One of the coolest things to me about Youth World is how open the organization is as a whole to new and different ministries. Some of the first new branches of Youth World seem completely logical for any Youth training-oriented organization: Hacienda El Refugio, a training and retreat center; Casa Gabriel, a discipleship program and home for former street kids; Ingles Student Ministries, formerly Expat, which mostly consists of the Chaplains’ office at the local English-speaking school.
But recently, some even more unique ministries have come up here: a soccer ministry, art classes, and even a skateboard ministry. Each of these were started because someone had a passion and ability for it, and saw a need and/or an opportunity to reach out to people.
I’ve talked and written before about how I don’t feel like I have a skill set that’s particularly tailored to the traditional idea of a missionary. And yet here I am in Ecuador working with International Teams, getting ready for ministry in the form of writing, working on a website, and playing guitar.
Another skill that I basically take for granted at home is my experience with sound equipment. After eight or so years as the sound guy/radio tech at my home church and three years working in a music store, I’d like to think I’m decently versed in sound equipment. And for the first three out of three weekends of this stay in Ecuador, I have run sound for a Spanish Christian Rock band, Gedeón.
I have been friends with Roberto, the guitarist/leader of Gedeón since I first came to Ecuador in 2007, and met singer Christy Stumbo last year. The first week I got here, the two of them were both “super-duper” excited that I was around because (aside from my good looks, irresistible charm, and general awesomeness) they were totally lacking in the sound operator department and had a bunch of concerts scheduled. I was pretty immediately enlisted, and have gotten to go to some sweet places because of it (even Otavalo and Esmeraldas so far).
Until I got back here, Gedeón has had to just grab whoever was around to watch the sound board. If you do a sound check beforehand, and don’t run into any major problems, this is doable, but not in any way ideal. And while I’ve pretty much sat and stared at the sound board, increasing the monitor volume, cutting out feedback every once in a blue moon, I’ve realized just by everyone’s gratitude how useful it is to have someone around who at least has some idea what they’re doing. Even if all it does is save Roberto from running to the back of the room in the middle of a song, that makes a pretty big difference.
It’s been a slightly strange experience to run into people here at the office or around the neighborhood and have them say “Oh, I we have this need at such-and-such a ministry site and it’s exactly one of the things that you do.” Especially since I still feel like I have a weird skill set. It’s been fun. It’s been enlightening. But it’s still slightly strange. Some days I get the feeling that God is saying “I told you so.”
