Music Minister Nathaniel Bassey took to his Instagram page moments ago to share this wonderful lips.
He Said:
Church leaders are very pivotal to young men and women achieving their full potentials in Christ.
I say this because I am a product of this. Most of you have read my
story, and I keep telling it to encourage younger folks, and to put them
in the straight and narrow path.
I have since found out that it is not Love or an act of kindness and
goodness to put a young man or woman in the limelight, merely on the
basis of talent. This is something I personally did not understand but
as I grew, and matured in Christ, this has became so clear and real to
me.
Many say doing so is to encourage them. But I say, true encouragement is discipleship, preparing and equipment them.
You see, in my days at the city of David, serving under my late
pastor and mentor, I struggled to understand a few things. We would have
guest preachers and music ministers from the USA and other parts of the
world come, and whenever they saw me play, some would approach my
Pastor to ask if they could take me to the abroad for some events. My
Pastor’s reply to them, which he once told me, was this,”HE IS NOT
READY?” I just couldn’t understand. Not ready? Are you God??? USA? How
do you know I’m not ready? All these I thought in my heart. But do you
know the truth? I WAS NOT READY. If you follow talent and gift alone,
you can miss it. Truth is, Probably, I would have absconded in the
States, towed a very different path from what I have taken today, and
altered my whole destiny forever. But today, I’m full of thanks that I
had a wise and spiritual man of God to make those hard decisions on my
behalf. That’s why I advise music ministers, no matter how high God
lifts you, HAVE A PASTOR. DON’T BE THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE. YOU NEED A MAN
OR WOMAN WHO CAN LOOK YOU IN THE EYE WITHOUT SENTIMENTS TO SAY “CALM
DOWN”
Anyway, back to my first gist. I believe in training and
discipleship. In fact, that’s why the scripture call the followers of
Christ DISCIPLES, from the word DISCIPLING. Because we a disciplined
people. Soldiers of Christ. And if there’s something soldiers do, they
TRAIN, and are TRAINED.
Why am I writing this? I know a young person, who perhaps has zeal
for the music ministry, and by hindsight and foresight, having gone
ahead in this ministry by God’s grace, realized he has a lot of work to
do. Because when it even comes to the Singing itself, struggles to stay
on key through a song, talk less of a a whole worship session. Then
talking of the things of the Spirit, has quite a long way to go.
Character nko? Very little or almost zero. And when you encourage such
to stay, learn, seek God first, and then work hard to develop the gift
and talent, just think you hate them and trying to block their destiny.
And before you know it, they run away. And sadly, hear how they have
been sponsored to produce a single or an album, and my heart just weeps
for them. Also because some of us church leaders can’t be sensitive
enough to pick and identify those that need to be FIRST, prepared before
launching out. It would shock you to know that we do this in an attempt
to make them stay in our church. However, this is done at the expense
of their lives. Hear me dear, Jesus spent over 20 years preparing for a
ministry of just 3 years. The one we call the WORD, himself sat down
listening to doctors of the law, and asking questions.He did this for
years before launching out. The way and time you launch out will
determine how long you last. If you are in a hurry to launch out, you
will also fizzle out in a hurry.
And talking about encouragement, this is how I was encouraged. I was
taught the word, and encouraged by my pastor to first and foremost chase
hard after God. Then musically, h encouraged me to practice for hours. I
can never forget the time my pastor planned to have Wynton Marsalis to
come to Nigeria, all because he wanted me to see a world class trumpet
player and be inspired. He encouraged me by by me music resources, books
and my equipment to practice. He did this the times he travelled, and
would ask what u wanted. Thank GOD I was wise enough to ask for things
other than cloths and shoes. And then as I grew, he had me minister a
lot in church. And shortly before he passed away, began asking me to
prepare to record my own songs. Can you see the trend? I began playing
the trumpet in 1991 but it wasn’t until 2008 that I recorded my first
album, 17 years after. And I’m not saying you have to wait 17 years. The
point I’m trying to make it that there’s always a process and time
involved in achieving true success and greatness. People differ, and
their timing may be
Shorter than others.
Let me also use Sinach as an example. Even after many well known
songs, sung around the world, that lady didn’t minister outside her
church. It wasn’t until a few years ago we began to see her doing so.
She had served in her home church, and still does. But you see a young
man or woman, barely started, and they want to sing at the EXPERIENCE
and tour the world.
You want a powerful music ministry, one that touches lives and
nations. One with posterity, that will out live you after you have left
this world? THIS IS THE WAY.
I’m not talking about packaged music ministry, something you run in the
flesh and with money, NO SIR/MA. Something that ends even before you
begin. I’m talking about true, effective and solid Christ-centered music
ministry with undeniable Apostolic proofs. You will have to walk the
straight and narrow. And here’s what I have found, when you are ready,
the platforms and sponsors just show up, miraculously. And that because
it is God’s agenda and not your’s. And God sure knows how to fund his
things.
If after reading this, you still think I’m trying to delay your turn
to shine, then I’m afraid you are not ready for the real deal. But I
pray for you today, that the Holy Ghost that has opened my eyes to these
truths, will do same for you. And let me add, this is not just theory,
by the grace of God I am a living witness, and can tell you, these
principles WORD ! Like night and day.
Let me end with this illustration. There are trees and there are
trees. A Cedar is one of the most special trees in the world. And even
in the Bible. While most trees will grow in a matter of week, a Cedar
takes as long as two years to grow. But all this while, it grows
downwards, taking its root in streams of water. And you can imagine what
other trees will think of it. A failure, one that won’t grow. And it’s
like the story of our lives. When God is working on you, it looks like a
wilderness time. And appears as though things are happening to other
people except you.
But then when a Cedar tree starts to grow, it grows so tall and wide
and can live as long as 2,000 years while others last but a few years.
It would interest you to note that some Cedar trees that were in Bible
times still exist today. This speaks of posterity. Let me ask you. Which
would you rather be, A CEDAR TREE or every kind of tree
God bless you.
( please send to every stake holder in the music ministry. The young
and aspiring ones, even the established ones, Pastors and well wishers)