Three years ago, we were thick in the process of getting ready to launch The Crossroads. We had raised support, put together a launch team, done community surveys, decided on a name, put together a planting proposal complete with mission, vision, and values, and secured a meeting place. There was just one thing we were missing. We needed a worship pastor.
Most church planting books, coaches, conferences, and gurus are in agreement on this idea: the most important member of the planting team after the planter is a good worship pastor. To modern Americans, music is an important part of their lives, and good music is one of the key draws for them in coming to a new church.
So, we had a problem. We had a pretty good idea of the style of music we wanted to do based on the demographics of the city and the surveys we had already completed. We had some really good, strong pieces of a band already put together. Just no worship pastor. So we prayed and prayed, and I talked to people, lots of people, in search of the right man. We went to hear bands to see if we might come up with someone that way or just to try to talk to some people to see who they might know. I made phone calls. But still, no worship pastor.
Now we were just a few weeks away from our very first preview service, and I was getting pretty nervous. I was meeting with the pastor, missions pastor, and worship pastor of one of our sponsoring churches one day, and they asked me how they could pray for me or if there was any way they could help me. I quickly responded, "We need a worship pastor! Please, do you know of anyone or do you have anyone in your church who might could help us out?" The missions pastor looked at the worship pastor and said, "What about Robby?" To which the worship pastor shot him a dirty look and said, "Well, um, yeah, um, I guess he might be someone." I could tell he was not terribly excited about letting this member of his worship band go. The pastor chimed in, "Yeah! Robby would be great!"
So, somehow, I managed to get contact info for this Robby guy. I called him up, and we got together at Taco Cabana so I could cast the vision of The Crossroads to him and to find out about where he was musically and as a worship leader. Two hours later, we left in agreement that he would help us out through our first three preview services, one a month for the next three months.
Worship Dude, as he came to affectionately be known, met and practiced with the band, and they just connected right off the bat. By the time we had finished our second preview service, Robby told me that he wanted to sign on as our worship pastor if we would have him. I was more than delighted to say yes.
Long story short, over the last three years, Robby has been an incredible worship pastor for The Crossroads, and more importantly, a great friend to me. Each week, he leads our people into God's presence, and then I get to share God's message with them. It is so easy for me to share God's heart with people after Robby has already led them to give honor and glory to God through music.
Well, a few weeks ago, Robby told me that he felt like God was calling him to something new. He wasn't exactly sure what it was that God was calling him to. He just knew that God was calling and that he had to chase the lion that God had placed in front of him. Robby told the congregation this week, and we shared plenty of tears anticipating his leaving.
I don't really have a good way to end this one. I'm just so thankful that God brought Robby and his family into my life and that he was such a vital part of the launch and growth of The Crossroads.
0 comments:
Post a Comment