It was the perfect volunteer gig. I get to lead worship in a brand new church with no traditions or methodological constraints. I have absolute freedom to create a worship experience through the use of animations, spoken word, drama, music, and any other form of expression available to our growing congregation. I have a creative team that thinks outside the box every week about ways to engage people and help them connect to God.

It was a terrific ride. And after 6 ½ years, it was time to go. Time to quit.

For about a year at the end, I felt an unmistakable nudge to somehow move outside the walls of our church and into some kind of front lines ministry. At the same time, my ideas of church were being shaken up and challenged. Nothing particularly bad was happening. I just sensed a huge chasm between where I was and those people who would probably not even consider coming to church to find spiritual fulfillment. So, I did what any self-respecting volunteer worship leader would do: I took a sabbatical. And that paved the way to quit entirely.

God had gifted me with musical ability and I knew two things to be true. One, I had to get involved in a form of ministry outside the church and two, it seemed like it should have something to do with music since this has always been a passion of mine. To make a long story short, I “happened” to see an ad for a keyboard player in a local jazz/funk/R&B band and applied for the position on their website. I knew this might be providential when one of their questions was “Do you have a problem playing in nightclubs for the purpose of ministry?” It turns out this band’s purpose is to play in places to reach people who would not darken the doors of a church. As they make a musical connection with the audience, they begin to earn the opportunity to dialogue with people.

And so, for the past year I’ve been playing in places that, ten years ago, I would have never been caught near. I’ve been interacting with people that find community in their small group at the bar or in their virtual relationships online. And the most important thing that happened has more to do with me than with anyone else. You see, I was anxious to help a group of worldly people that I had in a nice neat box. This box had been carefully designed and built through the years while faithfully attending church, going to a Christian college, and working at a Christian company. I don’t regret any of these, but it wasn’t until I was in it (but not of it) that I began to understand that the lens I had been looking through was distorted.

Yes, the majority of these people need Jesus. Yes, many of them go to bars and clubs to escape the real world for a brief period of time. Yes, many are looking for some form of relationship even if it only lasts one night. But I’m coming to realize that the differences between these people and myself are only in the way we play out our search for significance and meaning. When you look at it from a cause and effect standpoint, a distinct commonality emerges. The universal drive (cause) for all of us is an innate spiritual hunger and a desire for community. Lifestyles become the effects of how we choose to fulfill those needs.

And so going from worship leader to funkmeister has been a journey I wouldn’t trade for a second. The emphasis has shifted from a focus on their lifestyle to an understanding that we’re all on a journey together. The difference is in the paths we’ve chosen. I believe a relationship with Jesus is the only path to spiritual fulfillment and I’ll share this with anyone who is ready to talk about it. Now, instead of a “we/them” it’s an “us” traveling together.

Jim,
I'm slightly jealous!!! My 7 year ride at the 9 o'clock service in the UK didn't end on a happy note.
All the other stuff: "church with no traditions or methodological constraints" was the same kind of environment where I had a powerful encounter with God and became a christian.
I'm curious though... exactly what is a 'funkmeister' ?
Oh, and your last paragraph - the one about not focussing on someone else's lifestyle... You're soooo right. [Specks and planks 'n all that!]
I long for a church community again where I everyone is just accepted - period.
Alex M.
--Alex M. ( matersemail at netscape dot net ) on 9/11/2004; 6:45:08 AM

Jim,

Proud of you man. Proud to know you and follow your lead. You have been a blessing to me and this community, not to mention the brother hood shared over quiznos!

Jim C
--the other jim c ( jcampbell at pastors dot com ) on 9/7/2004; 2:10:24 PM

This sounds really interesting. I pastor an A/G church, having built it "traditionless, as I am able". Built a band that is pretty good and thought that it would help draw people in. But the people I want to draw in aren't coming to the church to hear a band. So for a couple months I've been considering taking the band into sports bars, open mic settings, coffee shops and the like. To do this I'd have to cancel mid-week church cause I don't have time to do both. I'm thinking we need to get the band in front of people we're trying to reach, and hope to make a connection.
Any advice?
--Maverick ( saunders dot washington at att dot net ) on 8/11/2004; 7:59:59 PM