Over the past year, the Lord has taken me on an incredible journey that I never could have imagined. It is a journey filled with highs and lows; with times spent in full trust in God, and times spent in full fear. I would like to share with you this journey and what I believe the Lord has in store as I move into the future.
In February of last year, I started a worship band called Tongue&Pen with two of my close friends Kyle McLain and Jordan Leal. This worship band was birthed out of a passion to build the Kingdom of Christ through the music and relationships we create. The heart of Tongue&Pen is to function both as a worship band and as a ministry; seeking to live out lives of worship long after the music stops. Since February of last year, we recorded and released our first 3 song EP, which over 350 people downloaded within the first month. We have also had the opportunity to lead worship at several churches as well as youth winter retreats all around Arizona. We have seen the Lord move in powerful times of worship and prayer, as well as people finding healing over things such as drug and alcohol addiction, self destructive tendencies, and attempted suicide.
As Tongue&Pen grew, so did my passion and the awareness of God moving around me. Through an unexpected turn, I was given the opportunity to move to Prescott, Arizona with the other members of Tongue&Pen. The opportunity, although exciting, left me and the rest of us jobless and without a place to live. Through weeks of prayer and seeking direction from the Lord, I believed He was telling me to go; so I went. One week before the scheduled moving date, the Lord blessed me and my friends with a house to live in through a series of events that only He could have orchestrated. On January first of this year I left my lifelong home of Phoenix, Arizona and moved to Prescott to greater pursue the ministry I believed the Lord was calling me to. Over the next few months, the Lord would teach me what it meant for Him to be Jehovah Jireh; my provider. I began to believe that if He could provide a house for four, unemployed college kids one week before they were to move, then He could provide anything. I saw time and time again, His hand providing for me and for others. From jobs to free groceries, and so much more in between, the Lord took care of me and furiously provided. A line of verses from Job 5 became my strength and joy; “For He wounds, but He binds up; He shatters, but His hands heal. In famine, He will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes. At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the beasts of the earth.”
Tongue&Pen has just now partnered with an organization called Come&Live!; a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the passion to further establish the Kingdom of God by raising up musicianaries (musical missionaries) who choose to share their music and profit as a humble example of radical generosity. Being apart of Come&Live! means that Tongue&Pen shares in this radical generosity, or simply put, we give away our music for free. Being a part of Come&Live! means that we are able to receive Godly wisdom and council from people who have been doing what we are doing for a very long time. Being a part of such a ministry is an incredibly exciting and humbling experience; however, it’s also the scariest thing I have ever done. Because I personally receive no financial profit from Tongue&Pen, I am extremely limited financially. Starting this summer, I will be touring on the road across the country leading worship and playing at Christian music festivals, youth summer camps, churches, and venues. I am currently employed; however, it’s unlikely that I will be able to keep my job due to the high amounts of travel and extended time on the road. Because of this, I am unable to support myself alone.
This is why I need your help.
These are hard times, and I would be foolish to think that the scope of them has yet to reach you. Another dollar here and another dollar there definitely adds up, and so does the stress and burden. I am not an orphaned child in Africa who needs food and an education. I am well fed, well educated, and in good health. I have yet to spend a night on the streets, and probably will never have to. But I need your help. I believe that all I have seen over the past year is only the beginning of what God is doing. This summer, Tongue&Pen will be playing at Cornerstone Music Festival, which is one of the largest Christian music festivals in the country, seeing attendance well over 6,000 people. But far greater than large crowds and festivals, I believe that the power of God will be revealed even greater through the ordinary encounters with ordinary people we will have daily while on the road. I believe that we will pray for people, and they will be healed. I believe that we will see God change lives, revolutionize hearts, and welcome prodigals home. But in order for me to continue this ministry, my bills have to be paid. My monthly need is $500. This amount is my bills only. I don’t need your money to buy fancy clothes or go to the movies. My desire is to live simply to give generously. I believe that God has called me to this ministry and to live the lifestyle of a musicianary. I believe that God is Jehovah Jireh, and that He will provide without fail.
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Click here to stay updated with Tongue&Pen by visiting our facebook page. Click here to download “The Likeness EP” by Tongue&Pen as a free gift.
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Although I am in need of financial support, I cannot do any of this without your prayers. Please understand that your support does not have to come with a dollar sign attached. Your prayers, emails, love, and words of encouragement mean the world to me. Your support in any capacity is greatly appreciated.
I ask that you would prayerfully consider supporting me in any of three ways:
- Praying for me and my ministry with Tongue&Pen.
- A monthly gift of $25 for the remainder of the year. (thru December 2012)
- A one time gift of whatever you are able to give.
