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 He’s since stepped down and been replaced by Josh Engler, but at the time Kevin stepping up was a big deal.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
Great post! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Doug!
Tony – yes I can relate ! I think that it happens to the best of us. I had worked for my church for 7 years and one day it was over without any warning. Everyone asks how could I deal with this and still be able to attend our church. My response was simple. I told them that God knew I would never leave the comfort of my parish and job so he made me leave so I could follow where he wanted me to go next. I found another church that I was able to help in a crisis then guess what, it happened again. Now, I am at a church that was in crisis two years ago when I came here. I see that God is using me to heal parishes that have a need in a time of crisis. I know that I most like will move to another church in the future. I know now that it is not a good thing to get to comfortable in a job with the church. Thanks for sharing your story.
That’s incredible that you still attend the church – especially in how you model what it means to follow Jesus versus your gut/reaction/emotions. That’s a skill that He’ll use to speak to others, even if only by your example. Homerun!
Tony that’s awesome that you allow your testimony to minister to so many. I was actually in the opposite role, I’m a tech guy and loved it! So when I was hired by our church to run the tech ministry I was in my element. But then one day I was told by leadership that the time had come for me to step up and assume the role of Youth Pastor! Huh??? I didn’t mind helping but that was not my hearts desire…. at all!!! So when I assumed the role though with obedience to the Lord I knew it was a stretch for me. I did that 5 years and then I had a family emergency that caused me to relocate to NC where I took a role back into Tech and loved it! Then I felt the tug of God on my heart to say it’s time to go back home and so when I contacted leadership, I was approached again with the idea of heading up the youth ministry. I of course said yes because I wanted to follow God’s directive I was feeling and I’m so glad I listened, because I do have a love for our teens, but also I get to teach them about technology in our church and now I also run the tech ministry as well! So I’m glad to hear you say that you allowed God to have his way because that was what I did and God saw fit to bless me with my hearts desire since I choose to put him in front of my desires….
Wow, Pierre! That must have seemed like such a reversal of roles, but now in hindsight you can see how your world and the teen’s world came together through the tech world… and that in itself can bring people into God’s world. None of that would have happened without your open hand to God, though. How many other things in our life are we missing or enjoying because of that one factor? Thanks for sharing!
Dang :’) thanks for this…I’m right there, right now, about to get behind the camera…
Serve well, Gregory. Praying you do this with a full heart. If perspective would help, I wrote quite a bit on this in this book: http://www.simplyyouthministry.com/resources-adult-leaders-development-uncommon-wisdom-from-the-other-side.html
This could not have hit me at a better time. Both stories relate to my own changes, and prove yet again, that God knows me even before I do. Thanks for sharing.