Colossians 3:17 states “Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” It is by these words I try to live, and it is through these words that I see my ministry in music. Somewhere between piano lessons when I was seven and band and chorus in school I managed to learn a bit of music theory and how to read music. However it was what happened on Saturday nights when I was young that developed in me a love for hymns and Christian music.
My father was a pastor and evangelist and on Saturday nights I remember him recording his radio program in a homemade recording studio in the back room. While he was taping, my mother sat in the living room and I sat at the piano. I probably found more wrong notes than right ones, but Mom sang along anyway and it was there that I learned how those good, old hymns were supposed to sound. She never played an instrument, but Mom was a great Christian lady and a wonderful music teacher.
As a teenager I played frequently in church, but eventually moved from the area. I received a Bachelor’s degree in Speech from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and later returned to obtain certification in elementary education. Currently, during the week I work as a fifth grade teacher at Camp Lejeune. When I was younger I had always wanted to become a music teacher, but things just never worked out that way and I found myself working for American Airlines. I enjoyed flying around the world, but as the saying goes- there’s no place like home, and God had a bigger plan.
In 1991 I moved back to Jacksonville and began working with youth music at Blue Creek Baptist Church. Later I accepted a position as music director at Calvary Baptist. I didn’t realize it then, but God was giving me a lot of practical experience in music ministry. Time passed and although I wasn’t sure why, I felt that I needed to be at Bethlehem. One of the first things I did here was to become involved with The Victor. It was a life-changing experience. I met many wonderful people and I felt as if Bethlehem had been home for many years.
Time passed, and in February 1998 I was honored to become interim music director. We were just starting rehearsals for The Victor, and I was more scared than one could imagine. I barely knew the music myself and was supposed to direct this program. By the grace of God, and with a very patient cast and choir, we presented this very moving Easter musical once again, and in June the church called me to this position on a regular basis.
I’ve been here at Bethlehem ever since, and many wonderful things have happened here. I was thirty-something and single and that seemed to be too much for some people, many of whom tried to play matchmaker. But it was the preacher’s wife who seemed to be most successful. She introduced me to Angie and on December 2, 2000, I, who was used to playing at other people’s weddings, found myself walking in that side door behind the preacher. And he picked on me then, just as much as he does now. (By the way, just to set the record straight, “Pinky” came from a pink spinner bait, which his son gave me at a Sunday School Christmas party. But don’t ever offer him one, or you will be forever banished from the boat!)
Bethlehem is a great place to be. It is a place where people find friends, love, support, and most of all God. It is a church filled with a rich musical history and tremendous musical talent. I pray it always remains that way and that we keep a vision for the future- a vision where whoever gathers in this place will continue to “sing to the Lord a new song.”
