I’d like to tell you two stories.
The first story involves how bands shift players around.
It’s just the way it works.
It’s rare to find the original group together like they when everything started.
Audio Adrenaline, a Christian rock band that rose to fame in the mid-nineties, is no exception. They received multiple Grammy Awards and Dove Awards, all up until the point when they concluded that they couldn’t tour any longer.
Lead singer Mark Stuart was losing his voice due to spasmodic dysphonia.
I was at a youth ministry conference in 2007 where it looked like a resurrection of the band might happen. They called it “Audio-A Talks” – essentially, a behind-the-music storytelling night that included some classic songs and worship music. Mark Stuart chimed in on some songs where he could, with his voice crackling along the way. Another vocalist provided a main line of melody.
Six years later, the band reformed with Kevin Smith (formerly of DC Talk) as the new lead vocalist. He’s since stepped down and been replaced by Josh Engler, but at the time Kevin stepping up was a big deal. Fans of Christian music from the 90’s had varied opinions about it all, but one thing was clear…
Audio Adrenaline was back without Mark.
Their hit song from that era was called “Kings and Queens.”
Like many of you, I heard the song on the radio and gave it its due.
What really flipped it all upside down for me was when I saw the band perform the song live for K-LOVE. Check it out… and see if you see what I see.
In case you missed it or weren’t sure, yes… that is Mark Stuart in the background playing the tambourine.
Once again, so you don’t miss the significance…
he’s the guy on the tambourine.
Can you relate?
Now I’d like to tell you the second story.
Some years ago, I was moved out of my youth ministry job and into a creative arts role. I’ve written about it before, but I’ve never publicly shared this one slice of the story.
On my last night of employment for the church, I was doing a video shoot for a baptism celebration. My wife was watching it all happen, knowing full well that I’d been dealt a bitter hand by my church leadership. Instead of me baptizing the students that I’d helped lead to Jesus that year, someone else was doing it.
I was now the guy behind the camera.
Later that night at home, she described seeing something unique and unexpected that happened: “I watched you move from behind the camera and make your way up to the stage. My heart started to beat again. I thought, ‘They’re actually going to let Tony on stage to say something!’ Only you walked right up to the front of the stage and moved a microphone… it must have been in your shot… and then you went back to standing behind the camera.”
Because I was now the guy behind the camera.
Can you relate?
I’m sharing these two stories with you because you either have known or will know the pain of being moved from being the rockstar to being the tambourine guy… from being the go-to youth worker for your church to being someone behind the scenes.
Choose to serve Jesus, no matter what the role is.
Need a reason? This is for you:
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” (Psalm 84:10)
Can you relate?
– Tony / @TonyMyles