Back in June of 1976, I felt led of God to leave "J. D. Sumner and The Stamps Quartet" and go into full time ministry. So I resigned the Tenor position with that quartet and followed what the Lord had told me to do. I know that a lot of times we don’t know exactly what God wants us to do, but I felt sure that God wanted me to minister.
One of the interesting parts of what happened was that I actually didn’t start immediately to travel in the ministry. I actually became the worship leader at a wonderful church here in Nashville named "The Lords Chapel". This was in the days before all of the church bands like we have today. We led worship using just the piano and organ for accompaniment. This was in the days when the church had just started singing mostly choruses and had just stopped using the hymnals. This was when we first started projecting the words to the choruses on a screen at the front of the church for everybody to read and sing from. It was at the very beginning of the time when song leaders were starting to be called worship leaders. It was very exciting because "The Lord’s Chapel" was a very exciting church to be in at that time. The church was the fastest growing church in Nashville. God was using the elders and ministry of this church in a mighty powerful way to touch the population of Nashville. I knew that God had his hand on my life and didn’t know exactly where He wanted me to go, or what He wanted me to do. I felt like I had been called to preach and sing the gospel. In a few months, the Lord spoke to my heart, that I was to go in complete faith and travel wherever He opened the doors for me to sing and preach. In late 1976 I left "The Chapel" and stepped out in faith to travel and sing and preach for the Lord. I really had some experiences. I also learned a lot of important lessons that have guided my life over the years.
As the Lord began to open doors for the ministry that he had put in my heart, I was amazed at how he would provide for me and my family. I went to small churches, large churches, and sang and preached. I sang on the back of a flatbead truck in Missouri one night during a storm and wasn’t sure that myself and the several local groups that were there would not be in danger, but the Lord brought us all through. On another occasion a friend of mine made arrangements for me to sing in the parking lot of the P.N. Hirsch store in Potosi, Mo. on Saturday evening. We had about 25 people who stopped to listen. It was quite an experience. I sang the song "Rise and be Healed" to close my singing and I began to talk about the word of God and gave an invitation. As I stood there and watched the spirit of the Lord came over that place , five people out of the twenty five came forward for me to pray with them. I was able to lead one fifth of my congregation on that evening to an experience with Jesus. Hallelujah! The lesson that I learned from this was that I should go where God opens the door and do what He leads me to do and He will do the rest.
On another occasion, in a very small church in North Carolina, the Lord taught me a real lesson.
Since I had come from the huge crowds and shows that Elvis Presley had, in my self I had the idea that I would probably end up being a huge evangelist and have a lot of people come to my meetings. So, I was called to come to a church in North Carolina, not knowing what size church it was or anything other than the pastor was a really good man whom I had met at a convention where he had asked me to come to his church and I said "of course I will come to your church". At this point, I had no idea what size his church was or how many people it had in it. I had some other services scheduled in North Carolina, and I contacted this pastor to tell him I was coming over there, and we agreed on a date that I would come to his church during my trip to North Carolina. I went there and sang and preached my heart out to 13 people. I felt at the first of my ministry, and still do 30 something years down the road now, that I should go wherever the door was open and that I should make no demands. So I did what I felt that the Lord wanted me to do. I sang and preached to the 13 people, and when I left I started to thinking why doesn’t he just close the doors, he has been there many years and only has 13 people. Then the Lord spoke something very profound into my spirit. I have never heard the audible voice of the Lord, but I know He spoke this to me on that evening. As I walked out of there discouraged and wondering why this situation existed. God said to me in my spirit. " if that man shepherds those thirteen all the way into heaven, he will have done more than most BIG TIME singers and preachers who do what they do just to impress and excite people, but don’t always do the shepherding that will get them into Heaven." Since I had this complex that I was supposed to be a big time singer and preacher, on that evening God taught me something. It’s not how many that walk the aisles, but it is the ones that you actually minister to, and shepherd all the way till they are strong and sufficient in their walk with the Lord, so that they actually make it to heaven. From that day on in my ministry I never questioned the size of any congregation. . I believe that the man who pastors the smallest church is assigned by God to those people and if he influences and guides them in the direction that will get them into heaven, he is a champion in the eyes of the Lord. Yes, I do believe that God has certain people that each one of us are supposed to influence and minister to. Whether you do it from the pulpit or just in your daily walk with the Lord, if you are faithful to the assignments that God gives you, He will use you and your rewards will be great in Heaven. For some people their sphere of ministry is specifically in their own family. However, there are others that are used to influence many more than that. I also believe that those who shepherd their family to heaven are heroes in the sight of God. I believe that each one of us have a specific calling on our life, and when we follow that calling, no matter how many people are affected, we are doing God’s will. yo u , and lead where I would encourage each one of you to follow where God leads, and lead where God tells you to lead. The most important thing in all of this is that you LISTEN TO GOD AND NOT TO YOUR EGO.
Most Gospel singers and beginning evangelists that I have met have to go through some tests like this , before they learn the true meaning of ministry. I am just sharing a few things that happened to me. I learned from these things that if I go where God opens the door and do what He leads me to do, then I will see results and the provisions that I need financially etc will come from Him.
I was holding a four day meeting in Pennsylvania one time. I started on Sunday and was going through Wednesday evening. I never asked a pastor for any certain amount of money. I always asked the Lord for what I needed and He was always faithful. This story is an example of that.
I made a habit of going in to the church during each day of the revival and having a season of prayer. On Tuesday afternoon about 3:00 P.M.. I was in the church praying. I needed a specific amount of money to meet my budget that week, so I prayed that afternoon that the Lord would provide that amount of money for me during that meeting. After the service on Wednesday evening the pastor came to me and handed me a check. It was for exactly the amount that I had asked God for on Tuesday during my prayer time. This would be a great story if it didn’t go any further, but it does. Immediately after the pastor gave me the check for the offerings, He said "this much did not come in from the offerings, but yesterday afternoon about 3:00 P.M. the Lord spoke to me and told me to give you this much for being with us. You have been a great blessing to our church". The pastor had been praying at a different place. He was not in the church when I was praying and where he was praying God spoke this into his heart. Wow ! what a great God we serve. I told the pastor that I had been praying at that exact time on Tuesday that God would meet my needs, and had asked God for that exact amount of money to meet my needs. Then I began to cry about how wonderful my God is. God knew my situation and met my needs through one of his choice servant, who was listening to Him. I was able to go home and pay my bills. Hallelujah! We serve a great big wonderful God.
The point I am trying to make is for over 30 years I traveled like that and God met my family’s needs in those kinds of ways over and over. I PRAISE THE LORD BECAUSE HE IS GOOD!
My point is if you know that God has called you, and you are faithful to minister for him sincerely, not just for the offerings, He will provide for you in miraculous ways. Just keep on keeping on. I know that this is not a lot about singing per se, but I feel lead of the Lord to share these things with all of you. Be faithful to God and He will be faithful to you.
Remember: Psalm 118:6 says "The Lord is on my side, I will not fear, what can man do unto me". He is on your side too.
In Christian Love,
Bill Baize
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Written: 07/05/2011
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Category: The Vocal Coach
Comments: 4
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Thanks Bill,
Bill: Your Testimony Brings To My Mind The Song,"WE GOT A GREAT BIG WONDERFUL GOD".
SoundMan
I remember when you came to a little Foursquare church and blessed us so much. I had heard gospel singing from groups that would visit, and on the Gospel Jubilee. But I never heard someone sing like you. You influenced my life so much. I have been trying to sing for 35 years. I think I made a tremendous improvement. But I only get to sing to my four walls. When I saw that you had joined The Prophets Quartet, I noticed that the lead singer was around my age. I thought, Man! I could have been singing with Bill Baize! Bill, if you never touch anyone else, you have touch me through your actions and your singing. God bless you and your family. Eddie Howse
I remember the good times we had when you came to our small (at that time) church in Murfreesboro. We couldn't give much, but you were so gracious to minister with all your heart. May God continue to bless you--for years to come!
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