What's Your Gig?

I recently interviewed my good friend Al Lowry to ask about his gig, a music ministry he started at his church over 30 years ago.

Little did Al know when he woke up one Sunday morning and decided to go to church for the first time in 18 years that he was about to embark on the greatest adventure of his life. Driving through the streets, he saw a poster for a new startup church called Saddleback.

Rick Warren was preaching and his wife Kay was playing the piano for a couple hundred people who had gathered that day.

Al responded to Rick's message, giving his life fully to Christ and soon after playing on the church's first worship team. As the church grew, they hired their first worship pastor, Rick Muchow, who baptized Al and became a lifelong friend.

Along the way, Al realized there were more talented musicians coming to the church than could possibly play on the main stage, so he started a volunteer ministry called "Guitarists Into God" or "GIG." The group gathered weekly to worship, write songs, develop their skills, then go out into the community to use their gifts. They played for nursing homes, small groups, homeless shelters, and eventually other startup churches and mission trips around the world.

Al would pitch the idea to new members coming to the church, saying,

If your guitar is gathering dust under the bed, pull it out and use it... or give it away so others can put it to use!

This new group also helped take stress off the main stage worship team, as they were being asked to play more and more. And for the musicians and singers who weren't able to be on the main stage for whatever reason, they were able to use their gifts more fully right where they were, rather than going to another church or letting their gifts go unused.

Just last week, after more than 30 years of doing this kind of ministry, Al was asked by one of the group's original members if he would come lead worship at a nearby campground. Al said:

Robin felt inspired to start a weekly church service in a campground she lived in off a rural road near San Juan Capistrano, Ca. It was an old trail now popular with motorcyclists that drives past a tavern called Hell’s Kitchen.

Robin asked if I could play worship songs for the residents at the camp and her husband would preach. This request typifies what our guitar ministry is all about. 

Through the years our church grew large in size, but we continued as a heart behind the scenes. Our outreach demonstrates how a guitar, a prayer, and a little imagination can serve God far beyond how we are accustomed to hearing it on church main stages.

A week ago my music pastor and mentor, Rick Muchow passed away. I wish he were around to hear this interview as he was so instrumental in allowing it to thrive. He’s greatly missed, as his spirit of true worship and encouragement was exactly what is required to make a ministry like Guitarists Into God thrive.

I wanted to share Al's story with you to inspire you to consider "What's Your Gig?" Maybe you have a gift or talent gathering dust that God might want you to put into use for Him? Maybe there's a way you can use that gift to mobilize others and help THEM put THEIR GIFTS into action, too?

I hope you'll watch Al's story. As you do, I pray God might inspire you to start YOUR gig, too. 

Here's the link to watch:
https://youtu.be/YCPuhrLP4GY

Have a great week!