OFFERING MUSIC

Music is a gift from God. I believe God places talent in people as a way to bless the local church. I believe ASAPH is called and equipped to prepare musicians for service in the local church in Haiti. That is the vision behind our music lessons, our bands, and our other musical endeavors.

The children who learned music at ASAPH back in 2012 are now young adults. We can divide them into three groups: 

1) Several of our young musicians became quite good at what they do. Sadly, they grew in music but never grew in the Word of God. They play well, but they play for themselves. As children, we kept them close to us. Now as adults, they are unable to participate in certain activities because they have chosen to live outside of God's church. 

2) A few of our young musicians have been baptized and are growing into maturity as Christians. They use their talents to lead worship services and to accompany worship. They are a blessing to ASAPH and to the local church.

3) A few other young musicians have been baptized but have recently been struggling with how to use their talent. Two of these musicians grew up playing right beside me in church. I held their hands as they learned to play songs, as they learned to play different styles and in different keys. Slowly, they got better than me. That is when other churches heard them play and invited them to play elsewhere on occasion. Before long, there were many Sunday mornings when we didn't have musicians at our service. They were playing somewhere else. I was proud of them. But, at some point we learned of other motivations. Some churches would invite the musicians to play, and then bless them with a financial gift after they played several services. You may remember the money signs in the eyes of cartoon characters. That is what we have experienced with these young musicians. Money and "conditions" have become their priority. They say that "the church" has mistreated them by not giving them money when they play for worship. They feel they deserve to be "taken care of" because they play music in worship. It is an ironic thought in a society that is unable to pay its pastors. It is a complicated issue, however. Along with the leaders of our local church, I believe that God will bless those who freely offer worship to Him. I believe that waiting for a paycheck to worship God is proof that you misunderstand worship. 

This problem is deep and it is dark. We invite you to pray for our young musicians caught in this trap. We invite you to pray for the voices that are pushing them. We invite you to pray for the church in Haiti that is attacked from every direction.

I believe God will use these young men powerfully when they decide to offer their music to God as worship.


​