1995 Second King (S.C.) Squishburn

This was a man of tremendous talent.  He could really sing.  He could really teach.  He was really picky.  It is an absolute shame that S.C. did not stay at Northwest but alas, once again, I get ahead of myself.  S.C. was a 40-something bachelor with a Masters Degree in Music and Voice from a seminary.  His undergraduate work was in voice and chora.  S.C. could sing.  He could lead a choir. There was a point when Northwest realized that they needed more than just part time help in the musical area.  In the early 90's the church was young, rural and pretty much "classic" Baptist with Adult Choirs, a few praise hymns, and full children's choir programs.  This approach to ministry required a focused and trained minister.  There was no question - S.C. Squishburn was that man.

S.C. came in on the heels of a very dedicated and talented volunteer but received a warm welcome.  He arrived 6 months or so ahead of me and was pretty established upon my arrival.  Though part-time, he had built a team of helpers and was developing quite a hymn and presentation choir. With a few special events under his belt, he had more than proven his ability and desire.  He moved to full time the same year that I did, 1992, and the choir program exploded.  You have never seen such an organized, efficient, well-taught, effective choir machine.  The kids were learning and the adults were spectacular.

The Personnel Committee (oh, the days of committees!) and the pastor saw problems coming about 1 year before the congregation began to see problems.  They began to champion, teach, persuade and to work with S.C.   I remember the day that I realized it was going to be horrible.  I will never forget that day:  first, I was utterly amazed (remember, I came to ministry out of the real world); and, second, it was the first and only time I resigned at Northwest. 

Our pastor had a two door Monte Carlo.  One day, the three of us were off to a ministerial meeting and as we walked up to the passenger side of the car, S.C. said, "You're sitting in the back seat."  Being polite and not really caring, I pushed forward the seat and climbed in.  Somehow the discussion went on as to why I was sitting in the back seat and S.C. answered (either to Joe or me - I don't remember), "I have a Masters Degree and you do not.  I sit in the front seat.  You are my junior."  Now if this had been at work at the bank - I would have laughed and fired back knowing that I was getting played with but this guy was serious.  Even when Joe probed thinking that S.C. had deadpan humor, S.C. was serious about this seniority seating and living arrangement.

"I was an officer at the bank, working for the Board of Directors and the upper level officers.  Beyond that, I am a human being.  This isn't even about pride this is about the Book of James.  I refuse to work with someone who lifts up the degreed and well dressed over the humble and meek.  This is wrong and not the kind of guy that I wish to represent me in a church.  He is the type of reason that I waited so long to get saved...."  Joe stopped me and stopped my indignant resignation.

It is really sad that S.C. ended up resigning after being given the "ultimate choice" that is no choice at all.  It is sad that the talent was missed at Northwest.   S.C. could have stopped it all but this type of comment snowballed into banning people from choir participation based on talent not desire, refusing to let people use contemporay music in worship because "he" determined it from the devil and "he" had been taught, developing a "kindgom inside of the church" that was focused on people with like views and into much more.  When S.C. left he took part of the Church - literally - because he forgot that he was privileged to work for the Church not the Church privileged to have him.

S.C. did much good.  S.C. was hilarious to be around in a context that was comfortable for him.  S.C. was a musical genuis and great teacher.  Perhaps he just wasn't cut out to be a leader.  Perhaps he was just misunderstood.  But S.C. could have gone a long way to help by stepping down off his pedistal and being a real person like he was when he joked around in the office.

I learned never to make a ministry "my ministry" or to allow it to develop into a "kingdom inside of a kingdom" with its own objectives and loyalties that would or could divide the Church kingdom.  I learned to keep my workers in place and to not allow them to inflate or "over-inflate" my ego or their perception of me.  I learned that it is not for us to be selective in who we will teach, lead or allow to participate.  I was reminded of my father and his great work ethic teachings - we are all the same and the one who thinks he is better is to be despised worse than leprosy.  I learned that wonderful people can be crippled by heady knowledge and insecurities.  I learned that it would benefit me to be flexible, to know the people, to be willing to try new things and to very carefully pick out the hill on which I would be willing to die in battle.

I never disliked S.C.   I really think he was a nice guy.  I hear he got married and is teaching music.  He is most certainly an excellent teacher.  Boy, could he sing!