MUSIC Ministry

I first put my trust and belief in Jesus when I was very young. Since then, God has both provided many environments in which my faith was strengthened and nurtured. In my teenage years God impressed upon my heart a desire and need to serve him 100 percent in whatever arena He chose for me. My life is not my own but it is to be spent in worship of my Creator. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1 ESV).
I first heard of Christ Chapel through my parents who became members in 2008. I attended a Cantata performance that year and was so amazed by the joy and celebration. Never did I imagine God would call me to serve with so many excellent and committed musicians. I am married to Emily and we have three awesome kids. We enjoy being outside, plus I love to fix old bicycles, kayak and sail.

Even though I grew up in the environment where religious beliefs were considered to be a sign of mental weakness and evolution was the gospel of truth, I have always had a sense that there was a Creator. Too many unanswered questions often landed me in trouble. It wasn’t until my high school years that I finally found satisfaction to the longing I had in my heart.

I first met Christ when I came to the United States from Ukraine and lived as an exchange student with a Christian family, observing and experiencing their faith firsthand. My Christian walk grew stronger at LeTourneau University where I took as many Christian courses as I could. I was extremely fortunate to be surrounded by wonderful mentors and mature Christian friends. Various people have different stumbling blocks on their way to Christ. Strangely enough, for me it was Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created…” Once I believed the first verse of the Bible, everything else was easy to take in and Jesus became my Savior. Even now, every once in a while, I have to go to the very beginning and remember that God made it all and, therefore, is in control.

My husband and I met in college in 1996. Sean claims that he fell in love with me before he could even understand my broken English accent and I still consider him my “rock” in the spiritual and musical sense of the word. Together we have two little girls who keep our gas tanks and wallets empty with their extra curriculum activities. Between ballet, piano, guitar and occasional vocal and theater lessons, we have very little free time, but lots of performing arts in our house. Our two rough collies let us know when we should slow down and spend more time at home, by chewing on some walls and furniture.

Sean began attending Christ Chapel functions while we were still dating during college years. Although we got married and were serving at a different church, life circumstances continued to bring us back here and each time we visited, it felt like home. Over the years, God’s direction for us, as a family, became clearer and we started coming to Christ Chapel on a regular basis in 2008.

I grew up in a liberal church, gained a love for music and the fellowship of church, and was baptized at the age 12. Since I had no spiritual foundation or relationship with Christ, I fell away from the church. God drew me back into church when I was hired at CCBC. I heard music like never before, people loved and cared for me like family, I read my Bible and I heard sermons explaining things that I could have never conceived on my own. You could say God saved me through CCBC. We had a staff meeting and I prayed the true sinner’s prayer of salvation. What a relief, no more wondering! How insanely blessed I was that God picked me out and placed me here. Louis and Sally [Harris] poured into my soul by their divine leadership. I had no family in town and I immersed myself in the activities, services and people and in return I gained a prayer family. The Music Ministry family prayed for me, provided for my children and I when hard times hit and supported our every need. God flourished and refined my talents over the years and I am closer to Him in every hymn, chorus and anthem. How sweet His music is to hear and play!

I also met my husband, John, through the Music Ministry at CCBC. He proposed to me, along with my daughter, Bella, and my son, Raylen, at a choir rehearsal. We were married in 2009 and added son Asher and daughter Etta Kay. So, as parents of four children, we spend our time going from one activity to the next and counting down to date nights.

I was born into a musical family and spent my childhood through college in church music (my grandfather was the Dean of Brite [Divinity School at TCU] during that time). After TCU, I left Fort Worth for Colorado where I began a Bible study and began an intimate journey with my Lord.

My kids and I attended another church in Fort Worth, but after my last child left for college I visited Christ Chapel at a friend’s urging for John Stella’s Bible study class. I never intended to leave the church I was at, but one morning I was compelled to tell Louis [Harris] that I used to play cello and the rest is history.

After 14 years as a single mom, I remarried. Patrick and I met in the orchestra at CCBC, but had attended all the same schools in Fort Worth and even both toured Europe with the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra… all that time and we had never met! We have three adult children –all married and living across the U.S. In addition to our grandchildren (three so far: Micah, Aliyah and Calvin) and music, I love spending time with our goldendoodle, Annie. I knit whenever (and wherever) I can. I love my book club and reading, and I love to garden – mostly herbs and flowers that grow before July (when the heat and MusiCamp keep me out of the garden). In the spring and fall you might find me riding through the hill country on the back of Patrick’s Harley.

After completing my Master of Music Ed. Degree at Texas Christian University (Go Frogs!), I had the privilege of teaching high school choral music in the public schools of Perryton, Texas for two years, and Arlington, Texas for 18 years.

It was in 1981 that I felt God was leading me to resign teaching to spend more time writing original music for church choirs, as well as music for public and private school choirs. At the time, my music was being published by six different publishers, and currently I have over 200 published works. In addition, I was continuing to be organist for Sagamore Hill Baptist Church.

In December of 1983, I was asked by Christ Chapel to come and play organ in the new facility that they were moving to in January. So, on January 7, 1984, I began playing organ for the 11 a.m. service. After about six months, I approached Ted Kitchens with the idea of starting a Music Ministry for the church. The Elders agreed to allow me to have six months to see what could happen with such a ministry.

We were able to create an instrumental ensemble of a violin, a ’cello and two trumpets. Additionally, eight adults were the beginning of a choir, and part of the Sunday morning classes for Middle and High School departments became our first rehearsals for a Youth Choir. At the end of the six months, the Elders wanted to continue what was begun, and I became the full-time Minister of Music for Christ Chapel. From that beginning experience, God has continued to grow the ministry to what it is today.

I have been married to Sally Ann Harris for almost 55 years, and our three children, LouAnn Stumbo, Trey and Andy Harris, were all part of those beginning musical groups. Now, my three children, their spouses, and my ten grandchildren are all a part of Christ Chapel as well, and we are blessed to have our entire family attend here.

I have been blessed to have been led to Christ Chapel almost 33 years ago, and I feel that one of my favorite song titles says it best:  “Jesus Led Me All The Way.”

I was born a southern Baptist in northwest Arkansas in July of 1986. I grew up a sports-loving, competitive, farm boy who worked my absolute hardest to be the best at every sport I played. Likewise, I worked tirelessly to live up to a self-imposed standard of godliness. At 14 the Lord showed me grace by revealing His absolute work on the cross and I was born again.

It was almost a year of looking for a new church after moving to Fort Worth to attend seminary that my wife, Emily, and I found Christ Chapel. We attended regularly for three months and came into contact with Jamey Ice, the lead guitarist for Green River Ordinance and long time Christ Chapelite, who connected us with the Ryan McCarthy, who was serving as the Life Stage 1 Pastor. I was hired as the full-time Life Stage 1 Worship Pastor on May 1, 2012. After serving on the Life Stage 1 staff for almost a year and a half, I transitioned to Christ Chapel’s first multi-site in Parker County, the West Campus, to serve as the Worship Pastor. I’m excited for the future God has for us as we seek to reach Parker County for Christ.

I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Emily, for six years. We are currently in the process of adopting our first child, Teacon, from Haiti. We currently live in Parker Country and enjoy doing life with our West Campus church family. Besides playing and making music, I enjoy the outdoors and spending time with our family and friends. My wife and I are avid DIYers, so you can almost always find us renovating or updating our house.

If God has taught me anything in my life, it’s that His plans are always better and more exciting than my own! If you told me 10 years ago that I would be married and moving from my hometown in Georgia to Texas in 2012, I would have laughed at you! But I’m so thrilled that God has a sense of humor and loves to prove us wrong! My husband and I moved here just after getting married in order for him to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Meanwhile, I completed my degree in nutrition and dietetics at Texas Christian University. I have a passion for people and their well-being whether its related to physical, emotional or spiritual health. Because God knows that taking care of others and participating in their joy fulfills me so much, He has been gracious to allow me to lead worship since my elementary years and has placed me in a position at Christ Chapel where I can use my gifts to help others.

I came to know Christ as my Savior at a very young age. I was blessed to grow up in a strong Christian home, and I can’t remember a time when the church was not an important part of my life. While in high school, I had the opportunity to lead the music for our youth group’s worship services. Through this experience, I began to feel the Lord calling me to serve in ministry. I made the decision to study music in college, and began serving in ministry during my junior year. I am so thankful for the Lord’s provision in my life so far, and I am excited to see what He has in store for me in the future.

My wife and I moved here from Alabama so that she could attend graduate school at the University of North Texas. I was searching for a church job in the area, and came across Christ Chapel due to a family connection. I am thrilled to be a part of the staff here at Christ Chapel, and thankful that I get to work with so many wonderful people.

My wife, Mary Kathryn, and I met while singing in the a cappella choir at Samford University, where we were both music majors. We studied with the same voice teacher, traveled throughout Europe with our choir, and had the opportunity to perform in several operas together while in college. She is a wonderful singer/performer, and an even better cook. In my free time, I enjoy playing piano, reading and watching the Houston Rockets.

Thanks to the prayers of godly grandparents and their life example I came to know Christ at an early age. The first Sunday my husband and I visited almost 25 years ago we both knew we were home. Everything felt right, especially the music, the sermon and the people.

I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 29 years and together we have six children and two sons in law. I have been the Director of Bands at Travis Academy of Fine Arts for 14 years –I have the two best jobs in the world! I also teach private flute lessons. Other than playing or teaching music and spending time with my family, my favorite things to do are reading well-written fiction and spending time outside.

From an early age I was involved in the church, and was raised in a Christian home. While as a young person I may not have run toward the Lord with a lot of my heart, I think that He has graced me with a foundation in His truth and His ways through my upbringing and by pulling me towards Him throughout the years. I believe God has guided me towards the opportunity for a life that’s true and full, and though I haven’t (and still don’t) always choose it, He always makes it available in His grace. I have experienced His calling, His call for faith and patience and His sovereignly planned provision and He has given me so many wonderful opportunities tuned to the way He has created me.

I visited CCBC the very first week of grad school at TCU in 2009 and, having an interest and a history of drumming in worship music, got plugged in (in a hurry) with the student ministry worship teams. The second Sunday that I ever attended Christ Chapel, I was playing music for the high school and college services, and it has been such a blessing and life-giving experience. I was a member of the volunteer worship teams until the summer of 2015, when I was hired as part of the contemporary music department. This ministry is exciting to me because of the opportunity to work with other alternately-gifted individuals to enjoy music, pursue creativity and push for excellence all while glorifying and leading others to glorify the Lord.

I was born in Oklahoma City to two displaced Texans who eventually moved us back to Euless, Texas when I was 4 years old.  My parents divorced not long after we moved back, and it was around that time that my mom started attending a small little Baptist church in town. The pastor of that church, alongside his wife, took to my mother and I and it was through that relationship, around the age of 9, that I came to know the Lord.  Having come from a broken home, I struggled to understand the “whys” and “what fors” as I grew older, and wrestled with not having a fatherly influence in my life.  However, in the midst of my struggle and pain, the Lord met me in ways I don’t have words enough for here, and showed me that He was, is and will always be my Heavenly Father. Through all of the different stages of my life, (my baseball, college at UNT, traveling band and early ministry stages), I’ve continued to feel a distinct calling on my life to use my love of the Lord, and the abilities He gave me musically to serve and lead the body of Christ towards worshipping Him.

My wife, Chavon, and I met while I was (worship) pastoring a church in Denton, TX in the fall of 2007 and we got married in the summer of 2008.  We found our way to Christ Chapel in 2010 through a couple we’d been close to, one of whom worked at CCBC. We started Converge in August of 2010 and have been so blessed to get to serve and worship with our people in the Chapel each week, it really feels like a tight knit community. More recently, I’ve gotten to be involved in starting and leading our Renovate service alongside many of our Converge musicians each Wednesday night. Its felt like the beginning of something really special, as we’ve seen so many young adults, who could potentially be the future leaders/deacons/elders of our church, come together for much more than a service – for a transformative community of believers, bent on seeing the Kingdom come here on earth, even as it is in Heaven!

Chavon and I have three children, our sons Jude and Graham, as well as our daughter, Jovie. My interests/passions include songwriting, playing sports, traveling the world, following the Texas Rangers, Arsenal of the English Premier League (soccer) and watching (or coaching) any team that my kiddos are playing for.

I’ve been a Christ follower since high school. I am thankful for the heritage of faith that my parents raised me in and will always point back to their love for the Lord as God’s grace in my life. When this world has been shaky and unsure, God has always been steadfast and faithful. I want to worship the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit; always thankful for what God has given, and always certain that Jesus is better.

Our family moved back to Fort worth from Iowa in January 2015. Through some mutual relationships, God opened the doors for me to join the CCBC staff in September 2015. I love CCBC and am excited about all the Lord is doing in and through it to make disciples and impact our city through the transforming message of the gospel. As a worship pastor, I am honored and privileged to be able to lead our people to make much of Jesus though the singing of songs and the creative arts.

Also, I love music, cooking, CrossFit, traveling and old architecture. I do not like Taco Bell.