nights at 7:00 p.m., the Church’s worship band meets to rehearse before Sunday morning’s service, as they go through the songs chosen for the service. Landon NeSmith, the worship leader for Provenance Church, plays keys for the band every Sunday morning.

“I’ve been playing piano since I was in third grade, so I’ve been at it for a while,” NeSmith said. The band started in 2016 at Westwood Baptist Church. NeSmith attended a young adult group at Westwood, and eventually he and others who were part of the group started the band.

“We found our group quickly growing, and we wanted to start doing more events together,” NeSmith said, “So, we started planning worship nights where we’d have a band come together, play a few songs, and enjoy each other’s company.” The band has been together now for at least 10 years, and has seen some members come and go, but “ultimately, the core has been there.”

When Pastor Marcus Mullett decided to start Provenance Church in Montevallo, NeSmith and the band decided to go with him. Since then, NeSmith has played piano for the Church, and has led worship for about 6 months now. NeSmith said he loves his Thursday nights with the band because “it gives me just another opportunity to use my talents to just kind of give back to God.”

“To have just a worship time of my own here; not having to worry about if I hit the wrong notes or if I’m saying the right things in front of a group of people,” NeSmith said, “So, I can give back and just kind of be in the moment, and that means a lot to me.”

Disclaimer: Author Preston Bennett attends Provenance Church.