musical ministry leader?
constructively. They just want to do what There’s a sense of urgency. God’s given me
they do, and they wear their feelings on their a gift to do something, so out of honor and
[Michael] My roots are in the local church, sleeves. There’s a bit of a sensitivity – I call it the gratitude to Him I’m going to leave no stone
and I spent time in the vocational artist world ‘precious factor’. unturned and go after it. Not because I’m
as a player, writer, and touring artist. More than
finding my identity in it, but because it’s a
anything, it gave me a sense of hunger and a fire When you get into the hustle and grind of trying stewardship issue. I think that level of intense
in the belly to be a good steward of what God to create art that is meaningful and moving to focus, passion, and work ethic is something
had given me. I have great respect for people the listener, you find that what it actually takes that I really gleaned when I was just a purely
who have the courage to try and make a go of to succeed creates a work ethic and a sense self-employed artist.
it and to make sense of putting art out there of hunger and drive that is unparalleled. It’s and then to somehow have the faith that God really, really, difficult to do. People ask me all I think we can bring that into the church
is going to provide for their needs doing that. the time, “What was it like to write this particular environment, but without the ‘precious factor’.
There’s a big gap between super successful song? It must have been amazing to have that Instead, we can allow people to speak into it
artists who make a lot of money and those who success!” They heard song number 312, but and help us be better leaders.
do not. There’s not a lot of in-between. there were 311 songs that they didn’t hear! That
work ethic is what artists are bringing when
For me, the idea of doing whatever it took put they’re on the road. Really, to just be hungry
me into a situation where I had to be good and good stewards of what God has put into
with the culture of improvement. A lot of artists your hands… because in the artist world, if you
don’t like to be coached, criticized or helped don’t work, you don’t eat!
84
March 2019
[WM] Thank you so much Michael.
[Michael] Absolutely!
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