Nothing In Particular Bio – Jonathan Sawrie

Jonathan Sawrie has spent most of his short life involved in gospel music as a pianist, singer, writer, teacher, and producer.  He is a life-long resident of Faulkner County, Arkansas and makes his home near Greenbrier on Horseshoe Mountain with wife Danna, sons Jacob and Joshua, and cat Samson.   They are active members of Central Baptist Church in Conway.  (Samson has not joined the church.)  He holds a BBA Degree in Accounting from the University of Central Arkansas and is a master Spades player winning the Toad Suck Ferry Spades Tournament in 1998 and 2000.   He enjoys gardening, motorcycling, Razorback football, and has no spare time.  He gave up full-time bus riding in 2002 after 16 years with the Melody Boys Quartet but continues to do free-lance quartet work filling in for the sick and afflicted and those who were fired for stealing mic cords.   He appears at the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion each August as the pianist for the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion Quartet.  (And everybody else who doesn't have one or left theirs at home.)   He does not play golf.

.

I’ve always been a bit puzzled by the word ministry and how to define it. 

To be “in the ministry” seems to apply to those in a pastoral role.  But it’s also used as in “ministering” to someone or a group of people.  I think this use of the term has two meanings.  Some would probably call ministering to someone as helping them (i.e. a Christian brother/sister) with a spiritual need.  Others would use it to mean evangelizing, or spreading the Gospel to the lost.

A lot of singing groups picked up this jargon as a catch phrase sometime back. 

Increasingly popular over the last few years is using the term to mean performing an act of Christian service.  This is “your area of ministry”.

With all this in mind, what would characterize one involved in music ministry?

Obviously serving in some capacity in a local church music program would be considered ministry.  I’ve led singing and played piano for services – sometimes simultaneously, helped with children’s choir, played at church camp, and even coordinated the music for Vacation Bible School.  (Although I think my calling to that particular area of service has now run its course . . .)

One year the youth choir performed a rather elaborate musical and I ended up riding my motorcycle through the fellowship hall, up on stage, picked up a passenger, and made my way out the back door.  If the crowd reaction was any indication, a lot of folks were truly ministered to.

I’ve sung at nursing homes, played for funerals, led singing for revivals in the area, and taken my keyboard to homes and sung for folk that were too sick to get out.  I’m really not trying to toot my own horn here, but I never expect any remuneration for these activities and, most times, refuse it when offered. 

I did say most times – I don’t walk on water. 

Sometimes you offend those who want to show their appreciation by giving you a token of thanks.  And don’t think that when gas is $4/gallon, a picture of Andrew Jackson to put in your pocket doesn’t go a long way.  But honestly, God has blessed me with a gift that I am able to, in turn, use to bless others through Him.  To be able to “minister” to folks in this way is my payment.   

Now concerning this “gospel group as ministry” idea:

“And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:  But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.”

I don’t know if that necessarily means to not fill the bus up before you leave town, but I’m pretty sure it implies not taking a signed contract.

Purchasing a bus (first order of business of course), making records to sell, buying radio promotion, tracking airplay, and hawking magazines in order to garner fan awards is not ministry.  That, my friends, is show business.

And although the aforementioned singing activities I take part in around my home area comprise what I consider to be my “ministry” that I expect no pay for; if I start said bus, drive it to Atlanta, and give you 90 minutes of pretty good singing – I want my check.

Anybody else see the difference?