25 Years With Larry
Interviewed by: Sydney Morgan
WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE COMING TO WORK AT GRACE?
Prior to working for Grace, I had worked for 12 years in the business world as an accountant for a public accounting firm, software company, a pharmaceutical claims processing company, and lastly, a two-month stint at a high-tech startup company in Boulder, Colorado. During most of these years, I also volunteered on worship teams at a few churches, including eight years at Grace.
HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU WERE CALLED TO FULL-TIME MINISTRY?
Just a few weeks before starting my job in Boulder, our worship pastor had resigned, and I was filling in leading worship on Sundays. At the time, Grace didn’t have as many worship leaders as we do now. I was the only guy on the bench. When I was driving to Colorado to start my new job, I was listening to one of Gary’s sermons about being part of the harvest for God’s kingdom. I remember praying and telling God that I was willing to come back to Texas and be the worship pastor if He wanted me to do that. I prayed that prayer while driving over Raton Pass. Two months later, I found myself driving south over that pass to come back to Texas. One of our elders, Bruce Roberts, told me grab a rock from the side of the road at Raton Pass. I still have that rock on my desk today to remind me of God’s call on my life.
WHAT ARE THINGS YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS?
When I started at the church, one of my life verses was 1 Corinthians 1:27 which says, “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” I had no qualifications or training. In 25 years of full-time ministry, I’ve learned to live out the scripture that says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
Although I was hired as the Worship and Finance Pastor back in 1998, I have found myself doing many other things at the church. From 2007-2010, I served as the Youth Pastor and then reprised that role when we were between youth pastors in 2017-2018. Those were rewarding years for me as I had the privilege of witnessing many students give their lives to Jesus and start following Him. My 7+ years of working in the 26 food service industry during high school and college paid off when I starting overseeing our monthly Grace Café ministry. And finally, I learned about audio visual from my good friend Joseph Thomas and spent many hours and late nights installing sound systems, stage lighting and the house lighting for our worship center.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO IN THE YEARS TO COME?
In the past two years, we have released two worship albums, Tabernacle and Be Strong (Scripture Songs Vol. 1). God has given songs to our worship leaders here at Grace, and I look forward to recording more music for our church family to use in worship. My heart passion is to raise up the next generation of worshippers and worship team members and leaders. I look forward to passing on what I know to those who will one day take my place.
WHAT WOULD BE A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT/CHALLENGE TO THE PEOPLE AT GRACE?
What a joy it has been for me to lead the family of Grace in worship of the Lord! I have the best view in the church as I look out and see our church family pouring out love and devotion to Jesus. Keep pursuing Him! Keep loving Him! Never let your worship of Him grow stale. Pass it on to your children and grandchildren. He is good and His love endures forever!
