With a mission to “make disciples of all nations,” a band part of the CTI Music Ministries visited the FC campus to encourage students. The band led worship music and provided a testimony to provide hope and encouragement in chapel, Feb. 4.
CTI (Carpenter Tools International) provides a mission opportunity through music for young Christians ranging from ages 16 to 30 years old. With two programs of a six-week summer band and a year long team, the groups travel around the United States and parts of Canada performing for prisons, schools, churches and youth groups.
Chapel organizer Robert Foshee invited the group to visit chapel to provide a message in a different way.
“They came a few years ago and e-mailed to say they were in the area,” Foshee said. “They told me about their ministry and I thought it would be great for students. It is a good opportunity for students to see ways of using talents for God. It also keeps their minds open of what’s going on in other places, since these musicians are from all over, such as America, Canada and Taiwan.”
As a member of a year-long team, guitarist Jim Dernell led his group in visited the FC campus. The musician says he felt led to join a group and use his abilities for missions.
“CTI was something God called me to,” Dernell said. “I have musical gifts which for a long time I hadn’t been using for God’s glory. God worked in my heart to show how I could use this to serve others. For me it feels like a step of obedience.”
17 year-old Nicola Losik plays keyboard for CTI. Despite challenges she faces along the way, Losik values the chance to travel, worship and minister.
“This has been one of the biggest blessings ever,” Losik said. “It changes my perspective of the world and the way I see it. It can be hard at times but God teaches me so much, it is so worth it.”
The CTI headquarters select 22 to 25 songs for the bands to learn and play. Each song is picked with intent for their purpose, fitting into the theme. Although the locations of performances differ every day, the message and goal remains the same.
“Our mission is to share the love of Christ in two ways,” Dernell said. “One, to encourage and challenge those with an already established faith. And two, to share hope with those who don’t yet know the Lord.”
With a vast amount of traveling, the band members look to God for perseverance and motivation.
“The commitment we made for a year keeps us going,” Dernell said. “God gives us nuggets of knowledge to discover. We learn that the strength is not our own, and we need God to make it because we cannot do it on our own.”
While separation from her home, family and friends in Minnesota is daunting, Losik finds refuge in her group.
“It can be hard at times, yet good, having to make decisions on my own,” Losik said. “My team is like my family now, all of the responsibilities on my shoulders help prepare me for who God wants me to be.”
Dernell has personally experienced spiritual maturation through his journey and uncovered values to benefit his life in many areas.
“God has shown me a lot,” Dernell said. “It has made me realize God’s unchanging and unending love even when I fail miserably. I learn that Christ had to die for my sins, so I am right with God. The knowledge of God’s love has enabled me.”
Losik shared her testimony with the students, hoping to touch someone’s life through her message. She spoke of knowing God’s love and putting full trust in him rather than in friends and material things like music.
“I have learned that God loves me,” Losik said. “It teaches me now what It really means instead of just hearing it all the time. It is amazing how the Creator of the universe loves us so much. This changes my life and helps me to live up to God’s calling for me.”
Foshee says he appreciated the group’s approach to the students with words and verses.
“They weren’t trying to assume issues the kids might have,” Foshee said. “The Holy Spirit led them in what they were going to say, which was very meaningful and personal.”
In Losik’s words of wisdom to the student body, she encouraged everyone to take hard steps to mature in our faith when it is uncomfortable and seems unfair.
“Since we hear all the time ‘Jesus loves you,’ the message is often overlooked,” Losik said. “But it’s important to know that God really does love us so deeply and we don’t have to be perfect. I want to urge students to keep their faith, read the Bible even when you don’t want to, pray when you don’t feel like it, trust in His love.”
For more information, check out OK Austin! or e-mail Foshee.