There is an aspect of being in full-time ministry that is very difficult for me to swallow sometimes. Being in full-time ministry is a lot about "giving"...your time and energy, your gifts and abilities, etc. However, being called to full-time ministry is also a lot about "receiving" and that's the part that gets me sometimes. I stumble over it because I don't always know how to do it gracefully. It's one thing to give and not expect receive anything in return, but it's an entirely different thing for me to receive and not be expected to give something in return. MAN, that's hard!! I am learning though, and certainly raising support to go to Germany has helped with that learning curve.
This weekend I was given a wonderful gift that I will cherish for a long time to come. On Sunday, I was invited to give a concert at Bethany Grace Fellowship Church in East Earl, PA, and because it was one of the last opportunities I would have to give such a concert before I leave for Germany, we decided to make this my "farewell concert". Tina Lapp joined me for half of it and I can't tell you how wonderful it was for me to sing with her again. She and I sang together for about 6 years after I graduated from college in 1998, and I have to tell you, I have missed those days. But what I have found to be true whenever Tina and I sing together is that even though we haven't sang for years, it's as though we can just pick right back up where we left off...it was like that all week during rehearsals and it was like that during the concert itself. I love it! The years of singing with Tina, the recordings, the traveling (and audio logs!) and the friendship are all precious, precious gifts that I will hold near and dear to my heart as I move into this next leg of my journey.
The chance to sing with Tina was not the only gift I received, though. There were so many people that gave so much to make this concert happen and I must take the time to give thanks and kudos to them for all that they put into this. My one regret about the concert is that I did not thank these people publicly for their time, energy and generosity. So I'm doing that now.
Several people who I didn't even know before this weekend, decided to take it upon themselves to begin planning the details and promoting this concert months in advance. Tess Eby, Emily Pierce, and Mary Kate Eberly all took part in making this happen, and I am SO grateful for their efforts because the promotional aspect of giving a concert is one that I have never quite been able to get the hang of. They did an incredible job!
Weeks before the concert I was told that Steven Courtney had agreed to record it for a possible LIVE album. For the past few years, Steven's and my paths have crossed a number of times and I have come to deeply appreciate this man, not only for his incredible skill in music, songwriting, recording and performing, but for his love of life and love of Jesus. He is an extremely gifted brother and I am so grateful for his gift of this recording.
Less than a week before the concert, I was informed that a young man and professional videographer, who I had never met before, had offered to video the whole concert. Daniel Forster came in with his crew Sunday afternoon and set up several cameras throughout the auditorium and a mixing station for live editing of the video feed during the concert. I have to admit that when I first heard that he was going to do this I was a bit freaked out, but when it finally came down to it, I barely even knew the cameras were there. He and his crew worked with such professionalism and skill and when I finally met him, I was so impressed by his heart and his desire to be used by God.
And of course, I cannot give kudos without mentioning my band mates. :) For the past two years, I've had the privilege of playing with Diana Lusk. She's a great percussionist and I can't tell you how many people come up to me after a concert and say "Boy, can she hit that thing!" It's true. She can. I've had such a blast with her these past few years and I think the thing that I've appreciated the most about Diana is the fact that she is on board with me on a ministry level. She's not just along to play her instrument, although she does that. She's along because she recognizes the ministry that the Lord has given us to encourage, challenge and plant truth in people's lives who are willing to receive it. That is what I love about her. Well, that and the fact that she usually packs my gear and loads the car after a gig while I'm talking to people. She has become a dear friend and I am really going to miss playing with her when I leave.
The truth is, I don't think this concert would have happened without the initiative of my bass player, Frank Portaro. From the moment I mentioned that I was thinking about giving a reunion concert with Tina, his wheels started turning and he began the process of pulling all these people together and booking his church for the event. I don't think it would have happened...at least not in the incredible way that it did...had it not been for Frank. In the past year of getting to know Frank I have found him to be not only a skilled musician who is excellent at what he does, but a man with a tender heart who loves of Jesus and has been changed deeply by His grace. It has been a privilege to work with him and minister beside him and I am going to miss playing with him as well. Of course, I can't thank Frank without thanking his wonderful wife, Nancy, who let us crash her living room for rehearsals and brought tasty wraps and chocolate for us to eat before the concert. What a blessing!
And for those of you who came out on Sunday, thank you for the years of support that you have given to both Tina and myself. Your interest in our music and encouragement along the way are gifts in and of themselves and we are truly, truly grateful (of course, I'm speaking for Tina here). The Lord has been so incredibly good...as if I would expect Him to be otherwise. In everything that was given...and received...my only prayer is that He was glorified in every last bit of it, because in the end HE is the great Giver of all things good.
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