I've been a Christian for a long time. I'm 25 now so that makes it 15
years and counting. That doesn't mean I have done everything perfectly. I've hit some bumps along the way - some pretty hard ones to accept. For a long time, I lived in fear - afraid of what others would say or think. This fear held me in a state of inaction. I was scared to move or do anything because I may mess up, I may not be good enough, or someone may bring up something from the past. In a way, it felt like I was stumbling through life.
In high school, I loved music. I still do! From an early age, I loved corporate worship through music. When I got to college, I had the opportunity to play football at Central Arkansas. Early on in my football career, I learned I could long snap pretty well - better than most! This gave me an avenue to get most of my education paid for! While I loved throwing a ball through my legs to another dude (i.e. long snapping), that quickly began to take a back seat. I began leading at the BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministries) a couple of times a month. God allowed me to grow close to the BCM director who began to show me how to lead groups of people in song as he had done it in his past.
After finishing my seasons at UCA, I transferred to Southern Mississippi, where I majored in Entertainment Industry. While at Southern, God opened the door for me to begin leading worship at a church there in Hattiesburg, what seemed liked, overnight. During my time at the church, I learned a lot. A lot of hard lessons. I learned a lot about myself. I learned how to conduct myself and how not to conduct myself in a leadership position. I'm thankful for my time there and the people who not only taught me different musical skills but also invested in my life whether through seasons of building up or tearing down. We all need both of those aspects at different points in our lives.
We as human beings all have things in common no matter where we're from. The two most obvious things, to me, are as follows: We need Jesus, and we love music. God has given me the opportunity to visit several different cultures and experience the raw side, not the "touristy" part. I got to spend a summer with university students in Bangkok, Thailand. They're awesome people, and they love music! It's a part of their DNA. In India, it was the same story. I had the privilege of leading for a hundred or so students that were involved with Young Life in a city that is about an hour south of Nepal.
Recently, God gave me the opportunity to visit the Philippines. One of the very first things you see when you fly into Manila is an unmistakable sign that says, "It's more fun in the Philippines." That statement proved to be true on my visit. Filipinos are some of the most happy people I've ever met and music is a very big part of their culture. Some of the songs one hears on the radio are very catchy. I've almost learned my first Tagalog (That's the language Filipinos speak near Manila) song! Don't worry, I've done my research and the song isn't bad! I'm sure it's like this all over the world. God gave us music so we could use it to give Him glory. At this point in my life, God is paving the way for me to move to the Philippines. He opened doors of opportunity to make an impact on certain places that wouldn't otherwise hear the Gospel. I'm choosing to put aside reason, and go where I feel I'm being lead by God. Now, it's the Philippines!
years and counting. That doesn't mean I have done everything perfectly. I've hit some bumps along the way - some pretty hard ones to accept. For a long time, I lived in fear - afraid of what others would say or think. This fear held me in a state of inaction. I was scared to move or do anything because I may mess up, I may not be good enough, or someone may bring up something from the past. In a way, it felt like I was stumbling through life.
In high school, I loved music. I still do! From an early age, I loved corporate worship through music. When I got to college, I had the opportunity to play football at Central Arkansas. Early on in my football career, I learned I could long snap pretty well - better than most! This gave me an avenue to get most of my education paid for! While I loved throwing a ball through my legs to another dude (i.e. long snapping), that quickly began to take a back seat. I began leading at the BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministries) a couple of times a month. God allowed me to grow close to the BCM director who began to show me how to lead groups of people in song as he had done it in his past.
After finishing my seasons at UCA, I transferred to Southern Mississippi, where I majored in Entertainment Industry. While at Southern, God opened the door for me to begin leading worship at a church there in Hattiesburg, what seemed liked, overnight. During my time at the church, I learned a lot. A lot of hard lessons. I learned a lot about myself. I learned how to conduct myself and how not to conduct myself in a leadership position. I'm thankful for my time there and the people who not only taught me different musical skills but also invested in my life whether through seasons of building up or tearing down. We all need both of those aspects at different points in our lives.
We as human beings all have things in common no matter where we're from. The two most obvious things, to me, are as follows: We need Jesus, and we love music. God has given me the opportunity to visit several different cultures and experience the raw side, not the "touristy" part. I got to spend a summer with university students in Bangkok, Thailand. They're awesome people, and they love music! It's a part of their DNA. In India, it was the same story. I had the privilege of leading for a hundred or so students that were involved with Young Life in a city that is about an hour south of Nepal.
Recently, God gave me the opportunity to visit the Philippines. One of the very first things you see when you fly into Manila is an unmistakable sign that says, "It's more fun in the Philippines." That statement proved to be true on my visit. Filipinos are some of the most happy people I've ever met and music is a very big part of their culture. Some of the songs one hears on the radio are very catchy. I've almost learned my first Tagalog (That's the language Filipinos speak near Manila) song! Don't worry, I've done my research and the song isn't bad! I'm sure it's like this all over the world. God gave us music so we could use it to give Him glory. At this point in my life, God is paving the way for me to move to the Philippines. He opened doors of opportunity to make an impact on certain places that wouldn't otherwise hear the Gospel. I'm choosing to put aside reason, and go where I feel I'm being lead by God. Now, it's the Philippines!
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