THE VISION

The stories are all too common, and often heart-breaking. Though the artists among us are often uniquely gifted to challenge us, inspire us and convict us, their special sensitivity and frequent isolation from their home church and network of family and friends can lead to pain, damaged relationships, depression and brokenness. It is time for the Body of Christ in general, and members affiliated with and affected by the music industry in particular, to band together in the form of a national network of support for these artists. This is a new vision to meet an old problem, with much room for additional wisdom and experience to be explored.

Broken marriages, crises of faith, and even suicide has brought this discussion to light in several venues over the last decade, often leading to helpless declarations along the lines of “Something must be done, but what?” After September 11th, 2001 a new idea dawned in the mind of one New England pastor who had developed a special para-pastoral role in the lives of several artists who had passed through his church. Joe Paskewich of Calvary Chapel Southeast Connecticut immediately joined the activities at Ground Zero after September 11th, serving as a chaplain to policemen, rescue workers, firemen, political leaders and other spiritual leaders. Serving food, delivering water, whispering prayers, listening intently, offering assistance and a place to weep, Paskewich realized that what these traveling artists might need was something very similar to what he was helping with in lower Manhattan.

This was an idea that found immediate resonance in my heart. As a life-long veteran of the music industry, a performing artist, a friend of hundreds of artists and a pastor I have longed for an increased awareness of the importance of pastoral care in the lives of artists, especially those committed to a life on the road; not to proselytize for any denomination or to replace the crucial life-saving ministry of the local church, but to stand in the gap and truly serve the artists, the church and even the industry. When Joe Paskewich shared his vision for this Chaplaincy program my heart leapt. When he asked if I would be interested in helping to bring it into being my immediate answer was “Yes!” This is the type of ministry that has occurred in my living room for well over ten years. It’s time to arrange services like this around the country. The time has come for a national network of Artist Chaplains to be called, equipped, and sent into this important ministry.

Follow this link below to an early draft outline of the vision the team is dialing for this program.