Whether it’s behind the kit in Skillet or in front sound check was. It was very much a whirlwind them, but I really owe who I am as a believer
of the mic in Ledger, Jen Ledger is a force to season for me and I stepped into it absolutely to them, because I’d only just given my life to
be reckoned with. Even stronger than her voice pleading with the Lord to please help me. I Jesus a year before I got into the band. They’ve
and the relentless pounding of her drums in couldn’t do it on my own. I was desperate for very much shown me what it means to not
Skillet is the faith that drives it all… Him because I needed Him. I didn’t feel strong. compromise, and to seek Him and to follow
I knew I wasn’t the strongest chick around but Him no matter where He leads you, whether
[WM] I recently came across a full-page Vic this is where God was placing me. And the people agree or disagree. They are pioneers in
Firth drum sticks ad in a music magazine that thing that’s awesome is He helped me every that way and I really truly consider it an honor
featured your photo alongside Keith Moon, Ray single day. He has helped me and has given me to have spent eleven years with them learning
Luzier, and Chris Coleman. Can share some of peace and allowed me to… what I thought was from them and growing under them. I feel like
the key decisions that put you on the path to the most unusable thing about me He’s used to I’ve gotten to go on this apprenticeship with
where you are today? display His glory all over the world. It’s kind of world changing people, and it’s made me a
incredible to look back and see that when you better person because of it all.
[Jen Ledger] Truthfully, I can’t really take say yes to Him He can do something incredible
any of the glory for any of this, my path isn’t as with you.
[WM] What are some of the specific things
usual as for others. For me I feel like it is by the
they’ve taught you about not compromising
grace of God that I’ve been able to do any of Going back to your original question and the this. And what I mean is I didn’t want to be a magazine, getting placement next to Keith performer, the idea was just terrifying to me, and Moon… Sometimes I feel like God is laughing [Jen] There are so many ways, it’s hard to
the drums especially are what I felt incredibly with me, “What is weak for you is strong for me. know what to zone in on here. For starters,
weak in. I’d look to my left and to my right and I can do anything I want with anybody. I breathe they’re not peer pressured into doing what
see drummers that were just so much stronger life into dust. When I speak things simply are, people want them to do, whether it’s a label,
than me. They just couldn’t wait to go home and if I say you’re strong then you are strong.” or management, or a tour. Career wise there
and learn and jam. And not only that, they were For me it’s just a reminder of what He has have been times where they were backed into a
always ready to perform and to show what they done with my life. I can’t believe I’m even in corner by something that could make or break
could do. I felt the opposite, I felt maybe a bit the same magazine as these people let alone you, and instead they’ve just not given in. And
insecure, I felt like I was just not strong at what on the same page next to them. And yeah, I I’ve seen God bless that massively. Obviously,
I did and when I performed I would get shaky did work hard, but honestly there are a million you don’t know what that might mean, you
and nervous. It was something I thought I was people who work hard and they don’t get these might lose this massive opportunity, there might
really bad at honestly, so when Skillet asked me kinds of platforms and this kind of exposure, I be a massive setback in our career, but we just
to try out I said no. I thought that was one thing just know that this is something that God has don’t believe that this is right. They’ve always
I know I can’t do in life, perform on the drums, done for me. stuck to their guns there. And not only that but
and it was only through praying about it to God
that you’d like to pass along?
on the other side of it, being told you should
that I felt in my heart He wanted me to try out So, I kind of owe it all to Him, and not only just be less vocal about your faith and you
for this position. So truthfully the only reason I that, to John and Korey Cooper. They are the could be a much bigger rock band, but they’ve
went for the audition was because I felt like I most radical believers that I know. They are just chosen to say no, that this is who we are
was being obedient to God. Long story short I so passionate about the gospel. I wish you and we’re unashamed of it whether it hurts us
got into the band Skillet and it felt very clear to could have an hour to hear the entire story of or not.
me that God had led me to find something that Skillet because it’s almost like defeating the I felt I was really bad at was the very thing I was odds over and over and over again. You’ve To see that kind of conviction, it’s on stage and
called to do for Him. got mainstream telling you to stop talking it is off stage, it doesn’t disappear when they
about Jesus and you’ll be more successful get back on the bus, and that is something that
So, I was incredibly dependent on Him, I and you’ve got the Christian world telling you I would encourage other musicians and people
remember my first ever show, Winter Jam to please be less frightening and just talk about that are wanting to get onto a platform to do.
2008. I went from playing for two hundred Jesus and they’ll accept you more. They’ve It’s about who you are in secret, who you are
people at a church on a Sunday morning where just chosen not to compromise and to follow in when there is no crowd applauding you. What
I had to vomit because I got so nervous, to what they feel the Lord is showing them to do. decisions do you make that only you and the
sixteen thousand people in an arena with fire They’ve had a twenty-plus year career because Lord know about? If you feel that nudging of
and fireworks. And I didn’t even know what a of it. I owe not only who I am as a musician to the Holy Spirit and you obey in the small, where
September 2019
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