Church at GenCon
In 2002, Dave Mattingly asked me to lead worship for the GenCon church service. I think it was the first one, but I’m not sure. Anyway, I got together with the guy who was going to give the devotional – he played guitar. He had two friends who played percussion and we had a brief practice before the 9AM service and we sounded great.
But, before I get into that, a bit of background. This was my first GenCon and I was there to help my company with our release of the Fifth Edition of Champions. GenCon is a giant role-playing game convention, and I believe that the attendance numbers in excess of 20,000. It starts on Thursday and is over on Sunday and is called “the best four days in gaming”.
Exhibitors get in on Wednesday and set up. Sell, sell, sell Thursday-Sunday. Then there’s the swag and trade session on Sunday before the mad dash to break down.
Attendees (and exhibitors) generally stay up late playing games, going to parties or generally hanging out. And, by “stay up late”, I mean ... 3AM late. And so, back to Dave and the church service. Smartly, he didn’t want to cut into Con time; so he held the service at 9AM on the fourth day of the Con.
That first year, when we had a guitarist and two people playing percussion, we had exactly zero people show up. This was my first time to ever lead worship and I was – no kidding – leading to the “audience of One”. It’s tough to sing, full-voiced to an empty room. But, we did just that. The weirdness of the moment seemed to increase when a woman walked in.
She was confused at the singing and such. We welcomed her; and she asked: “Is this advanced chess tactics?” We said “No.” and she asked it if was OK for her to sit in the back and read. We said “Yes.”
In that moment, our audience doubled! Our service continued, Tony gave a short devotional message and we went our way – only I didn’t feel like I had been working 12 hour days and then staying up late. I felt refreshed and wonderful.
And now, the present.
After six years of not going to GenCon, I went back this year (and had a blast). Dave asked me to lead worship and I agreed. Only, I didn’t have the guitar player or the two drummers. But, I figured that there are worse things than not having instruments. I showed up around 8:30 (for the 9AM service), looked over the song sheet and did what little setting up I needed to do.
People slowly being to fill the room. No one really looked all that fresh as the service began. I confess that when I walked in, I was desperately clinging to my coffee cup trying to shake myself into wakefulness. This was day four of the convention and everyone looked it.
Dave welcomed everyone and introduced me. I told the story about the “advanced chess girl” and the last time I lead worship here. I looked up and saw a room that was full. There were people standing against the back wall!! My, how it had grown!
We started simply, with the Doxology before moving into other songs. The sounds of our praise began to fill the room and then out into the hotel where the church was being held. Quickly, I felt the restorative touch of God as my weariness lifted. I was filled with His power; the room was filled with His presence.
There were times when I stopped singing and just allowed the sounds of all those voices wash over me. There is something to be said about the simple beauty of people singing in unison, without instrumental accompaniment. It was powerful. I found myself so full of joy that my moment of listening was soon ended by the need to express the joy that God placed in my heart.
When the song service had ended, we had a short devotion that was the word we needed to hear. Derek White (www.geekpreacher.com) delivered a powerful word to us – calling us to be more inclusive; more forgiving and more Christ-like in our lives.
We followed that by taking Communion and then we sang “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love” (a song that I do not particularly like, but felt lead to sing). I felt Derek take my hand and I took someone else’s and soon we stood – raising each other’s hands in praise to our God.
As I walked away with another friend of mine, we discussed just how refreshed we felt. God moved. And, He moved on our behalf.
One last note – and this is about Dave. Dave took up the task of this church service and does it twice a year (once at Origins (in June) and once at GenCon (is August)). He had scant attendance for the first 4 or so times he did it (my memory is that there were 12 total people at 4 services (and that includes the 1 from my 2002 GenCon service).
To his credit (though he is too humble to take any), Dave kept doing his job. He ferried the communion parts, organized someone to lead worship and then someone to give a word. He had signs and cards made, got space in the hotel/convention center, and the convention program (except when they left it out).
He did all this work and saw very little physical fruit. I’m sure the felt the peace of God rest upon him; I’m sure he felt the strength of the joy that God gave him. But, I’m also sure that he saw 12 people over 4 years and wondered just how long God was going to ask him to do this.
Dave could have given up at any time. But he didn’t. The third or fourth year they had 50 people and now it’s around 100.
I tried to tell Dave this year just how great a thing he was doing. Dave told me it was “nothing”. And here, he and I have a great disagreement. What Dave did/does is something and it is something wonderful. He’s a great mover in the Kingdom of God and someone who has shown that he is trustworthy with the talent that God has given him.
And so, I’d like to say: Thanks Dave and thanks God for picking someone like him.
But, before I get into that, a bit of background. This was my first GenCon and I was there to help my company with our release of the Fifth Edition of Champions. GenCon is a giant role-playing game convention, and I believe that the attendance numbers in excess of 20,000. It starts on Thursday and is over on Sunday and is called “the best four days in gaming”.
Exhibitors get in on Wednesday and set up. Sell, sell, sell Thursday-Sunday. Then there’s the swag and trade session on Sunday before the mad dash to break down.
Attendees (and exhibitors) generally stay up late playing games, going to parties or generally hanging out. And, by “stay up late”, I mean ... 3AM late. And so, back to Dave and the church service. Smartly, he didn’t want to cut into Con time; so he held the service at 9AM on the fourth day of the Con.
That first year, when we had a guitarist and two people playing percussion, we had exactly zero people show up. This was my first time to ever lead worship and I was – no kidding – leading to the “audience of One”. It’s tough to sing, full-voiced to an empty room. But, we did just that. The weirdness of the moment seemed to increase when a woman walked in.
She was confused at the singing and such. We welcomed her; and she asked: “Is this advanced chess tactics?” We said “No.” and she asked it if was OK for her to sit in the back and read. We said “Yes.”
In that moment, our audience doubled! Our service continued, Tony gave a short devotional message and we went our way – only I didn’t feel like I had been working 12 hour days and then staying up late. I felt refreshed and wonderful.
And now, the present.
After six years of not going to GenCon, I went back this year (and had a blast). Dave asked me to lead worship and I agreed. Only, I didn’t have the guitar player or the two drummers. But, I figured that there are worse things than not having instruments. I showed up around 8:30 (for the 9AM service), looked over the song sheet and did what little setting up I needed to do.
People slowly being to fill the room. No one really looked all that fresh as the service began. I confess that when I walked in, I was desperately clinging to my coffee cup trying to shake myself into wakefulness. This was day four of the convention and everyone looked it.
Dave welcomed everyone and introduced me. I told the story about the “advanced chess girl” and the last time I lead worship here. I looked up and saw a room that was full. There were people standing against the back wall!! My, how it had grown!
We started simply, with the Doxology before moving into other songs. The sounds of our praise began to fill the room and then out into the hotel where the church was being held. Quickly, I felt the restorative touch of God as my weariness lifted. I was filled with His power; the room was filled with His presence.
There were times when I stopped singing and just allowed the sounds of all those voices wash over me. There is something to be said about the simple beauty of people singing in unison, without instrumental accompaniment. It was powerful. I found myself so full of joy that my moment of listening was soon ended by the need to express the joy that God placed in my heart.
When the song service had ended, we had a short devotion that was the word we needed to hear. Derek White (www.geekpreacher.com) delivered a powerful word to us – calling us to be more inclusive; more forgiving and more Christ-like in our lives.
We followed that by taking Communion and then we sang “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love” (a song that I do not particularly like, but felt lead to sing). I felt Derek take my hand and I took someone else’s and soon we stood – raising each other’s hands in praise to our God.
As I walked away with another friend of mine, we discussed just how refreshed we felt. God moved. And, He moved on our behalf.
One last note – and this is about Dave. Dave took up the task of this church service and does it twice a year (once at Origins (in June) and once at GenCon (is August)). He had scant attendance for the first 4 or so times he did it (my memory is that there were 12 total people at 4 services (and that includes the 1 from my 2002 GenCon service).
To his credit (though he is too humble to take any), Dave kept doing his job. He ferried the communion parts, organized someone to lead worship and then someone to give a word. He had signs and cards made, got space in the hotel/convention center, and the convention program (except when they left it out).
He did all this work and saw very little physical fruit. I’m sure the felt the peace of God rest upon him; I’m sure he felt the strength of the joy that God gave him. But, I’m also sure that he saw 12 people over 4 years and wondered just how long God was going to ask him to do this.
Dave could have given up at any time. But he didn’t. The third or fourth year they had 50 people and now it’s around 100.
I tried to tell Dave this year just how great a thing he was doing. Dave told me it was “nothing”. And here, he and I have a great disagreement. What Dave did/does is something and it is something wonderful. He’s a great mover in the Kingdom of God and someone who has shown that he is trustworthy with the talent that God has given him.
And so, I’d like to say: Thanks Dave and thanks God for picking someone like him.
posted by AndyM at 1:56 AM
2 Comments:
Yeah, that was an awesome time together, and my heart is still warmed at the memory. We met with God that morning in an unusual, unexpected, and powerful way.
And you're right -- Dave is amazing. His faithful persistence, his "nothing phases me" attitude, his direct and comfortable manner with people (especially regarding his faith) is refreshing. I'm very grateful that he has pressed on and left the results in God's hands.
Thanks for the kind words, Andy. I'm saddened at your passing here on this world, but I'm excited about having more time to hang out together in the future.
Maybe you can help paint the room that Jesus is preparing for me...
Post a Comment
<< Home