By Ben Cox – This week we take a look at another side of the pulpit, one that is usually overlooked but often equally important to the worship service: the Music Minister.
Eric Evans has been leading congregations in song for over 30 years, and has a passion for it that drives his heart. Currently leading worship at First United Methodist Church of Brownwood, Evans has lead congregations at four churches in the area after returning to Brownwood in the mid 90’s.
Working for two churches simultaneously, Evans was the interim Education Minister for First Baptist Church while filling the interim Music Minister role for Coggin Baptist. A departure in the FBC staff lead to him accepting a full-time position and eventually adding music duties to his job description.
Landing at Southside Church at the end of the decade, Evans was instrumental in changing the worship experience “from that of a traditional service to a more contemporary one”, which is still the model being lead by their current worship leader, Charles Musgrove.
After a disruption in the leadership at Southside left the church with much smaller numbers in attendance, Evans knew they “could not sustain a full time music minister” and left the position.
After attending FUMC for a number of months as a church goer, Evans was asked to take up the position Music Minister in the sanctuary service after their music minister retired. This time, the position would not be a full time job, though.
The part time aspect of the position appealed to Evans. “I believe ministers really should be distinctly involved in their giftedness in the community. I think they need to be interacting with community people, not just church member people.”
Leading music in one of the three services offered on Sunday mornings, Evans says that while the congregation sings from hymnals and the instruments contain an organ, he prefers to “use the term sanctuary service, not traditional”
“In our (service), we have a choir, a piano, an organ and we sing hymns from the hymnal. For us, that works. We also affirm out faith as a congregation every week.” Evans continues “There is a doxology, acknowledging how we receive gifts and have those gifts in order to give back to the church.”
A pianist by training, Evans also plays woodwinds, saxophone in particular, and “classical strings, cello is my main instrument but I wouldn’t play that in public!”
Evans is also quick to give praise to others in his field, especially to those down the hall. “In our church, Wylie Wood leads worship in the Contemporary service. He is very good, and he is building a quality group of musicians.”
Worship starts at 8:30 for the Chapel service at FUMC, and the Sanctuary and Common Ground services start at 10:40. This Sunday will also see the arrival of a new pastor to the church.
