For those of you who don’t know me, my name’s Frank Hurd. I’m a musician (songwriter, recording artist) by profession – in addition to the occasional odd job! I’m originally from Rhode Island, and have been attending Imago Dei since I moved to Raleigh about a year ago. This week I’ll be departing IDC to go serve and lead worship at Freedom Church (http://freedomchurchnc.com/) in Lincolnton, NC where former IDC member Clint Darst is the lead pastor.
I’ve known Clint for several years as he was on staff with Campus Outreach, a college ministry I was involved with while I attended Elon University. Clint and I became good friends over the course of my college years. He always told me I was going to lead worship for him someday when he planted a church. I always took it as a joke for the most part. Not because I thought it was a ridiculous, unimportant, or unworthy endeavor – mostly because I thought a time I might actually consider leading worship at a church was far off in the future. I continued to feel that way until about three months ago.
Freedom is a small church in a small town about 40 minutes northwest of Charlotte. In light of my musical goals, moving there (to “the middle of nowhere”) to be a worship leader doesn’t make much sense. Though my aim with music has always been to use it as a vehicle and platform to glorify my creator and fulfill the great commission, I have always envisioned doing so in the “secular music world.” Consequently, being a worship leader has never been on my immediate radar. However, God ultimately controls what my radar beholds, not me (thankfully). Though I’m still not entirely sure what stewarding the gift of music will look like in my life in the long term (my thoughts and dreams with regard to that change quite frequently), God has granted me clarity with regard to the short term.
Late last year, after trying to recruit me to Lincolnton for several months, Clint asked me to consider and pray about the idea of leading worship at Freedom one last time. I agreed to pray some more, well aware that it wasn’t my responsibility to meet the specific need of a church three hours away from me. After some more prayer and deliberation, the Lord changed my disposition. Though it wasn’t my responsibility to serve Freedom Church, it was my privilege. Since I don’t have a family of my own, I knew I was able to “pack up and go” without too much difficulty. I also came to the realization (or re-realization) that the Christian life doesn’t always make sense, and, actually, shouldn’t really make sense to the world around us. I concluded that by going to Lincolnton for a season I’d be able to serve God, serve Freedom Church, and force myself to trust and rely on Him more. I also realized that moving to Lincolnton wouldn’t mean abandoning my musical aspirations, it would just mean adjusting them.
And so here I am. Twenty-five years old with bundles of ambition and a desire to be a “musical missionary.” I still think my harvest field lies somewhere in the realm of secular music, but I’m willing to submit to whatever God calls me to. As for now, I plan to continue working as hard as ever on my music in addition to serving Freedom Church to the best of my abilities. Though I will surely miss Imago Dei, I’m confident God has a purpose and lesson for me in this upcoming season of life as a worship leader. I’ve visited Freedom a few times now and I’ve met many wonderful people who truly love the Lord. I’m excited to serve them and assist them in worshiping our God. Though it still seems farfetched to me, perhaps God will reveal that being a worship leader is my calling. Or perhaps he will show me a different path to steward my particular gifting. Ultimately, I know if I’m serving and obeying Him, my feet need not worry where they go. I don’t know much, just that Jesus is worthy of any difficult decision or “sacrifice” I could ever make!
Here’s a free download of my newest single. May it be a reminder to pray for me as I seek to glorify Jesus in my life.
http://www.mediafire.com/folder/cnm221bk6qhlv//Light%20-%20Free%20Single