The Story of Give Glory to Him, with Christian Paul - Episode 1

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Welcome to the Adventist Waves podcast.
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On today's episode, you are going to hear a story about Christian Paul, founder of Give
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Glory to Him, a ministry dedicated to produce inspirational media that can refresh and uplift
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people, giving all glory only to God.
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We will start with Christian's early life and move through his journey as a musician.
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Listen to the end and you will discover Christian's vision for music ministry.
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Let's roll.
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When I asked Christian if he could collaborate with any artist on the earth today, who would
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that be? His answer reveals that he has a deep faith in God.
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I would say Moses and David, two Bible composers that I admired.
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And Moses because I don't know how he was able to put the law in all those long chapters
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and God told him put it into music and that's something I do.
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So I'm curious and also just that the song of Moses and of the lamb.
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So really curious about Moses as a poet and composer and David as well as a composer,
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king, you know, warrior, all these characteristics, but also a musician with his harp, you know,
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and it seems that he coped through a lot in life through his songs and his songs.
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So this this two musicians, yeah, I would love to to meet them and one day in heaven
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meet them and do music with them.
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Many musicians are influenced by those closest to them.
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And Christian Paul is no exception.
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His grandfather played a pivotal role in igniting his love for the violin.
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My earliest memories are when I was born in here in the States in California, Southern
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California, and we moved my parents moved to Argentina.
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And I was about two or three when I meet my grandfather from Germany that that lived in
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South America and I saw him play the violin.
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And I remember till now, like being mesmerized by that wooden instrument and stick, you
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know, I didn't know, but I just something just made me it was like love at first sight
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with the instrument.
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And I knew then that I wanted to to play that instrument one day.
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But I guess that reaction was also nurtured by my family and parents that really enjoy
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music.
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And my mom actually discovered that as a baby when she would sing lullaby to me that I
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would be humming the melody.
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So she noticed that there was something musical there.
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That music kind of lit me up.
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Yeah.
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But like many young artists, Christian's path wasn't without its own stubborn twists.
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Well, my mom came from the school of you learn first piano and then you choose your instrument.
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But I had my my strong will since little.
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And I thought I wasn't smart enough, you know, for piano.
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And I just didn't want piano.
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So I fought and rebelled against piano.
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So I regret that now.
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Now that I'm composing, I wish I and I tell my mom, you should have forced me.
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And she's like, you don't know how hard it was arguing with you.
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And but I'm like, you should have forced me anyway.
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It would have made such a difference.
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But then she said, you know, and violin was the instrument.
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I was like, violin, violin.
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And they would tell me, Christian, violin requires discipline.
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And they said that I wasn't very disciplined at anything I did.
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So they're like, if you apply that discipline, it'll sound like a crying cat.
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So choose another instrument, you know.
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And so then my mom recommended trumpet because my dad had played trumpet in high school.
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So I took picked up the trumpet and did about a year of trumpet and then just picked some
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other instruments like guitar, just this five little flute, things like that I would pick
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and play much by ear.
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So yeah, went through through some different instruments.
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As Christian's passion for music grew, so did the recognition of the importance of formal
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training.
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Even though he hadn't immersed himself in music theory lessons as a child, his determination
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to excel never wavered.
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Not really.
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And that's another area where many areas, you know, and it's interesting because I'm
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basically, you know, almost full time or a good time doing music ministry.
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And I've had people say, oh, well, you because you understand the structure of and that's
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why you can improvise the structure of chords and whatever.
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And no, violin was what I took three and a half years formal training and it wasn't much
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music theory.
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So music theory overwhelmed me and not didn't take much.
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Learning music takes a lot of commitment and practice.
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Christian's journey and learning the violin illustrates this.
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Yeah.
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Yeah, well, with the violin, I tried to force myself, you know, going a little forward in
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regards to the violin.
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You know, it was all these instruments that I learned by ear trumpet and a bit of guitar
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and others.
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And then we moved back to South America.
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We went back and forth between the states and South America and we moved back to South
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America.
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And there's this young guy that tells me, Christian, you don't give up on your dreams.
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I also wanted to learn the violin.
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We need to find an instrument and we're going to follow our dreams.
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And he helped me find my first borrowed instrument and it wasn't even a full size.
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And I went to a teacher for one month and it was a very formal teacher, just posture
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for a month, move, no, a little more, adjust here, no, like this.
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And he would give me like music theory, memorize rules of music theory.
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And I was like, maybe my parents were right.
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This is too difficult.
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And I just gave, you know, kind of gave up.
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And it's interesting how God has key people.
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You know, this guy was Daniel, the guy that encouraged me and God has key people to encourage
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you in your journey.
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I thought I, you know, I just give up, but we later moved closer to my German grandfather
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and he suggested, why don't I teach you Christian?
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And I was like, okay, well, sure, let's give it a try.
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And in the first class, he let me play open strings and showed me open strings means that
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you're not pressing any finger on the fingerboard, just a bow.
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And that sound was motivation enough to continue going.
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I was like, wow, because the violin is not an instrument that you, you know, it's squeaks
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and scratches very easily.
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And just that sound.
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And in three months, I was so excited and we were playing in three month duets and hymns.
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And I was trying to teach myself vibrato.
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It was just like amazing.
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But then after that, we moved away from my grandfather.
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So again, I was on my own and three months is not much formal training.
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So I continue, I think for two years trying to continue teaching myself and I would record
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and play duets with my recordings.
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So there started a little bit the journey into my recording.
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And then some family members that, that came and visited said to my parents, you need to
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send this guy somewhere to learn, like even if he needs to travel.
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And the closest like important city of the province where he lived was five hours away
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by bus and the capital city was a whole night by bus.
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So we asked some musician friends and they recommended a teacher.
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And for three and a half years, I traveled 10 hours once or twice a month to get violin
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lessons and that was all my formal training.
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But to your question of notes in the violin, I wanted to learn it right.
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So slow notes, like full notes that last four beats, I would in my mind or out loud say
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A, D to try to force my brain that knew how to play by ear, but had a hard time learning
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how to read.
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I tried to link my brain to the note, the name of the note and the finger.
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So I learned how to read the notes, even though I still play more by ear.
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It's easier than sight reading.
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So you can tell exactly when you're out of tune.
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Well in that regard, the violin is a challenge because even a millimetre or a fraction of
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a movement basically of the finger can make it flat or sharp.
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So it's a lot of by ear.
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So I guess in that sense, playing by ear is good because you need to be criticizing until
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the brain memorizes the spaces and hopefully the good technique so that your fingers fall
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in the right place and it's in tune.
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Behind every musician's unique sound lies a multitude of influences.
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For Christian Paul, those inspirations started in the home and would later be shaped by classical
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composers.
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Let's dive into the mix of composers who shaped his musical journey.
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Well, I would say the family, like I mentioned as well, being involved.
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We had family worship and we sang in family worship and my dad, my mom would sing harmony.
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So that influence, even when I was around 10, my dad challenged us to bring a Bible
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verse to memorize and he composed a melody for his and I composed a melody for the verse
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I brought.
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So I guess in the family there was good influence in music and I don't know, since little I
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just loved classical composers.
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If I wasn't playing myself, I was listening to classical music.
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So I would say the classical composers influenced me and the interesting thing is even if you
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don't know their intention, it can be felt through the music.
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So you have a Handel or a Bach.
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Bach had said that he would sign at the beginning of his blank score, he would sign JJ that
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in Latin meant Jesus help me.
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And at the end of his composition, he would sign SDG, Soli Deo Gloria, which means to
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the glory of God alone.
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So I feel that even if you don't know what's the motivation behind their compositions,
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that it is an inspiration because they're composing and Handel as well and some of these
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composers to the glory of God.
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So I would say they were also an influence.
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Of course, my teacher and other people in the family as well.
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Christian's musical path was always clear, but its ultimate direction held a surprise.
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His life changing conversion experience set a new course, taking him from classical stages
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to a different kind of performance.
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Let's dive into this pivotal transition and discover how he embraced the world of music
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ministry.
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Christian's journey when starting music ministry began when he was deciding which options he
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was going to take for his formal education.
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Yeah, sure.
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And it's interesting because you may be doing all this classical music of composers that
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are composed for the glory of God, but then you have, you know, people that are not religious
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doing classical music.
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I would say maybe even atheist doing this music that was composed for the glory of God.
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So initially I had just ambitions of fame and I wanted to be a performer and I was frustrated
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because I started late because of my parents encouraging me to do other instruments.
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I felt, oh, if I would have started when I was a little boy and I would have like started
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early I could have been a soloist violinist.
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So I was in this trajectory like I shared this guy Daniel challenges us to continue
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looking for a violin.
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I started lessons with my grandfather and here I am taking lessons in the capital city
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of the province I was traveling 10 hours and I'm thinking I'm going to enter conservatory
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and I was wanting at least to make it to an orchestra as an employee in an orchestra.
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And here's where the challenge came.
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I'm you know, my personal faith is seven day Adventist Christian and I believe that according
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to the Bible the Sabbath is a gift of God from to rest and to worship him in rest.
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And you know, the work of an orchestra many times plays on Sabbath and they work on Sabbath.
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So here my faith started becoming a challenge with the dream I was having and my teacher,
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she was willing to prepare me for the entrance exam to conservatory and I'm trying to raise
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this race for, you know, make it into my dream.
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And to give you a little more perspective, I had gotten a bit better because of things
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I heard about the church and then other people and ministries that went out of the church
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and I had been exposed to, you know, different people that I saw as hypocrites and as a young
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person, you know, young people can many times pick on hypocrites.
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It's like you preach one thing, you live another way.
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So for me it was like, okay, if those that follow God are like that and their marriages,
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you know, conservative people, but they're bickering and just something unattractive,
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let me go and find my passion and finding my dreams and following my dreams.
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But then, you know, as I'm trying to think about this, I read biographies like a famous
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musician, you know, Elvis Presley or others that said millions at his feet or thousands
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at his feet, no one at his side and how they were lonely and empty.
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And I'm like, okay, there's actors, there's artists that have made it to the pinnacle
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and are empty and fame and money is not making it for them.
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So then a crisis came in me, it's like I'm wanting to go to conservatory and follow my
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passion for not the right purposes to give glory to God, but for self exaltation and
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for applause.
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But I'm seeing that applause and fame and money is empty.
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And here starts the crisis of what do I do?
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And here's where my mom doubled the fight on her knees.
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I was very independent.
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So if you told me don't do this, I was going to be like, that's what I want to do.
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So I would go and tell my mom, I'm going to study in conservatory, rent an apartment,
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and I'm going to do this.
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And I was expecting a no, that's not God's will, you know, that won't go something like
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that.
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And I was ready to fight or turn 18 and do whatever I wanted.
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But she would say, okay, Christian, if you're sure that's God's will, go for it.
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I just it just got me so, you know, angry because if you're sure it's God's will, go
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for it and then she would go and pray, you know, and I knew she was praying for me.
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And later this inspired a song that I wrote this time of her doubling her prayers for
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me.
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So I came to the point, but, but see, Khan, this was the challenge.
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It's like it's my dream since you could say age two or three, and I'm coming close to
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the dream, but it seems to be conflicting with my faith.
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And then I would tell my mom, mom, I would like to find an Adventist orchestra somewhere
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where I can do this for a living.
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And mind you, there are careers in our universities of violin performance, but where can you find
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a job?
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The majority of jobs is later teaching as a teacher.
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If you want to be like in the time of David, the musicians in the temple, uh, music evangelists
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or performers share your music as a living.
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Where do you go?
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And my mom would tell me in heaven, Christian in heaven.
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I was like, no, why can't it be now?
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You know, so that was the dilemma.
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It's like, I can't do music for performance and for playing as a living in the church.
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I don't see any place and in the world, it will conflict with the Sabbath if I want to
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play in an orchestra and I'm not interested in just being a violin teacher.
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So it was really a crisis and it felt like the sacrificing of Isaac.
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It's like, I'm so close to this dream and I need to kill it.
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And uh, so I remember, you know, one time I had an argument and told my mom some ugly
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things and I went to my room and there I am, you know, like upset or just disturbed with
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life and with what to do.
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And it's like, God tells me Christian, why don't you give me a chance?
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And I'm like, you know, in our minds, it's like, if you've grown in the church, you're
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like, I know everything about God.
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I know everything about doctrine.
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I've already tried this.
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I've already, and that's what I see a lot of young people.
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Oh, we already tried the church and there's nothing for us.
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So let me go and try something else.
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Have you really has like the God of Abraham and Isaac become your God?
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And I think in the case of Jacob, it was when he was fleeing and he grew up knowing about
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the God of Abraham and Isaac, but until it transferred to becoming your God.
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So here God is challenging me, Christian, why don't you give me a chance?
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But it's like this fears.
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What if he calls me to be a pitiful missionary and I wanted to be somebody, you know, what
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if he calls me to marry an ugly girl and what if he calls me to all this?
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And it's like, Christian, why don't you give it?
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Yeah, but you know, I've seen this Christians and they don't look like happy and taste and
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see directly, you know, don't see me through the eyes of other Christians, but why don't
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you taste and see?
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And I knew that meant full surrender.
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So I was needing so much peace that finally I said, okay, God, even if it means the death
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of my dreams, even if you call me to be a pitiful missionary, you know, whatever it
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is, I just surrender because I need a piece.
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And you know what?
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There was, I would say one regret that I didn't do it earlier because the piece, I didn't
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know what was going to happen, you know, but the piece that got brought into my heart was
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something that I had been looking in music and horses.
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That was another of my hobbies.
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And I was buying horses and trying to start a jumping horse, jumping school.
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But none of that had brought, even though there are still hobbies that I enjoy.
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So God has put desires in our hearts that he wishes to fulfill, but sometimes he needs
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us to kill Isaac to later have our, or be willing, not kill because Abraham didn't kill
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him, but be willing to kill Isaac so that our heart is in the right place so that he
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can return Isaac to us.
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He needed to kill the Messiah, you know, in that weekend, the conquering Messiah so that
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the disciples heart would be in the right place and the world would be changed.
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And my heart was, you know, after fame and money and here I surrender and I go to, you
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know, missionary college in the States, to Heartland College to study health.
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And I think, okay, that's the end of my dreams of music.
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But I continue during this time doing music and we form a string quartet in Heartland
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with friends and we start playing and we're doing even more music than I was doing it
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for the world.
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And I'm not thinking much of it, but basically here is where the transition when God builds
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your ministry.
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And that's what I would encourage others.
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If God has placed a desire, be faithful and continue to use it and God will build what
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he wants to build out of you.
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If you're faithful, like Joseph, faithful in the little things and like Joseph, it might
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seem a long detour, but God is not done with his dreams for you.
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Like many musicians, Christian's path was marked by defining moments.
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His time at Heartland and Europe left a lasting impact on his life.
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After graduating from Heartland with a health degree, he went to Europe.
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Here he began to teach.
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However, health lectures failed to arouse the attention of the people.
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So he tried another strategy.
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Let's listen as Christian shares his experience.
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So I studied health at Heartland thinking I don't want to be a pastor.
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My dad is a pastor.
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I've seen, you know, things that pastors go through.
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So and I want to have more hands on experience.
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And since I cannot do music, you know, I don't see a place for music.
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Let me study health.
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And I studied during my bachelor's that health is the entering wedge to prepare hearts for
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the gospel.
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So I'm here doing my planning to do my internship and I'm thinking, where could I go?
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And my heart and my passion was more adventure.
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Go to South America, the jungles of the Amazon and reach indigenous tribes that never have
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heard the gospel.
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That was the goal I had.
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So it was not music ministry at this time.
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I didn't dream about that.
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But before leaving Heartland as the string quartet kind of disassembled and people left,
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I'm having people request for me still to do special music.
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And I used the opportunity of special music to give a little testimony, a little inspirational
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thought and special music.
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And this led later for a church to ask me, can you do a concert?
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And I had seen Jamie George do concerts with little personal experiences and I connected
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with that.
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So I'm like, that's something if I'm blessed, maybe I can also do the same and share.
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So here I give my first concert and off I go to Europe for my internship.
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Again, music kind of the Isaac I sacrifice.
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But in Europe, I go to a health center and a mission school and I'm working here with
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young people and with guests, health guests that come.
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And we have some neighbors, Catholic neighbors of the Catholic faith that we're praying for
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them and we're wanting to reach them.
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And we said, aha, let's invite them to health lecture.
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They're sick, they're going to come.
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High blood pressure, whatever.
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They don't come.
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What do you do if health doesn't reach people that are struggling with health?
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So then they invited the school, invited them to other spiritual meetings.
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They don't come.
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Then they find out that I do music and another student there does music and they reach out
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to us and say, can you come and do a concert for us?
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And we want to invite friends for this concert.
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And I'm like, whoa, we've been praying two years and here they are asking us to step
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into their home and they'll bring the people to listen to us.
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So I had two options or more than two options, but I had the option of just doing a classical
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and just doing like a cultural chamber music.
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I could go Christian, but I felt that might not go well.
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So God gave me this idea and we went with this student.
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She played the piano and I started with Bach and Handel, you know, or Bach, some classical
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pieces.
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And then God gave me this idea for the transition.
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And I told them, you know, dear friends, that many of our admired classical composers like
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Bach, Handel, they love to compose music to Bible verses.
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They looked at me like, you know, what are you, where are you going or what are you saying?
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I'm like, let me give you an example.
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Bible's Messiah is a bunch of Bible verses put into this oratorium and they started agreeing,
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you know, nodding their heads or agreeing.
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I'm like, all right, praise God.
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Okay.
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So if you don't mind, I have some of my personal Bible favorite Bible promises that I've composed
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melodies that I would like to share with you if it's fine.
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They agreed.
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So from there, I felt it was a good transition, you know, not just to start with religion,
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but hey, you enjoy classical music and they compose to Bible verses.
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Let me share contemporary Christian music, you know, that's kind of a play of words.
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I mean, my name is Christian, you know, and it's contemporary.
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I'm a living, sometimes we are against contemporary music and contemporary just simply means somebody
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living alive or of our time, you know, it doesn't need to be satanic music, you know,
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from elements that are sensual or that are, no, it's contemporary.
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So anyway, so here I started sharing this song.
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They were touched.
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They enjoyed it.
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And I was thinking, wait, if I would have said, could between songs, could I share a
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little devotional thought from God's word?
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Can I open?
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Maybe they would have been resistant.
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Or if I would say, can I share a Bible, no, but in music, they cite us art, but the Holy
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Spirit, I believe, was seen it as an opportunity to touch their hearts.
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So then later when I'm sharing with Christian Bardol, he tells me, hey, music could be the
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entering wedge to the entering wedge.
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And you know, Khan, I was a bit reluctant because it was the Isaac that I had been willing
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to sacrifice.
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So I'm like, I don't want to read into this and say, oh, music is something.
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So I went to the book, Evangelism, this book that talks about evangelism work by one of
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my favorite authors.
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And as I opened the chapter, I said, could it be that there's something about music?
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And I found a chapter called Singing Evangelism, I believe it is.
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And I started reading and I got excited because it said, song is one of the most effective
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means to impress the heart with spiritual truth.
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I had gone to Europe thinking, how can I reach people that are in a secular place?
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And you know, I was thinking of dividing my internship in two places in a more third world
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country.
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But one place was Europe because I had that enigma, that intrigue, how do you reach secular
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people that don't see the need for Jesus or the gospel?
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And here I'm finding this quote that says that music, song is one of the most effective
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means.
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And immediately my question starts coming.
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Then why don't we have, instead of so many sermons, why don't we have more composers
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like Moses, like David, composing our beautiful hope and truth into song if it's one of the
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most effective means?
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And I continued reading and I found a quote where she says that the author says that they
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were thinking how to reach the cities and they were disturbed because people were saying,
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don't go to the meetings of Seventh-day Adventists, you know, you're going to be deceived.
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And they were like, if we could just get a chance to share our message.
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And she says, at night God sends this dream or vision where a dignified grave voice, I'm
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paraphrasing, but a man says to her, I call your attention to the singing talent among
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you.
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The devil is using it with great success and in God's work, it could do a lot of power
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for good.
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When I was reading those quotes, I'm like, whoo, you know, just so excited because I'm
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like, this book is like a hundred plus years old and this council, what have we done with
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this council?
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And then she says, much good could be done as singing evangelists.
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You see, Khan, I thought this was maybe an original great idea, reaching the neighbors
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with a home concert.
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And then I come across a quote that says, our young people would do much good as singing
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evangelists, singing sweet gospel songs.
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They would be able to reach the high and the low class.
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They would be able to go from house to house and ask them, would you want us to sing for
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you and pray for you?
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Not many will refuse.
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She says, and when I'm like, what have we done with this council?
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So this was like a revelation.
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And that's where the ministry, the thought of the ministry got born during that experience
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with Europe.
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And that's where Christian Bardol gives me this, this statement, Christian music could
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be the entering wedge to the entering wedge.
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And don't get me wrong, Khan, I'm not saying that music is the only pillar, pillar everybody
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needs to do music, but that there's been an area that God is musical, heaven is musical,
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the great, the, you know, Jesus second coming is musical, the Harper's harping with the
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harp.
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And I feel that the devil has had a conspiracy so that we neglect one of the most effective
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means.
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So I'm not wanting to make all that music is all, I'm just saying it's a neglected
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area that God has incredible plans to use it for His glory.
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It kind of makes me think of like a turbo in a car, like you don't really need a turbo
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in the car, right?
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Like if you have a, if most cars will be fine, but injecting a bit of extra air into the
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engine, of course, it's going to, you know, make it a bit more powerful.
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So I guess music is a bit like that, just adds a bit of extra air into the message of
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the gospel, you know, it spreads the air underneath the wings of, of the angels so then they can
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push forward.
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Totally, and this could be a whole podcast by itself, Khan, of music and like how Jesus
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used music and how the disciples used music.
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I would love, you know, if we have the opportunity of sharing more of this, how is music part
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of the great commission?
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How is music part?
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And there's biblical evidence and I've been going through the Bible, I'm going through
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the Bible now again and underlining all the reference that I see of music and I, I write
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a treble, is it a treble or yeah, treble clef, there's a music sign by the verse because
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I believe it has been a neglected area and when you look, like you said, not only a turbo,
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but God is a musical God because I believe so, Faniya says that he will rejoice over
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us with singing.
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Can't you imagine what it will be to hear a special music from God himself when we get
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to heaven singing what it means to him, for him to have us back home near to him.
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So God is a musical God.
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So this is, this is who he is in character and you see Jesus doing this and that is a
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method but it's a lifestyle.
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You see Jesus, it says Desire of Ages, this biography of Jesus that he communed with heaven
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through song.
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So it's more than a method, it's more than a technique, it's more than an art, it's a
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way of worshipping and praising God.
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Christian Paul's ministry reaches beyond the traditional stage.
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The Gift Glory to Him project is a testament to the powerful messages of the angels of
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Revelation Chapter 14.
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00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:07,240
We're going to now dive into the inspiration that fuels his original compositions.
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00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:15,120
So there as I was sharing in Europe, as I'm studying these quotes, the dream comes, could
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00:31:15,120 --> 00:31:19,240
it be that as part of the Great Commission and then there's also for those that are not
458
00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:26,080
familiar a chapter in Revelation 14 of a special message that comes before Jesus returns, a
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00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:31,480
special message to give glory to God, to worship him, to not follow false worship but follow
460
00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:33,760
true worship.
461
00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:40,400
And the thought, the hypothesis came, what if this message, the Last Commission, besides
462
00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:45,800
being proclaimed could be sung as well, could be shared as music.
463
00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:51,080
And actually Give Glory to Him comes straight from the Three Angels message, this special
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00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:56,040
message in Revelation 14 that says that I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven
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00:31:56,040 --> 00:31:58,320
having the everlasting gospel.
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00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:05,180
This you know, an everlasting heart of God to save, to go to the uttermost, to love His
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00:32:05,180 --> 00:32:08,240
creation and give himself for his creation.
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00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:11,800
The everlasting gospel to preach to them that are on the earth, to every nation, in kindred
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00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:16,360
and tongue and people, saying with a loud voice, fear God and, and there's the name
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00:32:16,360 --> 00:32:19,460
of the ministry, Give Glory to Him.
471
00:32:19,460 --> 00:32:25,840
So there was, there was a few thoughts when meditating about this or when thinking about
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00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:27,980
this vision.
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00:32:27,980 --> 00:32:34,440
One was the Three Angels message and could it be that the last loud cry, loud proclamation
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00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:40,460
of an invitation to the Father's house, to the wedding supper, could it be that music
475
00:32:40,460 --> 00:32:41,840
has a part?
476
00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:45,460
And again like I'm saying, it's not, I'm not saying it's the whole but a part.
477
00:32:45,460 --> 00:32:46,960
So that was one thought.
478
00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:52,720
Then the other thought was when people come, because when you start doing music many times
479
00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:58,280
people come in and with not bad intentions but they're like, Oh Khan, you're such an
480
00:32:58,280 --> 00:33:02,880
incredible, oh you have this and they start praising the instrument more than the giver
481
00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:04,480
of good gift.
482
00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:10,320
And so the thought was when people came and said, Oh, you're amazing to say, Give Glory
483
00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:12,120
to Him.
484
00:33:12,120 --> 00:33:18,360
And the other thought was as well Bach wrote one of my favorite composers and I'm going
485
00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:23,400
to paraphrase again, the purpose of all music should be none other than the refreshment
486
00:33:23,400 --> 00:33:26,920
of the soul and the glory of God.
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00:33:26,920 --> 00:33:32,680
So I felt that we could have an endorsement of a well renowned composer saying, Hey, the
488
00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:39,320
purpose of music is basically, you know, what we are trying to do, give glory to God.
489
00:33:39,320 --> 00:33:42,960
So, so that's where the ministry thought came for.
490
00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:47,380
And here in the States, when I moved back here to the States, it was actually going
491
00:33:47,380 --> 00:33:49,200
and playing in homes where I worked.
492
00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:52,000
I was thinking going in a different line.
493
00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:58,280
I was thinking studying nursing, but going as I went to work as a caregiver, it was actually
494
00:33:58,280 --> 00:34:03,200
the people I took care of that said, Christian, what are you doing with this?
495
00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:04,840
Well, I'm planning to go and do nursing.
496
00:34:04,840 --> 00:34:06,520
No, you need to do something with this.
497
00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:10,640
And they would have nurses and therapists come and say, sit down, Christian, take your
498
00:34:10,640 --> 00:34:12,140
violin, play for them.
499
00:34:12,140 --> 00:34:15,920
And as I started seeing these people from other denominations or maybe not even very
500
00:34:15,920 --> 00:34:19,360
religious, absorb and be thankful.
501
00:34:19,360 --> 00:34:23,360
And then I had a home concert that the old lady that I was taking care of, she's in tears
502
00:34:23,360 --> 00:34:25,160
saying, can you, do you know this song?
503
00:34:25,160 --> 00:34:26,800
I come to the garden alone.
504
00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:27,800
I sang it to her.
505
00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:28,800
She's in tears.
506
00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:30,360
She's like, can you sing it for my funeral?
507
00:34:30,360 --> 00:34:31,360
I'm like, sure.
508
00:34:31,360 --> 00:34:32,360
And she's crying.
509
00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:34,480
No, I want you to sing it for my friends.
510
00:34:34,480 --> 00:34:37,440
So she has a home concert, invites her friends.
511
00:34:37,440 --> 00:34:39,000
They come dressed up.
512
00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:43,480
A friend says, Hey, can you come to my house and can you share a home concert in my house?
513
00:34:43,480 --> 00:34:44,480
I'm like, sure.
514
00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:48,360
So I go to her house, a person says, do you go only to your church or do you play in other
515
00:34:48,360 --> 00:34:49,360
churches?
516
00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:50,360
Can you come to our church?
517
00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:52,200
I go back to the elderly lady's house.
518
00:34:52,200 --> 00:34:53,840
She's like, I have another batch of friends.
519
00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:55,280
They didn't make it to the first concert.
520
00:34:55,280 --> 00:34:57,200
Can we have another concert?
521
00:34:57,200 --> 00:35:03,080
So that's when her son in law started pushing me, a successful person that had been involved,
522
00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:05,680
you know, in the world and business.
523
00:35:05,680 --> 00:35:10,240
And he said, Christian, do you need me to give you a kick in your, you know, behinds
524
00:35:10,240 --> 00:35:14,560
or what do you need for me, you know, to get started with this?
525
00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:20,320
And that's where it's, it's little steps, you know, but that's where we did the first
526
00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:25,840
music video and open our YouTube channel with the name, give glory to him.
527
00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:31,320
But sometimes it's like this man from the great revival, William Miller, that he studied,
528
00:35:31,320 --> 00:35:35,740
you know, the prophecies for a long time, but was reluctant to go.
529
00:35:35,740 --> 00:35:41,520
For me, I've also faced a lot of reluctancy and sometimes pushback, even of people saying,
530
00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:43,000
no, you cannot live from music.
531
00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:45,680
It's like almost feeling pity for you.
532
00:35:45,680 --> 00:35:47,560
Like, oh, you're wanting to be a musician.
533
00:35:47,560 --> 00:35:48,880
Like they feel sorry for you.
534
00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:54,880
So, but people encouraged me from other faith, from other denominations or even not religious.
535
00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:57,000
And that's where the thought, okay, give glory to him.
536
00:35:57,000 --> 00:36:01,120
Let's do a ministry that compared to before my conversion, I wanted applause.
537
00:36:01,120 --> 00:36:02,200
I wanted fame.
538
00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:05,640
Now Lord, I want you to be uplifted.
539
00:36:05,640 --> 00:36:07,160
And that's, that's my desire.
540
00:36:07,160 --> 00:36:14,440
And that's where the ministry was born and developed and brought to a start.
541
00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:21,400
An eight year dedication to a project speaks volumes about faith and unwavering passion.
542
00:36:21,400 --> 00:36:27,640
The evolution of give glory to him undoubtedly reflects Christian's own spiritual journey.
543
00:36:27,640 --> 00:36:35,160
2016 was when we launched a praying mom, the song that I composed and that links back to
544
00:36:35,160 --> 00:36:39,880
my testimony when my mom was praying for me when I was going to go to conservatory and
545
00:36:39,880 --> 00:36:43,240
take a path that maybe would have led me away from God.
546
00:36:43,240 --> 00:36:50,080
And back in 2016, I composed it for her birthday and we launched the first video, opened the
547
00:36:50,080 --> 00:36:54,760
YouTube channel and we didn't know how many it would reach, but we launched it a few days
548
00:36:54,760 --> 00:36:56,640
before Mother's Day, maybe a week.
549
00:36:56,640 --> 00:37:00,560
And by Mother's Day, it had near I think to 40,000 views and we're getting messages from
550
00:37:00,560 --> 00:37:03,160
different parts of the world, people encouraging.
551
00:37:03,160 --> 00:37:05,280
So that was like a boost.
552
00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:07,560
And then it's been a journey of faith kind.
553
00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:12,000
And I can tell anybody that is listening to this podcast and wondering, oh, you know,
554
00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:15,040
and they just see the music videos or they just see the ministry.
555
00:37:15,040 --> 00:37:18,080
No, it's a journey of faithfulness and the little things.
556
00:37:18,080 --> 00:37:22,920
I invested my savings for nursing that I was thinking of going to nursing, invested my
557
00:37:22,920 --> 00:37:29,400
savings on nursing on 2016 and I run out of my funds and I'm like, maybe people are right
558
00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:31,480
and maybe I need to get a real job.
559
00:37:31,480 --> 00:37:37,840
And I had an invitation to go to a mission trip to South Africa this time and I said,
560
00:37:37,840 --> 00:37:42,280
Lord, I need to give an answer to my friends that are inviting me to this mission trip.
561
00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:43,680
I'll give you a week, Lord.
562
00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:47,040
If you want to provide the money in a week, I'll go to this mission trip and when I'm
563
00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:49,400
back, I'll get a real job.
564
00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:52,880
And you know, it's like I gave it a try, but I ran out of funds.
565
00:37:52,880 --> 00:37:57,080
And at the end of that week, Con, and there's so many details to the story, but I'm trying
566
00:37:57,080 --> 00:38:02,400
to summarize that at the end of that week, I gave a concert in a Hispanic church, few
567
00:38:02,400 --> 00:38:03,400
church members.
568
00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:07,880
I don't see how money can come there for the trip to South Africa, but a gentleman comes
569
00:38:07,880 --> 00:38:13,020
with tears and shakes my hands and puts a paper and it's a check with them on to go
570
00:38:13,020 --> 00:38:15,440
to South Africa.
571
00:38:15,440 --> 00:38:22,280
And that became a pattern of God testing my faith until sometimes I'm like, I'm throwing
572
00:38:22,280 --> 00:38:25,960
the towel and God coming through and providing and showing no Christian.
573
00:38:25,960 --> 00:38:28,000
I want you to keep going forward.
574
00:38:28,000 --> 00:38:32,820
So it's been since 2016 and now we're 2024.
575
00:38:32,820 --> 00:38:36,960
So it's been a few years.
576
00:38:36,960 --> 00:38:39,460
Yes.
577
00:38:39,460 --> 00:38:44,680
The creative path often involves unexpected twists and turns.
578
00:38:44,680 --> 00:38:50,440
Christians faith in God encourage them to push forward and God does miracles and provides
579
00:38:50,440 --> 00:38:56,160
resources for him to continue his work with gift glory to him.
580
00:38:56,160 --> 00:38:57,160
Sure.
581
00:38:57,160 --> 00:39:07,480
Um, well, the seal, the, the conviction has deepened as I've seen God come through.
582
00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:13,280
There in South Africa, you know, I, it was a miracle trip, I would say flying standby
583
00:39:13,280 --> 00:39:19,200
and in England, somebody telling me you cannot fly to South Africa because your standby benefits,
584
00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:21,560
you need to have your flight attendant friend.
585
00:39:21,560 --> 00:39:26,440
And I'm like, Lord, you brought me to England to leave me here and God makes a miracle.
586
00:39:26,440 --> 00:39:29,520
I make it to South Africa on the way back.
587
00:39:29,520 --> 00:39:32,020
I plan to record the album, perfect peace.
588
00:39:32,020 --> 00:39:34,380
That is one of our albums in the ministry.
589
00:39:34,380 --> 00:39:38,000
And I'm thinking to record in room quality, just with my mic.
590
00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:44,720
I started learning a lot of these things just on my own, but my, the person that was doing
591
00:39:44,720 --> 00:39:48,600
the piano, she contacted somebody that is an audio engineer and he says, we'll do the,
592
00:39:48,600 --> 00:39:51,080
the whole thing for you for 3000 euros.
593
00:39:51,080 --> 00:39:55,320
And I'm like, I barely made it, you know, for this trip, I don't have 3000 years.
594
00:39:55,320 --> 00:39:58,440
I'm broke, you know, and, but my family encourages me.
595
00:39:58,440 --> 00:40:03,760
And as I go back to Europe, um, I'm praying and we're going to start recording on Monday
596
00:40:03,760 --> 00:40:07,720
and Saturday night, an old couple comes and puts an envelope.
597
00:40:07,720 --> 00:40:11,760
And again, with tears in their eyes, say, continue doing the work that you're doing.
598
00:40:11,760 --> 00:40:14,640
And as I go and count this 3000 euros.
599
00:40:14,640 --> 00:40:21,280
So as I've seen God in the initial, you know, stages of my weak, fragile faith and, and,
600
00:40:21,280 --> 00:40:24,520
you know, it's miracle after miracle, like the disciples, you know, I'm about to record
601
00:40:24,520 --> 00:40:26,080
and people are sick as winter.
602
00:40:26,080 --> 00:40:28,040
So I'm getting like, feeling like I'm getting sick.
603
00:40:28,040 --> 00:40:30,200
And I'm like, Lord, you brought me here.
604
00:40:30,200 --> 00:40:33,040
You provided the money and now you're going to, I'm not going to have the voice.
605
00:40:33,040 --> 00:40:36,600
And it's like, like the disciples, the next storm that faces them, they're already losing
606
00:40:36,600 --> 00:40:37,600
their faith.
607
00:40:37,600 --> 00:40:39,960
And, and the Lord is showing me this lack of faith.
608
00:40:39,960 --> 00:40:42,200
And I'm like, okay, Lord, I'm recording violin.
609
00:40:42,200 --> 00:40:43,200
I don't need my voice now.
610
00:40:43,200 --> 00:40:46,800
And as I step to record my voice, God returned the voice.
611
00:40:46,800 --> 00:40:49,720
And that's the voice that you hear in the CD, in the album.
612
00:40:49,720 --> 00:40:55,360
And so my faith throughout this years has strengthened as I see that God doesn't call
613
00:40:55,360 --> 00:41:01,680
me to be successful in man's estimation, in numbers of views, in money.
614
00:41:01,680 --> 00:41:06,120
Yes, he might have that as well as plan, but he calls me to be faithful.
615
00:41:06,120 --> 00:41:08,840
And if he has called me, I need to remain faithful.
616
00:41:08,840 --> 00:41:12,800
And that's to be successful, to be faithful to what God calls me.
617
00:41:12,800 --> 00:41:14,960
And that's been a journey.
618
00:41:14,960 --> 00:41:19,800
Like Paul says, not that I've made it, but I strive toward the mark of continuing being
619
00:41:19,800 --> 00:41:23,640
faithful even under discouraging circumstances.
620
00:41:23,640 --> 00:41:29,680
But Christian's background set him up with a series of challenges.
621
00:41:29,680 --> 00:41:35,480
But what I really appreciate about him is his resiliency, his willing to learn, which
622
00:41:35,480 --> 00:41:38,920
ultimately brought his music to life.
623
00:41:38,920 --> 00:41:45,200
He's also discovered new resources, which is helping him to craft his compositions.
624
00:41:45,200 --> 00:41:49,960
You know, some of the challenges you might see them as crutch weaknesses.
625
00:41:49,960 --> 00:41:53,800
And God said to Paul, my strength is made perfect in your weakness.
626
00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:58,960
So I want to do that disclaimer at first, because I could say my challenge is not knowing
627
00:41:58,960 --> 00:42:04,960
music theory, not having studied formally composition, not having enough formal training,
628
00:42:04,960 --> 00:42:11,640
just three and a half years of violin with this teacher and three months with my grandfather.
629
00:42:11,640 --> 00:42:19,840
Challenges of people sometimes not encouraging, not having a possibility of doing it as a
630
00:42:19,840 --> 00:42:25,800
pastor's paid salary or a survival worker, not having a niche where musicians can work.
631
00:42:25,800 --> 00:42:30,040
I can share all these challenges, the challenges of sometimes being alone and not having a
632
00:42:30,040 --> 00:42:34,920
band or an equipment, you know, a team of musicians around me.
633
00:42:34,920 --> 00:42:37,360
All these challenges.
634
00:42:37,360 --> 00:42:44,480
But I, I believe as I've meditated and taken a step back, like you said, that God works
635
00:42:44,480 --> 00:42:46,820
all things for good.
636
00:42:46,820 --> 00:42:49,280
So let me give you some practical things of those challenges.
637
00:42:49,280 --> 00:42:55,440
I believe the challenge of not having studied an instrument that I can accompany myself
638
00:42:55,440 --> 00:43:01,200
has probably been a good reason for focusing on strong melodies.
639
00:43:01,200 --> 00:43:05,640
Sometimes we can lean on chord progression and things like that, but not having an accompaniment
640
00:43:05,640 --> 00:43:06,640
instrument.
641
00:43:06,640 --> 00:43:11,120
The melody needs to have a good direction, you know, so I think that has got, has been
642
00:43:11,120 --> 00:43:13,520
able to use that for good.
643
00:43:13,520 --> 00:43:16,520
Also that has allowed me to team compose.
644
00:43:16,520 --> 00:43:18,480
And here's where Fiverr comes.
645
00:43:18,480 --> 00:43:19,480
Your question about Fiverr.
646
00:43:19,480 --> 00:43:25,120
Fiverr is a platform of freelancers, of session musicians, of audio engineers, of different
647
00:43:25,120 --> 00:43:27,520
type of resources.
648
00:43:27,520 --> 00:43:32,600
And as I came back from Europe and I found myself alone, I started learning piano, what
649
00:43:32,600 --> 00:43:33,600
I didn't do as a kid.
650
00:43:33,600 --> 00:43:38,000
And that's how I composed A Praying Mom, but it took a long time because so many mistakes.
651
00:43:38,000 --> 00:43:42,800
And then in GarageBand, I was cutting the pieces that I played well and pacing them
652
00:43:42,800 --> 00:43:43,800
together.
653
00:43:43,800 --> 00:43:46,480
But it took, I don't know, maybe hundreds of hours, you know, or, or I don't know,
654
00:43:46,480 --> 00:43:48,080
many hours.
655
00:43:48,080 --> 00:43:52,160
That was the way I composed A Praying Mom and I did the accompaniment.
656
00:43:52,160 --> 00:43:56,840
But then I realized I don't have a pianist like I had in Europe.
657
00:43:56,840 --> 00:43:59,600
And for some years I didn't compose.
658
00:43:59,600 --> 00:44:05,760
But what Fiverr has opened and the pandemic, I think, has opened is you can work by distance.
659
00:44:05,760 --> 00:44:07,920
I can record in my phone a melody.
660
00:44:07,920 --> 00:44:11,920
I can send that melody to somebody in Colombia, like I'm working currently with a pianist
661
00:44:11,920 --> 00:44:14,980
in Colombia, or I can send it to somebody in Fiverr.
662
00:44:14,980 --> 00:44:20,640
There's this guy in Fiverr in Brazil that has played praise or worship music.
663
00:44:20,640 --> 00:44:22,460
His style is very nice.
664
00:44:22,460 --> 00:44:25,080
He arranged the song I composed for my sister.
665
00:44:25,080 --> 00:44:27,040
Thirty dollars or fifty dollars he charges.
666
00:44:27,040 --> 00:44:29,240
It's not a lot of money.
667
00:44:29,240 --> 00:44:30,720
I send him a melody.
668
00:44:30,720 --> 00:44:33,000
He plays the piano.
669
00:44:33,000 --> 00:44:38,080
So that's where Fiverr has opened doors to work when I didn't have a team.
670
00:44:38,080 --> 00:44:41,800
And people ask me, do you guys, do you have a band sometimes that comes in?
671
00:44:41,800 --> 00:44:45,600
And no, we by distance create bands.
672
00:44:45,600 --> 00:44:50,280
But there is no limit to what God can do when we let self aside and make room for the Holy
673
00:44:50,280 --> 00:44:51,280
Spirit.
674
00:44:51,280 --> 00:44:55,840
The other challenge is, yeah, it would be nice to have a salary and be an employee,
675
00:44:55,840 --> 00:44:58,600
but maybe there's more flexibility for what God is calling me.
676
00:44:58,600 --> 00:45:03,200
And like you kind of have been sharing with me, there's maybe ways of creating income
677
00:45:03,200 --> 00:45:08,880
and having the freedom to follow the project that God has placed in my heart.
678
00:45:08,880 --> 00:45:11,840
So I see even the limitations.
679
00:45:11,840 --> 00:45:15,280
So I was like, I cannot play hard pieces.
680
00:45:15,280 --> 00:45:19,800
And I said, let me focus on tone production and playing as expressive.
681
00:45:19,800 --> 00:45:24,560
And Beethoven has a quote, playing a wrong note is insignificant.
682
00:45:24,560 --> 00:45:27,920
Playing without passion is inexcusable.
683
00:45:27,920 --> 00:45:31,320
And I translate that to the Bible verse that says, whatever you do, do it with all your
684
00:45:31,320 --> 00:45:34,040
heart and to the Lord and not unto man.
685
00:45:34,040 --> 00:45:38,760
So I think that even the challenge of not having a lot of formal training has helped
686
00:45:38,760 --> 00:45:44,080
me focus not on pieces that impress necessarily, but pieces that I can pour my heart in that
687
00:45:44,080 --> 00:45:46,800
God can use to touch hearts.
688
00:45:46,800 --> 00:45:54,560
And the challenge of discouragement, of finding a feeling alone, how else would we grow faith
689
00:45:54,560 --> 00:45:58,300
and perseverance and commitment?
690
00:45:58,300 --> 00:46:04,480
So yes, there have been challenges and moments of lots of discouragement.
691
00:46:04,480 --> 00:46:09,880
I went through a burnout even, you know, recently in the last couple of years or then around
692
00:46:09,880 --> 00:46:13,200
2021, had to take a sabbatical.
693
00:46:13,200 --> 00:46:18,040
But the Bible says that we cannot do anything against the truth, but for the truth and that
694
00:46:18,040 --> 00:46:21,160
God works all things together for good.
695
00:46:21,160 --> 00:46:28,960
So I would encourage others, let the challenge not be stumbling blocks, but stepping stones
696
00:46:28,960 --> 00:46:34,540
to bring you closer to God and closer to his vision for you.
697
00:46:34,540 --> 00:46:48,280
Now it's time for our Waves Tech Corner Break.
698
00:46:48,280 --> 00:46:54,220
Similar to podcast production, audio production starts small and improves as time goes on.
699
00:46:54,220 --> 00:46:56,040
This was Christian's experience.
700
00:46:56,040 --> 00:47:03,480
He started with basic equipment and then later he developed a studio on his family's property.
701
00:47:03,480 --> 00:47:05,480
Sure.
702
00:47:05,480 --> 00:47:09,040
And that's coming from a guy, you know, I was sharing with you, Con, you formally trained
703
00:47:09,040 --> 00:47:10,040
as an art engineer.
704
00:47:10,040 --> 00:47:17,160
For me, it was like starting with a microphone in Europe when I started composing songs there
705
00:47:17,160 --> 00:47:23,640
and it was an H-SUM H1, I believe it was, a cheap microphone.
706
00:47:23,640 --> 00:47:26,480
And I recorded with that the first songs into GarageBand.
707
00:47:26,480 --> 00:47:31,400
So that was the first setup, you know, and I've gotten a hybrid back and forth.
708
00:47:31,400 --> 00:47:37,920
I later recorded Perfect Peace in the studio and our other two albums in a studio in Vienna
709
00:47:37,920 --> 00:47:41,760
in a building there from the Adventist Church.
710
00:47:41,760 --> 00:47:44,880
But this, the studio there in the Union.
711
00:47:44,880 --> 00:47:49,360
But later I went back to home and got better microphones.
712
00:47:49,360 --> 00:47:50,420
It was like steps.
713
00:47:50,420 --> 00:47:51,680
So I bought better microphones.
714
00:47:51,680 --> 00:47:57,260
I bought the Audio Technica 4050, the one they use for the Perfect Peace album.
715
00:47:57,260 --> 00:48:05,640
So quite an investment there from, actually before that I bought the H-SUM H6.
716
00:48:05,640 --> 00:48:11,080
I thought if H-SUM H1 is good, then the 6 must be great, right?
717
00:48:11,080 --> 00:48:12,080
I had no idea.
718
00:48:12,080 --> 00:48:17,360
So I just bought that microphone and many of our music videos were recorded with that
719
00:48:17,360 --> 00:48:18,360
microphone.
720
00:48:18,360 --> 00:48:26,880
But later I improved or tried to improve to the other mics, to the Audio Technica 4050.
721
00:48:26,880 --> 00:48:28,800
But the room was still not treated.
722
00:48:28,800 --> 00:48:29,800
So recently...
723
00:48:29,800 --> 00:48:30,800
Yeah, great.
724
00:48:30,800 --> 00:48:41,040
So, Khan is showing me one there on the screen.
725
00:48:41,040 --> 00:48:42,040
And really nice mic.
726
00:48:42,040 --> 00:48:46,680
And you know, when I brought my mixes to the audio engineer, he said, hey, it's better
727
00:48:46,680 --> 00:48:49,320
sound than when I started with my mixes, you know.
728
00:48:49,320 --> 00:48:53,520
So I was like, praise the Lord, you know, he can help you start where you are.
729
00:48:53,520 --> 00:48:58,200
But recently I was like, okay, I have good mics, but I know according to my audio engineer
730
00:48:58,200 --> 00:49:03,240
friends that explain all about acoustics and the lower frequencies and higher frequencies,
731
00:49:03,240 --> 00:49:07,320
I know that there's something in a treated room, even if I don't understand all the parts.
732
00:49:07,320 --> 00:49:13,020
So that's when I decided to move forward by faith and contact a company that sold us panels
733
00:49:13,020 --> 00:49:21,600
and they're like 6 inch panels, acoustic panels and corner bass traps and for the ceiling
734
00:49:21,600 --> 00:49:22,600
as well.
735
00:49:22,600 --> 00:49:25,360
So we treated this room, we had the mics already.
736
00:49:25,360 --> 00:49:30,480
Now we treated this room and the project, especially where we're premiering or using
737
00:49:30,480 --> 00:49:35,120
the room is the Gospel in Romans project, a project where we've composed at least one,
738
00:49:35,120 --> 00:49:41,600
but more than one song for many or basically all the chapters of the Book of Romans.
739
00:49:41,600 --> 00:49:44,080
So that's our next album project.
740
00:49:44,080 --> 00:49:49,480
And the room basically is acoustic panels that we bought and the mics that we had from
741
00:49:49,480 --> 00:49:53,360
before and I recently bought another Audio Technica for the violin.
742
00:49:53,360 --> 00:49:58,920
But we wanted to, with our loaves and fishes and with what we had in our hands, try to
743
00:49:58,920 --> 00:50:03,280
bring it to the highest quality, but still have the flexibility of a place we can record
744
00:50:03,280 --> 00:50:09,560
when I need to, when I want and not pay for a studio and be limited to certain days.
745
00:50:09,560 --> 00:50:17,320
But kind of more an ongoing thing where I can go and record.
746
00:50:17,320 --> 00:50:22,800
Christian has come a long way since he started scratching out his compositions on an iPod
747
00:50:22,800 --> 00:50:26,640
and now he has big dreams for Give Glory to Him.
748
00:50:26,640 --> 00:50:31,360
He wants to take it to the next level and produce high quality media that moves the
749
00:50:31,360 --> 00:50:35,760
heart of men and women.
750
00:50:35,760 --> 00:50:39,280
Where do I see the ministry growing?
751
00:50:39,280 --> 00:50:47,300
I wanted, and what I feel God is calling it, is to become a platform of resources for evangelism
752
00:50:47,300 --> 00:50:49,600
for outreach, for sharing hope.
753
00:50:49,600 --> 00:50:54,500
You know, if some people listening to a podcast don't know what's evangelism, what's outreach.
754
00:50:54,500 --> 00:50:59,120
Our desire is to make a difference in people's life and give them hope for eternity.
755
00:50:59,120 --> 00:51:08,120
Get plant seeds of truth that breaks the chains of guilt, of shame, of sin, of selfishness.
756
00:51:08,120 --> 00:51:15,120
And I want this ministry for God to help it to be resources and video and audio and to
757
00:51:15,120 --> 00:51:17,660
be tools for outreach.
758
00:51:17,660 --> 00:51:20,440
But a few other areas is also multiply.
759
00:51:20,440 --> 00:51:27,120
I would like to inspire and equip others that feel called to write songs, to do music ministry,
760
00:51:27,120 --> 00:51:31,440
to share from my experience if they can be helped or blessed in any way.
761
00:51:31,440 --> 00:51:36,440
And some projects, one area that I focus in the ministry is composing to the Bible, to
762
00:51:36,440 --> 00:51:38,880
Bible verses.
763
00:51:38,880 --> 00:51:42,940
Actually the whole book of Psalms is a whole book of songs, you know.
764
00:51:42,940 --> 00:51:44,880
So we have an entire book in the Bible.
765
00:51:44,880 --> 00:51:51,120
So I've gone through the whole Bible, highlighted each Bible promises that jumps to me as lyric
766
00:51:51,120 --> 00:51:53,680
content that encourages me.
767
00:51:53,680 --> 00:51:58,040
And I'm going now through the Bible and as God inspires composing melodies, I would like
768
00:51:58,040 --> 00:52:02,760
to have at least a few promises from each or at least one promise from each book of
769
00:52:02,760 --> 00:52:09,500
the Bible, have the whole Bible, some promises composed into songs.
770
00:52:09,500 --> 00:52:12,760
My mom sometimes tells me, you'll be until Jesus comes.
771
00:52:12,760 --> 00:52:15,800
Well, it's a good work to be until Jesus comes.
772
00:52:15,800 --> 00:52:24,680
So that's one desire and other desire and goals is to create concerts, thematical concerts
773
00:52:24,680 --> 00:52:32,320
where we can share our hope that can be shared in cities, in towns as part as a link in the
774
00:52:32,320 --> 00:52:33,940
chain of evangelism.
775
00:52:33,940 --> 00:52:39,480
Because I've seen that people really open up to music and we can later lead them to
776
00:52:39,480 --> 00:52:49,040
a full knowledge of Jesus and the eternal life God has for them.
777
00:52:49,040 --> 00:52:53,280
Musicians are creative by nature and their dreams must therefore be creative.
778
00:52:53,280 --> 00:52:59,960
Christian dreams of creating a place where quality Adventist media can be crafted.
779
00:52:59,960 --> 00:53:07,040
Yeah, so like I mentioned, the immediate next project is finishing this album.
780
00:53:07,040 --> 00:53:12,900
But as I've seen God provide, I've been to tell you the truth, brother, I've been shy
781
00:53:12,900 --> 00:53:19,620
sometimes of sharing my dreams because I feel, you know, people will make fun maybe or people
782
00:53:19,620 --> 00:53:25,380
will feel pity for and I'm not a well known evangelist, you know, or famous person with
783
00:53:25,380 --> 00:53:27,020
contacts.
784
00:53:27,020 --> 00:53:31,080
But it's like as I've seen God providing, it's like we put the feed and the water and
785
00:53:31,080 --> 00:53:35,800
God opens the Red Sea if that's where he wants us to go and cross.
786
00:53:35,800 --> 00:53:41,160
So the dream, I would say even for some years ago, but now I'm articulating, if it's God's
787
00:53:41,160 --> 00:53:51,200
will would be to have a ministry hub, a place of operation that can be something like Pixar.
788
00:53:51,200 --> 00:53:56,180
I've heard, I don't know, you know, I'm I lately haven't been the last few years much
789
00:53:56,180 --> 00:54:01,420
into movies, but and I don't want to produce what the world is creating in entertainment
790
00:54:01,420 --> 00:54:06,560
and things that put us more in hypnotic states and it's not good for the brain or for the
791
00:54:06,560 --> 00:54:07,560
mind.
792
00:54:07,560 --> 00:54:13,740
But I'm thinking of using forms of illustrating and being the head and not the tail and having
793
00:54:13,740 --> 00:54:21,160
a ministry hub where we can have a recording studio built for musicians to come where if
794
00:54:21,160 --> 00:54:27,100
it's God's will, we can build some even cabins for a music production week or retreat week
795
00:54:27,100 --> 00:54:32,960
where musicians can fly, we can have workshops, training, and then we can produce with them
796
00:54:32,960 --> 00:54:39,920
some music videos in the area and also a ministry where we can have internships from, I don't
797
00:54:39,920 --> 00:54:44,580
know, places like maybe Andrews, Weimar University, other Christian universities where people
798
00:54:44,580 --> 00:54:50,480
are studying audio engineering or music and they either want to know how to develop it
799
00:54:50,480 --> 00:54:55,360
in the production sense or develop it in the delivery sense to do home concerts.
800
00:54:55,360 --> 00:55:04,920
So it can be a hub where we can train and develop talent and multiply either, like I
801
00:55:04,920 --> 00:55:07,640
said, in the production field where we need a lot of help.
802
00:55:07,640 --> 00:55:11,760
I've been doing a lot of the editing and tuning the voices and lowering the breath and a lot
803
00:55:11,760 --> 00:55:16,600
of that goes into the track, but we could multiply and have multiple people and we have
804
00:55:16,600 --> 00:55:21,100
other places, academies, like one that I've admired, Fountainview Academy, but then the
805
00:55:21,100 --> 00:55:29,020
question is, once the academy student, high schooler graduates, we don't see many times
806
00:55:29,020 --> 00:55:38,220
as a church, as people, a field for a professional ministry career for the audio producer or
807
00:55:38,220 --> 00:55:42,560
artist, or I like to call it music missionary, but I believe there's a need.
808
00:55:42,560 --> 00:55:46,760
So if there's a need and there's a calling, God can provide the way and I think a ministry
809
00:55:46,760 --> 00:55:57,200
hub could provide resources for different needs of music production and content production.
810
00:55:57,200 --> 00:56:01,200
This is not just music, it's evangelism content production.
811
00:56:01,200 --> 00:56:05,560
When I asked Christian if there was another organization that inspires him and does something
812
00:56:05,560 --> 00:56:11,640
along the same lines, this is what he has to say.
813
00:56:11,640 --> 00:56:19,840
I think from other denominations or even the secular world is what I have looked and are
814
00:56:19,840 --> 00:56:21,720
doing it successfully.
815
00:56:21,720 --> 00:56:25,920
And not that I agree, so I don't want to get into controversial of my opinion if I agree
816
00:56:25,920 --> 00:56:35,560
with the content or not, but I see places like the Chosen series, I see Angel Studios,
817
00:56:35,560 --> 00:56:41,920
I see the Mormon Church, I see other churches and denominations creating content.
818
00:56:41,920 --> 00:56:48,440
And again, I believe we can be truthful to not focusing on entertainment, but focusing
819
00:56:48,440 --> 00:56:54,520
on content that can uplift and lead people to Jesus, but that we can be wise.
820
00:56:54,520 --> 00:56:56,840
Jesus said, how does that verse say?
821
00:56:56,840 --> 00:57:02,760
The children of darkness are wiser than the children of light.
822
00:57:02,760 --> 00:57:08,960
So I think we can be wise in streamlining things to be sustainable and be top of the
823
00:57:08,960 --> 00:57:10,800
line for the glory of God.
824
00:57:10,800 --> 00:57:19,640
So I don't know if I can give you many examples, but I've seen some in other denominations
825
00:57:19,640 --> 00:57:23,080
or even in the secular world how they operate.
826
00:57:23,080 --> 00:57:28,460
I think there are things we can definitely learn from them.
827
00:57:28,460 --> 00:57:33,520
Some projects in the Adventist Church provide media ministry classes, but a platform where
828
00:57:33,520 --> 00:57:40,520
young people can use their creative talents is something quite different.
829
00:57:40,520 --> 00:57:47,880
I think it's something that takes the student a little more developed and allows them to
830
00:57:47,880 --> 00:57:51,560
do an internship and hone those skills or challenge or push.
831
00:57:51,560 --> 00:57:56,240
What I understand from Pixar is that it's a very creative atmosphere and people are
832
00:57:56,240 --> 00:58:01,120
pushing given the freedom and this is what inspires and motivates me, Khan.
833
00:58:01,120 --> 00:58:06,200
I find young people as I've traveled that are like, what is my calling?
834
00:58:06,200 --> 00:58:08,920
Which talent should I use?
835
00:58:08,920 --> 00:58:12,640
And it's like finding a challenge and maybe they are into biology or maybe they're into
836
00:58:12,640 --> 00:58:20,320
photography or maybe they're into graphics design, but they don't know how to use those.
837
00:58:20,320 --> 00:58:24,760
And yeah, maybe for an interview, maybe for one of our television shows, but they would
838
00:58:24,760 --> 00:58:27,160
like to do more.
839
00:58:27,160 --> 00:58:35,280
And I think that God's work or methods of evangelism are as creative as God himself
840
00:58:35,280 --> 00:58:41,320
is creative, that we don't need to limit to a few boxes, pastoral work, Bible worker,
841
00:58:41,320 --> 00:58:44,480
medical missionary nurse, that's all that we need to do.
842
00:58:44,480 --> 00:58:51,400
I think that even the areas of the Great Commission and medical missionary work, there's other
843
00:58:51,400 --> 00:58:52,400
art.
844
00:58:52,400 --> 00:58:55,600
There's not included in the sanctuary so many of the senses.
845
00:58:55,600 --> 00:59:00,360
And again, here we're not going about Eastern meditation and, you know, transcendental meditation.
846
00:59:00,360 --> 00:59:06,960
I'm not talking about that form of the census, but that the gospel can be packaged and God
847
00:59:06,960 --> 00:59:14,760
can use many tools and those young people just give me like a passion to let's give
848
00:59:14,760 --> 00:59:18,000
them a platform for using those contents.
849
00:59:18,000 --> 00:59:20,200
So to your question, a bit different.
850
00:59:20,200 --> 00:59:24,880
Yeah, and that's why I was bringing the Chosen or other series like that in the actual production
851
00:59:24,880 --> 00:59:25,960
of content.
852
00:59:25,960 --> 00:59:31,520
So this ministry hub can have some courses and some online training, but being more like
853
00:59:31,520 --> 00:59:37,520
an internship or applied learning that you're learning the skills kind of like the experience
854
00:59:37,520 --> 00:59:38,520
I've gone.
855
00:59:38,520 --> 00:59:43,960
You learn what you need to accomplish, you know, a production and maybe other ministries
856
00:59:43,960 --> 00:59:50,240
can do the theory and can train longer school time, but this is more like hands on, you
857
00:59:50,240 --> 00:59:55,680
know, learn on the job internship practicum and hopefully even develop work for those
858
00:59:55,680 --> 01:00:03,360
that want to stay longer term.
859
01:00:03,360 --> 01:00:08,080
Christian's Journey proves that when we align our gifts with a higher purpose, amazing things
860
01:00:08,080 --> 01:00:09,080
can happen.
861
01:00:09,080 --> 01:00:14,360
There's likely a budding artist out there who is listening to my voice right now who
862
01:00:14,360 --> 01:00:16,200
needs encouragement.
863
01:00:16,200 --> 01:00:22,600
Like last week's podcast, Christian encourages us to start now and do it to the very best
864
01:00:22,600 --> 01:00:25,720
of our ability.
865
01:00:25,720 --> 01:00:32,480
If God is calling you to do something or putting a desire, don't let people discourage you
866
01:00:32,480 --> 01:00:33,480
from that.
867
01:00:33,480 --> 01:00:37,960
I remember, you know, when I was back in college saying, let's do music videos and some people
868
01:00:37,960 --> 01:00:40,600
telling me, some friends, it's too hard.
869
01:00:40,600 --> 01:00:45,040
No, don't accept no's if God is calling you to do something.
870
01:00:45,040 --> 01:00:51,800
So it really what needs to fuel your desire for something is one, a desire that God places
871
01:00:51,800 --> 01:00:57,320
there and another, an assurance that God is wanting you to step in that direction.
872
01:00:57,320 --> 01:01:02,920
And two, I would say don't see such a big package.
873
01:01:02,920 --> 01:01:08,200
I want to start a ministry because a ministry is accumulation of faithfulness in the little
874
01:01:08,200 --> 01:01:09,520
things.
875
01:01:09,520 --> 01:01:14,320
So start being faithful and start seeing what are the building blocks.
876
01:01:14,320 --> 01:01:20,200
If it's a song, you know, I started with my iPod in Austria, composing my first song,
877
01:01:20,200 --> 01:01:25,280
an iPod in GarageBand with the chords, we went up and down and could do the strings
878
01:01:25,280 --> 01:01:26,280
at crescendo.
879
01:01:26,280 --> 01:01:27,560
That's how I started.
880
01:01:27,560 --> 01:01:29,760
So start where you are.
881
01:01:29,760 --> 01:01:30,760
Start with what you have.
882
01:01:30,760 --> 01:01:36,080
If you have more with a phone, with the apps, start where you are.
883
01:01:36,080 --> 01:01:40,720
I have a friend that she did, they did a music, it wasn't even supposed to be a music video
884
01:01:40,720 --> 01:01:46,080
with an iPhone and they played and it got, I don't know, over 2000 views, I think.
885
01:01:46,080 --> 01:01:47,400
It just has been a blessing.
886
01:01:47,400 --> 01:01:53,040
And later in a, you know, general conference, I believe what they were requesting her video
887
01:01:53,040 --> 01:01:54,960
to play it in the general conference.
888
01:01:54,960 --> 01:01:58,260
This is a meeting that the Adventist Church has every five years.
889
01:01:58,260 --> 01:02:00,240
So start with what you have.
890
01:02:00,240 --> 01:02:05,640
If you have a phone, start there and always try to improve for the glory of God.
891
01:02:05,640 --> 01:02:11,800
So don't stay there, continue improving, but start where you are.
892
01:02:11,800 --> 01:02:16,900
We hope this episode of Adventist Waves has given you a fresh perspective on how media
893
01:02:16,900 --> 01:02:19,720
can be a powerful tool for ministry.
894
01:02:19,720 --> 01:02:25,120
If you enjoyed today's conversation, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and connect
895
01:02:25,120 --> 01:02:27,480
with us on social media.
896
01:02:27,480 --> 01:02:33,520
You can also support our work directly by becoming a patron at patreon.com forward slash
897
01:02:33,520 --> 01:02:36,080
Adventist underscore waves.
898
01:02:36,080 --> 01:02:42,880
Your generosity enables us to produce more high quality content and reach a wider audience.
899
01:02:42,880 --> 01:02:48,960
Special thanks to our production team at Blue Vineyard Audio and our producer, editor, mixer
900
01:02:48,960 --> 01:02:51,840
and sound designer, Khan Elmers.
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We'll see you next week as we continue to explore the art of sharing the gospel through
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and Adventist Waves.