A Conversation with Taylor Maxwell
Another Day Along the Way
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Another day,
I've enjoyed many conversations with Taylor Maxwell. Being his dad, I've had the honor of watching his journey through a variety of seasons. We live 500 miles apart now - and many more miles when he travels to other countries. I love where our mutual Father has taken his heart. Through Taylor's music and his ministry, let's give our Father a chance to challenge us in similar ways.
Chris: Talk to us about YWAM, or Youth With a Mission.
Taylor: YWAM is an interdenominational missions movement that has been going for about 50 years. For more details, visit: www.ywam.org
Chris: How are you and your wife involved with YWAM?
Taylor: Brittany and I serve at the Orlando Campus with YWAM. We are school leaders for the School Of Worship and work with some of the other discipleship programs. We also oversee the visiting teacher hospitality house, to make sure all the needs are met for teachers as they spend time here on campus. I serve by overseeing worship and being on the pastoral care team, in which I lead a small group for staff guys. We are both a part of the Directors Gathering where we meet once a month to discuss ideas to improve our ministry here in Orlando.
Chris: Where have you been recently?
Taylor: We just returned from ministering in different parts of South Africa. After that we helped YWAM conferences in Alabama and New York City. I was able to lead some worship at both of those. Brittany and I will be spending our time in the Dominican Republic all summer. After that I will be doing quite a bit of traveling with my music - first stop being Kiev, Ukraine. Keep us in your prayers!
Chris: Tell us about a few people in South Africa?
Taylor: Each time we are able to go to the Rainbow Nation South Africa, we come in contact with some of the world's most desperate, broken and joyful people. This particular trip we were able to take care of a child by the name of Zakhele. He was about seven and was deeply ill with HIV/AIDS. Just from our love and contact with him we were able to see his health drastically improve. One day, we took him to the hospital to get him on the ARV (Anti Retroviral) drugs that could combat the disease and prolong his life a good thirty years or so. But after being approved for the medicine his mother said that he was no longer sick and that he did not need the drugs! This broke our heart because he was dying and we knew it. It was very easy in that moment to have compassion on Zahkele, but the true compassion had to come for the mother who was destroying the life of her child. God loved them both in that moment. Her decision broke our hearts and his, but God still was calling us to be there with this family. We were informed about a week after we returned from Africa that Zakhele had passed away and went on to heaven (we prayed with him and he was excited to see Jesus). It was very hard for us to see a child full of such passion and dreams pass away. But, I knew that as he arrived, Jesus would be standing there waiting with a smile on his face and one foot on a soccer ball excited to have His son there to run up and down the perfect field together. Some of the greatest news for us was that someone in the long term work there in South Africa was able to continue relationship with Zahke's mother. She is now attending the community church and opening up for the first time.
Chris: What are the main needs there?
Taylor: The needs are for people to go and experience the life that is lived there. To give their time and money to build homes and feed the hungry. I think the most powerful thing that can be told is the story of those who need to be noticed and remembered.
Chris: How can Americans become more involved in making a global difference?
Taylor: Let go of our own worry. Find a way to create security for someone else. I would challenge everyone to be more concerned as a Jesus follower about how horrendous war is, how destroying poverty is, how devastating hunger is, and how crippling curable diseases are. If we are truly pro-life we will realize the staggering numbers of death due to war, poverty, disease and hunger. We need to understand our battles and fight those. We can give a piece of bread, buy a brick or provide a mosquito net, as long as we are focused on being Jesus and not only being American. If we are just living relaxed lives, we aren't changing the world. That is some of the stuff that has inspired me to become more global in my care and reach. And I am constantly being challenged in my pride and comfort.
Chris: You lead worship and teach worship. Tell us some of your thoughts about true worship.
Taylor: I believe worship is a reflection of our love for Christ lived out daily. It's just so much more than we know.
Chris: What else is it?
Taylor: I think we too often put the responsibility into the hands of the "worship leader" to bring worship into our lives. If we need someone else to bring us worship, then we have already missed the point. Even though we have heard so many times "worship is a lifestyle," it remains true. What if we worship all week when we gave extra time and money to the poor, or bought the person's groceries that was in front of us in line, or cut our neighbor's lawn, or meditated on certain scriptures that focused on the character of Christ - what if we did that before we came into a congregational setting? I think our hearts and lives would be certain of Heaven coming to earth, as we are taught to pray, as we joyfully gave our cares to Christ through song. True worship is meant to change the world, clean the gutters, bandage up leprosy, imagine, create, paint, sing, love, cry with the crying, and believe with the dreamer.
Chris: What is the latest news about your music?
Taylor: At the beginning of the year I was a part of a project that I oversaw called This City Bridge. We released the CD in January and can be found in these places under the title This City Bridge: Found Out By The Flame (iTunes, Digstation, Amazon, Rhapsody). Though this project went under the name This City Bridge, I will continue to write music as Taylor Maxwell. I have some exciting things coming up in the future as to the next steps towards following this dream. Please follow along with me: www.taylormaxwell.com
Chris: Thanks, Taylor. I miss you. I'm driving to Atlanta in the morning; I'll let your songs sing to me as I ride to the airport. And I'll see you when I land in Orlando.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Song:
We've traveled over rivers; we've searched within the trees
But with every word you've spoken you've given us the keys
We're telling everybody of the possibilities
There is freedom for the captives and the grace within belief
(Redefine by Taylor Maxwell)
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Another day,
I've enjoyed many conversations with Taylor Maxwell. Being his dad, I've had the honor of watching his journey through a variety of seasons. We live 500 miles apart now - and many more miles when he travels to other countries. I love where our mutual Father has taken his heart. Through Taylor's music and his ministry, let's give our Father a chance to challenge us in similar ways.
Chris: Talk to us about YWAM, or Youth With a Mission.
Taylor: YWAM is an interdenominational missions movement that has been going for about 50 years. For more details, visit: www.ywam.org
Chris: How are you and your wife involved with YWAM?
Taylor: Brittany and I serve at the Orlando Campus with YWAM. We are school leaders for the School Of Worship and work with some of the other discipleship programs. We also oversee the visiting teacher hospitality house, to make sure all the needs are met for teachers as they spend time here on campus. I serve by overseeing worship and being on the pastoral care team, in which I lead a small group for staff guys. We are both a part of the Directors Gathering where we meet once a month to discuss ideas to improve our ministry here in Orlando.
Chris: Where have you been recently?
Taylor: We just returned from ministering in different parts of South Africa. After that we helped YWAM conferences in Alabama and New York City. I was able to lead some worship at both of those. Brittany and I will be spending our time in the Dominican Republic all summer. After that I will be doing quite a bit of traveling with my music - first stop being Kiev, Ukraine. Keep us in your prayers!
Chris: Tell us about a few people in South Africa?
Taylor: Each time we are able to go to the Rainbow Nation South Africa, we come in contact with some of the world's most desperate, broken and joyful people. This particular trip we were able to take care of a child by the name of Zakhele. He was about seven and was deeply ill with HIV/AIDS. Just from our love and contact with him we were able to see his health drastically improve. One day, we took him to the hospital to get him on the ARV (Anti Retroviral) drugs that could combat the disease and prolong his life a good thirty years or so. But after being approved for the medicine his mother said that he was no longer sick and that he did not need the drugs! This broke our heart because he was dying and we knew it. It was very easy in that moment to have compassion on Zahkele, but the true compassion had to come for the mother who was destroying the life of her child. God loved them both in that moment. Her decision broke our hearts and his, but God still was calling us to be there with this family. We were informed about a week after we returned from Africa that Zakhele had passed away and went on to heaven (we prayed with him and he was excited to see Jesus). It was very hard for us to see a child full of such passion and dreams pass away. But, I knew that as he arrived, Jesus would be standing there waiting with a smile on his face and one foot on a soccer ball excited to have His son there to run up and down the perfect field together. Some of the greatest news for us was that someone in the long term work there in South Africa was able to continue relationship with Zahke's mother. She is now attending the community church and opening up for the first time.
Chris: What are the main needs there?
Taylor: The needs are for people to go and experience the life that is lived there. To give their time and money to build homes and feed the hungry. I think the most powerful thing that can be told is the story of those who need to be noticed and remembered.
Chris: How can Americans become more involved in making a global difference?
Taylor: Let go of our own worry. Find a way to create security for someone else. I would challenge everyone to be more concerned as a Jesus follower about how horrendous war is, how destroying poverty is, how devastating hunger is, and how crippling curable diseases are. If we are truly pro-life we will realize the staggering numbers of death due to war, poverty, disease and hunger. We need to understand our battles and fight those. We can give a piece of bread, buy a brick or provide a mosquito net, as long as we are focused on being Jesus and not only being American. If we are just living relaxed lives, we aren't changing the world. That is some of the stuff that has inspired me to become more global in my care and reach. And I am constantly being challenged in my pride and comfort.
Chris: You lead worship and teach worship. Tell us some of your thoughts about true worship.
Taylor: I believe worship is a reflection of our love for Christ lived out daily. It's just so much more than we know.
Chris: What else is it?
Taylor: I think we too often put the responsibility into the hands of the "worship leader" to bring worship into our lives. If we need someone else to bring us worship, then we have already missed the point. Even though we have heard so many times "worship is a lifestyle," it remains true. What if we worship all week when we gave extra time and money to the poor, or bought the person's groceries that was in front of us in line, or cut our neighbor's lawn, or meditated on certain scriptures that focused on the character of Christ - what if we did that before we came into a congregational setting? I think our hearts and lives would be certain of Heaven coming to earth, as we are taught to pray, as we joyfully gave our cares to Christ through song. True worship is meant to change the world, clean the gutters, bandage up leprosy, imagine, create, paint, sing, love, cry with the crying, and believe with the dreamer.
Chris: What is the latest news about your music?
Taylor: At the beginning of the year I was a part of a project that I oversaw called This City Bridge. We released the CD in January and can be found in these places under the title This City Bridge: Found Out By The Flame (iTunes, Digstation, Amazon, Rhapsody). Though this project went under the name This City Bridge, I will continue to write music as Taylor Maxwell. I have some exciting things coming up in the future as to the next steps towards following this dream. Please follow along with me: www.taylormaxwell.com
Chris: Thanks, Taylor. I miss you. I'm driving to Atlanta in the morning; I'll let your songs sing to me as I ride to the airport. And I'll see you when I land in Orlando.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Song:
We've traveled over rivers; we've searched within the trees
But with every word you've spoken you've given us the keys
We're telling everybody of the possibilities
There is freedom for the captives and the grace within belief
(Redefine by Taylor Maxwell)
9 Comments:
Cris- your's and Debbie's service as parents is rewarded here on earth as it will be in heaven for the proper raising of your boys. I watched them grow up and mature into men of faith. I know you are thankful that Taylor is serving as god has called. God bless you and your family.
Thank you for raising your 'little boy' to be a godly young man. He is leaving a huge compassionate imprint on the hearts of many in a hurting world - a trait I believe he got from Deb and you.
Love you all. See you in Orlando.
Cyn
Hey, that is a nice conversation. Taylor is writing good songs too.
"Let go of our own worry. Find a way to create security for someone else." Powerful words, Taylor. every where I turn, people are talking about "hard times." thanks for the reminder that, even though we are living with less, we have much (much) more than many. May God turn that reminder into action.
Beautiful description of worship! What a beautiful interview between father and son!!!
What a blessing it is to see your children follow the Lord when they reach adulthood.Taylor has touched so many lives in his young adult life. I am thankful that the Lord has blessed us with your whole family touching our lives. Much love
What a great joy it must be to see your children follow the Lord with such hunger. Taylor has really blessed our lives just to see how much he love the Lord and desires to serve. We have been blessed so much with knowing the whole family and the Lord allowing you to touch our lives in such a special way.
Much love to you all
A loving dialogue between Father and son. I was struck by Taylors compassion and love for the hurting. May he continue to serve God with the loving relationship he shares with God, you and others
Your heart must be very full..
Chris,
What joy to read and listen to your oldest son Taylor, who was in my Sunday School class, (several years)
ago., and to see what growth and in
depth thoughts that he has spoken of.
I know & feel the joy of having a child, love & serve the Lord so strong... Love ya all....
Helen
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