Collegians and Friends
Nick, Jared and Steven enjoyed a music and worship reunion as they led worship all three services Sunday morning, December 31st.
Three high school friends now majoring in music in three different universities were home for Christmas and led worship at Kettle Moraine Evangelical Free Church in Delafield, Wisconsin.
Nick is sitting on a Peruvian drum called a Chacone. It’s a wooden box with snares inside; he brought it home from a short-term missions trip to Peru. Nick is a percussion major at Wheaton (just plain scary on the marimba!) and playing the djembe.
Jared is playing acoustic-electric guitar and leading. He’s a composition major, minoring in percussion at Cornerstone University. More importantly, he’s my son. 😀
Steven is playing bass. Best friends since middle-school, he and Jared are truly kindred spirits; so much so they barely need to talk sometimes! Steve’s a composition major at Trinity International University, and plays sax and guitar in addition to bass.
These three led or participated in the youth worship band as high-schoolers, and have all chosen to pursue careers in music and / or ministry. Having had some influence in their lives when they were students, it did my heart good to see them reunited, playing skillfully (Psalm 33.3), bringing glory to God. Theirs was not a look-at-us-perform morning. (Never!) Theirs was “to usher God’s people into His presence and get out of the way”. They and others are the product of several years of the church’s music and worship department intentionally putting 2 Timothy 2:2 into practice. Or, as we said in more everyday terms:
Everything I know I’ve learned from somebody.
It is my responsibility to share what I know with you,
Knowing you’ll add to it before you pass it along.
So let me ask you ? “Who in your world might qualify as your Timothy?”
Selah—
–PLR–
5 Replies to “Collegians and Friends”
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This is awesome! As a parent of 3 teen/preteen boys who do some “behind the scenes” volunteering at our church, this gives me such encouragement. thanks!
Thanks for your encouraging words, Rindy, it really IS a blessing to see one’s kids and their friends walking in the truth, living-out their faith and giving their all to the Savior!
The investment we make in their lives as parents and friends (or parents of friends) is worth it! Keep on keeping on!
“Oh-by-the-way” (in response to your phrase “behind the scenes volunteering”) Seth, the video technician that morning, is a high-schooler. He’s a regular on the media team and did a flawless job that morning, truly distraction-free. (The media screen is up and to the right, out of sight of the picture)
Nice work, Seth, thank you!
Phil —
To Seth—GREAT FOR YOU!!! My 17 and 14 year olds have both done sound/video regularly for a few years now. My 11 year old felt “left out” so he spends time every week emptying/refilling the backs of the chairs in the sanctuary (tissues, pens, prayer cards, etc) and doing little jobs in the office…there is a place for everyone!!
I would like to have heard this group of three, home-church-grown fellows — now Bible College/University students — play their instruments in a manner that contributed to the morning’s singing of words that honor and glorify our Savior. I wish all instrumentalists would understand that voices should be heard above the sound of their instruments. Thanks for letting us know there are those skillful and “get out of the way” young instrumentalists getting training to become the future leaders in our churches. Thanks, guys.
Mom – I think you’d have been VERY pleased with the way this trio led the congregation. They led off with the DOXOLOGY. (It’s been awhile since some churches have sung that one, I’m sure). One of their songs was quite new, so Jared prefaced it with a comment, saying “If these words are new to you, reflect on them at first, join us when you can.” Seth, the video tech, waited until the trio had been through verse and chorus once to project the words onto the screen, helping us do what Jared had just asked. “Skillful!” I smiled to myself.
I’m thankful to have been on hand during their their early formative years to influence their thinking. We used the usher mindset often as they learned and trained. Excellence, yes. Enough to get even a music teacher to relax. But there’s no need to push for perfection, it’s too elusive.
To see them using their skills, each having added to what I was able to teach them – SO rewarding in light of Ephesians 4.12.
Seeing these guys in action fuels the fire within me to share these concepts with those who want to know, and they enrich a church’s worship, no matter the congregations preferences.
Thanks for your encouraging words!
Phil—