This is it! This is the first post! I am excited to be the one that takes this journey, and brings you along for the ride. I am looking forward to every post that God gives me. I hope they bless you, and help you in your walk with God.
But...You don't know me. Some of you may, but most will not. So, this is who I am.
My name is John Chandler. I have a beautiful wife, and five adorable kids. I am employed full time as an OSP-Engineer and am currently doing contract work for AT&T across the Southeast.
But more importantly, I am the Worship Leader and Music Director for the University Highway Church of God in Maplesville, Alabama.
My parents are currently pastoring. But prior to the call to a pulpit ministry, my parents were the Music Directors for the Pelham Church of God in Pelham, Alabama. And that is where i will begin...
My mom played the piano and dad would lead the choir. It was the era of the late eighties, and before praise teams. When dad wasn't leading the choir, he was playing drums. This is where i come in.
I would sit beside my dad and watch him play the drums during the services. Then, one Sunday night, I was about nine or ten, I asked if I could play. And that was that. My brother gradually came onto the scene as well, meaning pretty quickly we were sharing the role of the church drummer.
Mom and Dad would also sing together, and my brother and I would again,share the duties to the point of tag teaming between songs, depending on who had practiced it. Yes, it worked. However it got old. I wanted more than a part time drum job.
I picked up a mild interest in the bass guitar. All my efforts became focused on the bass. Around thirteen, My parents got me a Fender Jazz bass for Christmas. I played that guitar all the time and immediately began playing it in church. I was no longer restricted to using the church's instrument to hone my talent.
After a while, my dad got an interest in acoustic guitars. Of course I was hooked too. We began learning simultaneously. I began to pick out some melodies from songs I knew, and would eventually play some basic lead guitar for church.
I never thought that I was done. I always knew there was more.
My second year at Alabama CoG Youth Camp, I came face to face with reality, and with the future. We had "Art Electives" that were mandatory. The closest to familiarity was to sing in the choir. I realized through out that week, that the hymns, convention songs, and choruses that we would sing, that my parents would lead, were not all there was. The songs 'Shout To The Lord' by Hillsong and 'Who Can Satisfy" by Dennis Jernigan, were introduced to me in a way that shook me. Suddenly I was confronted by songs praising God and they sounded like nothing I had ever heard. The progressions were not the same as the gospel songs my mom played. The words were more of a longing, and declaring than the typical testimony style I was used to.
I began looking for more music like this. And I discovered Rich Mullins, Petra, Newsong, Truth, and more. I loved the modern worship that was, at that point, in its early years. My life was changed.
The hymns were okay. The convention songs seemed hollow. The choruses were the closest things to what I longed to play and worship to.
Something had changed in me. I was learning that our focus needs to be on God; not the angels, or Heaven, or our mansion. We need to praising Him.
Several more years went by and i met the woman of my dreams. We married on April 22, 2006. We moved to the state capital of Montgomery. I worked there and she was still in college there, so it just made sense. We began attending a church on Prattville, Al called Hunting Ridge CoG. They were alot more modern in their worship and i loved it!
I was able to join their team of musicians and began playing the bass guitar for the services. My time there taught so much about modern praise and worship and about how to play it. I was able to sit under three talented and anointed worship leaders and music directors. It was truly a blessing.
Again we moved to another city, following my job. We ended up at the Westwood CoG in Selma, Al. This was home for my wife, and a second home for me. I was able to step in and began playing drums there.
One day, while driving home from work, Gid spoke to me. No, He didnt impress me or tug my heart. He SPOKE! I was enjoying the presence of God in my truck. I was worshipping all alone. Then He spoke. I believe it was audible...but if was just in my head, then it was just as clear, just as direct as if was spoken audibly. This was the second time He spoke to me. The first time i wondered if i was imagining it, and it wasn't really God. Je confirmed it was Him by having an evangelist give me a word...the exact, verbatim words He had spoken to me. When He spoke the second time, i knew His voice!
He said, "Learn to play the piano." I didn't know what to think, but i knew what to do. I prayed. I asked God to teach me the way he had with the drums, bass, and guitar. I asked Him to mold me into what He wanted. And He did both.
I began by sitting at the piano and trying a simple song. God took it from there. He also put a subtle desire to lead worship. I feel this was His way of giving me an ultimate destination.
A few months later, our Pastor and pianist, resigned. He was leaving dor another church. Guess what...I became the pianist, and i filled that role there for two years.
Then, God impressed upon my heart that it was time to move on.
My family and I visited several churches, but we ended up at University Highway CoG. The members made us feel right at home, and we felt like we had found our new church.
I was burned out and tired from my time as a musician. It seemed that i was non stop playing....from one church to the next. So, i sat in the pew for several months.
Then the pastor asked to meet with me one afternoon. So I did.
In that meeting we discussed alot of things, but i left there with the offer of being the Music Director and Worship Leader.
I was stunned, but told him we would oray about it.
In my prayer time, God impressed upon me heavily that this was His will. So i tolk the job.
And after four years, I'm still there, trying to steadily improve the music, and worship experience.
Part of what I want to cover in this blog is how I started, and some of the things I've learned.
So get ready! We are preparing to dive into a journey together, that is thirty four years in the making!
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