Take It To The Streets
While being a tough decision on one hand, it was an easy one on the other. Doxa was to come to an end on July 4, 1999. Each member of the band affirmed the decision. Marrilee was getting married in the summer and would pursue ministry with her husband. Sondra was invested in her work and would continue her ministry through her church. Dan was to go to school in Vancouver and Rick would be pursuing other musical opportunities. Eventually, Rick, Dan & Jared continued to play together for a number of years under a variety of musical incarnations. It was clear, however, that the time for this ministry and, in particular, this group of people had come to an end.
When we announced our upcoming departure to the Doxa crowd, it was met with disappointment, but mostly thankfulness for our years of ministry. It was quite something. People gave me cards and even a book of thank-yous which had been passed through the crowd for the remaining weeks. By now we had a website which had been loaded with dozens of guestbook entries thanking us for serving. I was confident that people had connected with what we were truly about. We had stayed true to our initial call: worship and the Word of God. People continued to make decisions for the Lord and I knew they viewed us as friends as opposed to celebrities. Each week I would spend 45 minutes to an hour talking and praying with people after the service. We were their family.
(The band meets to pray before playing together one last time, July 4, 1999)
The messages I gave for the final three services were focussed on taking what Doxa had done in Abbotsford to the various communities represented weekly in the crowd. I encouraged them to share the Gospel openly and without shame at their events and to lead people to Jesus; not to church or religion, but to the person of Jesus. It was an exciting beginning to what Doxa would become as people took what they had seen for 3 years to their own communities. It could never be about drawing hundreds of people, but it would have to be about winning souls to the Lord.
What would be their measure of success? For me, success in ministry is measured by the lives that have been changed through the power of the Holy Spirit. The size of the crowd in attendance can't be the focus. God promises to come in all His power for just two or three gathered in His name, and yet we are disappointed if there aren't enough in the crowd? The people were encouraged to live shamelessly for Jesus and to tell others about Him in their own communities. Many groups took up the challenge and started their own events. I know because I was asked to speak at many including Mission, Chilliwack, Maple Ridge, Delta, Vancouver, North Vancouver, Langley, and Richmond.
(Doxa on July 4th, 1999)
The final Doxa service was an emotional one for me for many reasons: I was to be married in a week following, it felt like a goodbye to many good friends who I wouldn't see on a weekly basis, I knew that the band would be moving in separate directions, and because I knew that the amazing things we had seen happen were done by the power of God's Spirit. I didn't want to ever be far from His hand after what I had seen it could do. Big or small, I wanted to serve the Lord and never stop.
As we went through the usual routines of preparation which often included a 3 hour nap on Sunday afternoons for me, I felt excited and released. I had completed what I knew God had set before me. It felt good to be in His will. We stepped on the stage that night to a crowd of over 2000 people jammed into the 1550 capacity auditorium. It was wall-to-wall faces; that's all I could see. As I looked into the crowd, I knew that hundreds of these people were now our friends. I wasn't someone up there for them anymore, but rather I was a trusted friend and it felt good. We ended the night with one of my songs entitled "Thank You Lord" with the following lyrics: Thank you Lord for all that You have done. And all that You see, Find something good in me, I offer to You my Lord. The band huddled on stage and prayed as 2000 people watched and cheered. Tears were shed by many and a sense of thankfulness filled my heart.
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The Doxa Story // Beginnings / Growth / Major Moves / Events / A New Direction / Take It To The Streets / A Year Off / Doxa Begins Again / More Changes
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