I am (not) a "Mega-Famous-International-Christian-Rock-Star"
Hi
I was recently spending a bit of time with some old friends who wouldn't claim to be Christians. I hadn't seen them in quite a while and after catching up with some of the usual small talk (jobs, kids, where you're living etc) we started to talk about our opinions and views of the deeper things in life. It suprised me to hear that a few of them had heard through the grapevine that I am a "Mega-Famous-International-Christian-Rock-Star".
I was both intrigued with this and a little bit embarassed...me, an international Christian rock star!? I had never been called that before. It was uncomfortable for me to be viewed and labled like this as since I became a Christian my heart has been about trying to communicate some of my prayers, struggles and gratitude to God through music . It has never been about becoming 'successful'. (The interesting thing was that when I explained that I work in a full time job as the Director of a youth organisation (www.niyf.org) and that I was not leading worship as a 'living' then they seemed to relax a little bit.)
Hmmm. This experience, for some reason, has stuck with me. There are a number of things that interest me:
1. At my core, my intention has never been about being a 'rock star'. Yes, I play a nice Fender Tele, the music is at times loud and we sometimes play to big crowds. However...this all began years ago as a simple personal expression of worship, on a cheap acoustic guitar, to a God that radically changed my life. Over the years, this has grown and I now lead worship at bigger events, however, it has always felt like a personal expression of worship and an act of service. I have always viewed it as an opportunity to be faithful with my gifts and confident that the Giver has asked me to use these gifts to the best of my ability. I made a choice years ago to offer these gifts to God as an act of service and that is still my decision. My hope is that somehow normal people like you and me get the chance to meet God and be encouraged through the music I play. I never made a choice to be a rock star.
2. I am currently not leading worship full-time. I give a lot of my time to this however my main job is being the Director of a non-Christian youth organisation that is all about promoting young peoples' views to government. Three and a half years ago, I felt this is what God was asking me to do. This has also been my demonstration of worship. People seem to be really suprised by this when I tell them and I often wonder why they are so surprised? I am now having to consider the possibility of changing my circumstances in order to allow me to be involved in leading worship more (as I am having to turn down opportunities to do this). If I decide to spend the majority of my time doing this it wouldn't be driven by wanting to be a star but by taking my gifts and wanting to perfect and hone them for the sake of supporting, encouraging and at times, challenging local church. This is the thing that excites me.
Currently, I don't do this full-time. It is likely that I will end up leading worship full-time (which really excites me and makes me feel incredibly blessed) however this will be a risk that I will take. It will be something that I consider with those I love and with God and it will always be about giving something back to the One who has given me so much. God is my star.
JP xo
I was recently spending a bit of time with some old friends who wouldn't claim to be Christians. I hadn't seen them in quite a while and after catching up with some of the usual small talk (jobs, kids, where you're living etc) we started to talk about our opinions and views of the deeper things in life. It suprised me to hear that a few of them had heard through the grapevine that I am a "Mega-Famous-International-Christian-Rock-Star".
I was both intrigued with this and a little bit embarassed...me, an international Christian rock star!? I had never been called that before. It was uncomfortable for me to be viewed and labled like this as since I became a Christian my heart has been about trying to communicate some of my prayers, struggles and gratitude to God through music . It has never been about becoming 'successful'. (The interesting thing was that when I explained that I work in a full time job as the Director of a youth organisation (www.niyf.org) and that I was not leading worship as a 'living' then they seemed to relax a little bit.)
Hmmm. This experience, for some reason, has stuck with me. There are a number of things that interest me:
1. At my core, my intention has never been about being a 'rock star'. Yes, I play a nice Fender Tele, the music is at times loud and we sometimes play to big crowds. However...this all began years ago as a simple personal expression of worship, on a cheap acoustic guitar, to a God that radically changed my life. Over the years, this has grown and I now lead worship at bigger events, however, it has always felt like a personal expression of worship and an act of service. I have always viewed it as an opportunity to be faithful with my gifts and confident that the Giver has asked me to use these gifts to the best of my ability. I made a choice years ago to offer these gifts to God as an act of service and that is still my decision. My hope is that somehow normal people like you and me get the chance to meet God and be encouraged through the music I play. I never made a choice to be a rock star.
2. I am currently not leading worship full-time. I give a lot of my time to this however my main job is being the Director of a non-Christian youth organisation that is all about promoting young peoples' views to government. Three and a half years ago, I felt this is what God was asking me to do. This has also been my demonstration of worship. People seem to be really suprised by this when I tell them and I often wonder why they are so surprised? I am now having to consider the possibility of changing my circumstances in order to allow me to be involved in leading worship more (as I am having to turn down opportunities to do this). If I decide to spend the majority of my time doing this it wouldn't be driven by wanting to be a star but by taking my gifts and wanting to perfect and hone them for the sake of supporting, encouraging and at times, challenging local church. This is the thing that excites me.
Currently, I don't do this full-time. It is likely that I will end up leading worship full-time (which really excites me and makes me feel incredibly blessed) however this will be a risk that I will take. It will be something that I consider with those I love and with God and it will always be about giving something back to the One who has given me so much. God is my star.
JP xo
posted by Johnny Parks at 1:42:00 p.m.
4 Comments:
hi johnny me again!!
well i think u r a star and u deserve to be ur realy blessed and God works so much through u!! and more albums soon please????
and full time worship leading would be amazing we mite see more of u>?>?
sarah x
Hello Johnny!
Just passing on your details for a pal who wants a copy of your CD - so see, you must be a famous rock star?!?!! Thought I'd post a wee comment! No doubt see you in NI over the summer when I'm visiting Chrissy.
(see, i wouldn't let my pal copy your CD - me being a copyright lawyer and all that!!)
Estelle
Hi Johnny,
i don't think you are a rock star, i seeyou as an enabler-someone who facilitates others to worship.
i find it really inspiring as someone who leads worship also to see someone who is called to lead large groups in worship to be worshipping through work in the 'real world'
i think as people who lead worship there is such a risk that people see us as confident people who like to be up on stage, when in face our worship is just a heartfelt overflow, it just happens that we're the ones called to be on the stage which is a huge privilege, but with the risk of people misinterpreting that as you wel know.
if you're called to leave NIYF (which i think is a brilliant organisation) then that's really exciting, and if you're not, that's exciting too, i know your heart will still be the same in both settings.
prayers
L
johnny, just wanted to thank you...for sharing your heart and the gifts god has given you with the rest of us. i have truly enjoyed the music and sharing it with others. just came across your website and blog today. not sure if you would remember me...marianne, from y-1 2001-2002. thank you for your wonderful contribution to our training and our year. i hope you and your family are well. you all are in my prayers.
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