[Today’s post is part of a monthly series featuring Keynote alumni in their current roles.]
In the summer of 1978, Gary Combs decided to go on a summer project with the Music Ministry (Keynote) of Campus Crusade for Christ. Little did he know that summer would not only impact his life, but the life of his son, Stephen. When Stephen was thinking about his summer plans in 2003, he naturally thought of Keynote. Recently, Stephen told us a little more about his journey and how God has been using what he learned that summer in his current role as Worship Pastor of Wilson Community Church.
“I first heard about Keynote Summer Project through my dad. He always spoke so fondly of his memories with the ministry there, and I had hopes that I would be able to go on a summer project with Keynote ever since I was a kid.
Being a part of Keynote and seeing how passionate the staff were about their lives and walk with God was very inspiring to me. Something that stuck with me from that day was when one of the staff said, “I just keep waiting for the day to come when I get a REAL job, and then I realize that I am working a real job. This is the life.” I knew from that day that I wanted to find a job when I graduated college where I could say that.
I was strongly considering going on a STINT with Keynote when I graduated college, but God had other plans for me. About a month before I graduated from East Carolina University with my Bachelor of Music Performance with a concentration in Percussion, I was offered the job as the Worship Pastor at Wilson Community Church in Wilson, NC.
I still use skills that I acquired during my summer at Keynote. When our worship team is asked to play at public events I try to use the formula in our song selection that Keynote taught me (playing songs that everybody can relate and slowly, gently easing the gospel into our concert). I also regularly coach our Worship Team on how to handle ourselves on stage. Keynote taught me a lot about correct eye contact, smiling at one another in the band, and engaging with the audience.
A system that I use with our Worship Team is the M.A.P. We strive for excellent Music, genuine Adoration, and quality Presentation. My desire for excellent Music and doing a quality Presentation stems from [what I learned] at Keynote, that without a high level of music and an exciting presentation, the audience won’t truly engage. And of course, the heart of our adoration is for the Lord, which is in common with the desire of Keynote, and when we seek to adore God people’s lives are changed.
It was fun to be totally surrounded by artists and musicians for the summer. It made the camaraderie so different from the norm. You know you’re in an unusual environment when you and a group of friends enter a room singing the word “Hello” in 4-part harmony, or when the whole project sings “Happy Birthday” to someone and it seems like the song should be recorded.
Keynote Summer Project staff have figured out how to have a blast together (one of the best summers of my life) and still be very serious when it comes to learning about and seeking out God. God challenged me that summer to step up and be a man with my faith. I was challenged to be disciplined in my personal quiet times and in sharing my faith. I came back from that summer with a contagious desire for the will of God in our lives and at my college campus.
I wish everyone could experience a Keynote Summer Project, and for those qualified enough to be able to audition and attend it, they are in for one of the best summers of their life.” – Stephen Combs
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