One thing I've always tried to do at my local church, is to encourage and grow new, young talent. What we invest in our young people today will be what we reap in the church of tomorrow (10 years from now).
I'm a competent musician and song leader today because I was inspired as a young adult to grow in those areas by a pastor leading our youth group. I would watch him play guitar, and loved being around him, because he led the music in a lively, energetic way.
I was so inspired by him that I went out and bought a second hand guitar (I was about 19 years old) I player night and day, practising my first few chords (I still remember them... D, Em and A7).
When the pastor heard about me trying my hand at playing guitar, he called on me to play alongside him at youth meetings. I tried my best to keep up with him, making lots of mistakes along the way - but boy, did I learn fast. He kept on encouraging me and soon he "forced" me to lead the singing at one youth event. It was a complete "train wreck." But rather than be put off by my failure, I was motivated to work even harder and get it right next time.
I was so inspired by him that I went out and bought a second hand guitar (I was about 19 years old) I player night and day, practising my first few chords (I still remember them... D, Em and A7).
When the pastor heard about me trying my hand at playing guitar, he called on me to play alongside him at youth meetings. I tried my best to keep up with him, making lots of mistakes along the way - but boy, did I learn fast. He kept on encouraging me and soon he "forced" me to lead the singing at one youth event. It was a complete "train wreck." But rather than be put off by my failure, I was motivated to work even harder and get it right next time.
To cut a long story short, I kept on growing through the years. I practised for probably 2 hours or more a day. I went for lessons. Bought books on music and guitar playing. I watched guys closely on TV. I'd strain my ears to hear what chords or riffs were being played on a CD. I'd ask fellow guitar players for tips.
Soon I was leading music at bible school, playing at old age homes, in small group settings and occasionally in church. But the accumulative effect is that today I can use my gifting in music to bless my local church. And I've made it my mission to equip as many people as possible to be a blessing in their local church.
I've been doing this for nearly 15 years now, teaching guitar one night per week. One of my greatest rewards came in an email last year when a young school boy I used to teach and encourage in my first church traced me via a google search. It was 10 years since the last time I saw him. He has since grown up, qualified as an optometrist, got married, and moved to a city in South West Africa. He wrote me an email to say thank you for the encouragement I'd given him back then, and informed me that he was part of his local church band.
I hope to hear lots of stories like that in the years to come. Hearing about young people (and older ones) that I've encouraged and helped along the way, now blessing their local church with their abilities and gifting in music.
I pray that you would do the same for people around you. I hopefully 10 years from now someone will write you an email and thank you for your time and encouragement, and tell you how they are now involved in their local church band.
Be inspired!
Pastor Joe
