Too many years, too many
tragedies, too much pain – too many reasons –each experience forming a thicker
shell - sent me into a cocoon away from music and away from living the way God
intended for me.
In May of 2011, I was
getting ready to leave for a two week missions trip to Peru with another
team. Many preparations were in full
swing and a lot of work was getting done.
But God was asking me a most peculiar question: “When are you going to
stop 'sitting'.” Sure, I labeled His question 'peculiar', but in my heart, I
knew exactly what He meant.
For the past 7 years I had
basically sat down from ministering through music, except for a song or two on
the mission field once or twice per year. That was hardly the lifestyle of a
musician God created me to be. Many reasons and situations led to this shift of
my existence but none of those 'reasons' I reminded God about seemed to detour
Him from pressing me on this matter.
I was able to put His gentle
but persistent nudges in the background until after I returned from Peru and
was now preparing to go to my oldest son's wedding in Austin, Texas. I knew I
would probably see people touched by my music in the past but dismissed the
thought that I might have to answer questions about this subject.
At the rehearsal dinner the
dreaded question popped: “Rebecca, what's happening with your music?” I froze - smiling - I think. The sweetest, kindest former pastor of mine
(the one who asked the probing question), salvaged the moment most graciously
in the midst of his innocent honesty.
He could see I was struggling and I could see he was in shock. I told
him there was no excuse, really. I felt
in order to keep peace in my current situation I had to fade into the
background. My husband grieved over it
in ways he didn't even fully understand.
The conversation ended with
my pastor friend encouraging me that he saw my heart was in a good place and
that God would bring about change. I
was just glad I got through the conversation but deep down I knew his prayers
would begin to move some mountains.
When I returned home from Austin, I sat down at my computer and prayed,
“God, I can't do this alone. My voice has lost its range and flexibility, and I
don't even remember chordal patterns anymore. Please lead me somewhere I can be
re-trained and truly developed into the musician you've always imagined
fulfilling your purpose and desire.” Then I searched Google for “christian
music development” and was led to www.incubatoronline.com
where the baby chicks were chirping. I
giggled at the sound and looked up at God enjoying his sense of humor.
Then I began listening to
the Non-Nashville Blueprint. Just the title alone intrigued me. The more I listened the more I became
engaged into their whole perspective and foundational philosophy. It was simply
an amazing time of connection between them, God, and me. At times I honestly couldn't believe what
was happening. Incubator is the exact opposite to the Nashville money machine I
spent most of my younger years running away from because I just couldn't find
God there. I so wanted to be part of an
organization that shared my deep inner view that ministry was about people and
not just
about my performance at the
keyboard or standing on stage with a mic in my hand. As I read through
Incubator's core values I was touched deeply to tears and then giggled as my
husband began to also listen and read screen after screen arriving at the same conclusion.
My husband became excited and now I was settled with a peace and joy like
nothing I'd experienced before. This was God.
After working with Incubator
the last 6 months through their application process, I continued to listen,
read and engage with, yeah, I have to admit it, a probing intention to uncover
any “not-so-true” motivations or hidden agendas. Periodically, my husband would
listen in and get so excited at what he was hearing, it would settle my heart
all over again. With every turn the relationship
with Incubator grew to one of honest integrity and healthy accountability. Finally, I am part of an entity greater than
myself who truly shares the same principles for ministry and has the means to
help me become an even better musician than before.
I've grown in my ability to
trust God, an organization outside myself, and myself in moving forward with a
decision so beautifully orchestrated by the hand of God. One aspect of Incubator that took me by
pleasant surprise was their business plan for ministry sustainability based on
Proverbs 24:3-4 (the Living translation, see below) that has already to date
produced fruit from the time, energy, and money invested. There is a way to treat people, manage business,
and conduct ministry that truly pleases God.
When we don't please God, ministry will not flourish and innocent people
can get hurt. Incubator has all the checks and balances in place, with full
accountability and connectivity, to protect all the patrons of my ministry in a
way I know God will always be blessed.
“Any enterprise is built upon wise
planning, becomes strong through commonsense,
and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts.”
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I've made a good decision to
align myself with Incubator due to the 'iron sharpens iron' interactive style
that bring a tenacious accountability I crave and need to stay focused and
faithful to the vision God has placed in me.
I won't feel alone when it comes to making decisions on the various
issues that arise due to Incubator's 20 years of history and over 100 years
combined leadership and management experience.
Their objectivity and my teachability are strong complement toward
helping me become the best person, minister, and musician I can be to God's
glory.
I love Incubator's
anti-celebrity mentality sending me on the path of obscurity with humility
modeled after Jesus Himself from his lowly beginnings in the manager all the
way to his death, burial, and resurrection.
Incubator nurtures me as a person first, truly listening to my heart, getting
to know the essence of me so they can skillfully direct me toward developmental
tasks that lead to quality ministry in all venues. Their integrity has already made me feel fulfilled in my
responsibility to answer and obey God's call on my life.
There's no time or platform
for being superficial with Incubator.
I'm safe to be vulnerable because they accept my human condition, and
understand the simple truth of the gospel message so we can rely daily on God's
grace moving forward together in this exciting journey.
What are my hopes for the
future? In the past 7 years, I've had
glimpses of ministry utilizing technology in a way that surpasses previous
generations realizing results equal to the great harvest mentioned in the Bible
to precede and literally usher in the 2nd coming of Christ. With the ingenuity thrust of Incubator
behind me, the unique purpose within me, the pieces of eternity before me,
there is only limitless productivity ahead of me.
