Ruth and I both play the guitar and have lead music & worship in the Spanish churches that we planted in Ecuador over the last 20 some years. But, when we decided last year that we needed to leave Ecuador and return to the USA, we were pretty sure that the music ministry chapter of our lives was over. We were comfortable leading music in a small church of 20 or 30 people, but there are so many really talented music people in our churches in the US that it just didn't seem like we would be needed. So when we packed the van and headed west last summer, we didn't even take our guitars with us. We did know, however, that our church in L.A. had a Spanish ministry and we were anxious to be involved with that group in any way we could. Little did we know that we would be heavily involved in the music ministry.
Within weeks of our arrival in L.A., a change was made in the music ministry team of our newly adopted Spanish congregation. We were soon asked to be part of a rotation of worship leaders, each of us taking every third week to lead music. Fortunately I was flying back to Indiana at just about that time so I was able to pick up my guitar and bring it back to L.A. with me. Ruth was able to borrow a guitar from one of her long-time friends here. So before we knew it, we were heavily involved in a church music ministry again. In fact, we are probably more involved in the music ministry here than we were for most of our time in Ecuador.
It is funny how we sometimes think that when we make a big, life changing move in our lives, that all things good must come to an end. Oh sure, things are different. But God wasn't going to let us off the "music ministry" hook quite that easily. He had been training us for ministry for many years. Sure, we were experiencing a change of location, but God knew that we would be needed at Church of the Open Door at just this time of change in their history. And we are becoming more involved in the music as time goes on.
That is the wonderful thing about having a God who sees the big picture in our lives. We can easily get disoriented and confused by change. God can see the overall plan. He knows how it is all going to work out. He even orchestrates our life changes in order to put us in just the right places to serve Him best. Have you had a major life change lately? Well don't just sit there.... Find out why God sent you there and get involved in what He is doing in your new place of ministry....
Doug & Ruth
