March 18thMinistry Through Music
I was 8 years old when I heard my parents discuss the prospects of my beginning piano lessons. So sitting up in bed that night, I excitedly propped up my quilt into a pretend piano, running my fingers up and down the “keys”. I was incredibly eager. But this was the late 1940s. Money was scarce, and my parents had to dip into the government’s Children’s Allowance fund to pay for 75-cent lessons. We also did not have a piano, so to practice I would walk from school to my Oma’s place to do just that on my aunt’s piano. It wasn’t until later that my family bought a piano for $75.
By age twelve, I was playing for the congregation, and at fourteen for the choir. I had a deep desire to play the organ and to accompany others, with one highlight being the chance to play for the Southern Manitoba Songfest mass choir, directed by George Wiebe. I was 15. That was magical. The incredible conducting drew something out of me that I didn’t know was there. That summer, I lived for the weekly rehearsals. I longed to do more of that, and it led to my eventual becoming a music student at what is now CMU. Later, at AMBS, I had the opportunity to take pipe organ lessons in the chapel, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
Fast forward to midlife. Encountering the statement that “that dream in your teenage heart was put there by God,” I felt a growing conviction that not only was He involved, but that playing for the church was an expression of what He’s done in my life. As a musician, I see myself as a conduit through which God ministers to his people through music, meeting them wherever they are at. I’ve experienced how playing with conviction and compassion affects others. In the words of Leo Buscaglia: “Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God”. Looking back, I see that a song we sang in IVCF has also been an influence: “Give of your best to the Master.”
I appreciate when people let me know what music is meaningful to them, what inspires them, and how it contributes to their worship of God. It’s for that reason that I started keeping track of what people said about my music choices years ago, and I’ve since used those resources when choosing music, especially for various celebrations. I think it helps people see that God is walking with them. Music can also draw people toward Him.
I am thankful for the opportunities I have had to play for various congregations, for Alberta Mennonite Youth Organization songfests, for the AMBS choir and chapels, for the Corpus Christi Male Chorale, for music students, and especially for weddings and funerals. As of April 11, I will have played for 211 funerals and 160+ weddings since I started keeping track.
The statement that “ministry is doing what you were created to do” holds true. There’s nothing I find more fulfilling and satisfying.
