Drummer Boy

It was Anniversary Sunday at the church of our daughter's family where we are visiting. The pastor was emphasizing the mission of the church, which is helping people live a Christ-centered life through loving God, making friends, serving others and sharing the Story. He showed video clips of members in ministry, such as handing out lunch bags to needy kids, a children's project of raising money for a water well in Cuba, and other outreaches.

In the last video clip, a woman told of coming to the church several years earlier when she had just had a new baby. He was born premature with several problems and later was diagnosed with autism. The church had encouraged and supported her during the difficult times, and one day when the boy was older she approached the drummer in the orchestra and asked if he would teach her son to play drums. "His one-word answer was 'Absolutely!'" she said. The interview also included words from this professional musician and how he had worked with the boy.

Then the camera was turned on a handsome young man, now 18, in live action as he played the drums during a praise song. I was astounded! Such energized, flying drumsticks, almost a blur in their speed, I had never seen! With an enthusiasm that could have only been from the Lord's anointing, he played wildly, yet with precise accuracy in perfect synchronization with the music track of the song. Tears began to well in my eyes as the song lifted us in a crescendo praise undergirded by the brilliant, lofty, rapid-fire tempo of the drums.

One of the clips the pastor showed was of an individual who had found Christ through one of the church's home groups. She emphasized the kindness and love shown her that influenced her to take Jesus as her Savior. He told of a well-known pastor who had recommended a home group for a woman who seemingly was disappointed in people. She found them judgmental, critical and unsympathetic to her problems and status in life. After attending the home fellowship group for awhile, she wrote to her pastor, telling how the group had welcomed her and didn't look down on her.

Her pastor was so pleased, he made a phone call of encouragement to her. "Oh, yes," she said, "I forgot to tell you, I asked Jesus into my heart two days ago," to which he asked in pleased surprise, "Tell me, was it the doctrine of the church, or the good teaching you received there, or what made you decide to become a Christian?"

"No," she said, it was just a bunch of folks showing Jesus to me."

That's what the man was doing who taught the autistic boy to play the drums. Now the young man plays in the worship band every Sunday. There was no doubt he was playing his best for Jesus that morning, in his own way showing Jesus to us!