STUDENT MINISTRY BAND VISION STATEMENT

       

     Worship is a response.  It is a response to who God is and what He has done.  This response can come from a number of different outlets because the vastness to what worship involves is huge.  We cannot put worship in a box or limit its boundaries to music or church services or praying or anything else.  This response must be a response that is connected to everything we do, with every aspect of our lives.  We fully respond to God with the entirety of our lives.  It’s something we grow in, and it’s something we work at.  It’s not a feeling, nor does it find itself in our emotions, although worship may have an effect on such things.  It’s how we love God, and how we love our neighbors.  Worship is diverse, innovative, creative, sacrificial and relevant.  It is private and corporate.  It encompasses both old and new, planning and spontaneity, mystery and rationality, vertical and horizontal, suffering and comfort, freedom and discipline.  It is rooted in truth that teaches and provokes a response.

     Our main outlet for what we as a band do is music.  Since the sole purpose for music even existing is to glorify God (1 Cor. 1:16  “For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him”), we will strive to make music sound the best as possible.  We will play to our greatest ability (Ps. 33:3  “Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy”), and we will be creative in our music as we explore the depth of the God we are worshiping.

     We are a small community of musicians who love music but most importantly we love Jesus.  There is a large variety of songs we sing that are diverse in musical styles as well as lyrics.  The lyrics are found in truth.  The songs teach us and are vast in the ways in which they connect with people.  They encompass a wide range of emotions and reflect the character of God.  The musicians play them to their greatest ability and with creativity.  We pray together as one and also for one another.  We learn together, love together, grow together and respond together and also to each other each time we congregate.  Everything we do helps us to continue to respond to God in the vast number of different outlets we have, and ultimately with our entire lives.  My passion is to see each member of this band develop into devoted followers of Christ.  We desire to develop our gifts and grow together for the sake of the gospel.  It is our privilege to share our music with the students at FBCC every Sunday and Wednesday.   --Craig Rigney

CRAIG RIGNEY    

      Oh, hey.  Didn't see ya there.  My name is Craig.  I absolutely love playing music.  More than that though I love leading people in the worship of such an awesome God.  I suppose you could call this my passion.  I have a heart to see Christ glorified and people come to know Him through lives lived in a worshipful response to Him.  I started playing music in high school on the drums.  The drums were my first love when it comes to musical instruments.  Let's face it.  They're pretty sweet.  And drummers get the most autographs, too.  I started playing for my church and later picked up the guitar and fell in love with it as well.  And the rest is history.  Now I spend a lot of time playing and writing music and leading worship.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  I hope to continue doing it as long as I can.  Other than that, I like to eat a lot.  Mostly Mexican food.  I continually praise God that he chose to sustain human life with food rather that something like photosynthesis.  Stinks to be a plant.  I also like hanging around friends and family and eating with them as well.  As far as pets, I used to have a dog that my mom gave away when I was at summer camp one year.  I'm still not over it.  But right now I am crazy stoked to see what God has in store over the coming years at FBC Colleyville!  Holla!

Link to my webpage:  This Is My Response

 BRENDON O'REILLY  

     Hey there, I’m Brendon O’Reilly.  I’m one of the guys behind the plexiglass, playing drums and shaker.  I’m been playing for about 8 years now.  I got started in my garage with a couple of friends that played guitar, and the only position left was the drums…so I played them like a beast! 

     Some of my favorite groups are Charlie Hall, Hillsong United, and Phil Wickham.  How did I get to FBCC?  God brought Craig into my life about a year ago and he so kindly asked me to play with him at Colleyville.  It’s been a blast.  I hope that the band here can be an encouragement to the youth and help them understand more about worship and what it should look like.

     I’m going to school right now and studying biology.  When I’m not studying or rehearsing, I like to play sports and giggle with friends!  Future goals include still hacking away on the drums in a few years and/or being a coach or teacher at a school.

     My nickname is B-Ren, and my pet’s name is Craig.  My best human tricks are:  juggling, hockey, being awesome, and driving with a blindfold on!  You students are great – keep being awesome for God!

 JOHN CHRIS HALL  

     I'm John Chris Hall, but everyone calls me Chris.  I also answer to Pappa Ganoosh, Big Red, Chrisman and spaCemaTic!   I play bass up here on Wednesday nights.  I've been playing for 24 years.  My family was all musical, so I started with piano, then guitar, then bass.  I started my recording studio in 1995 as Csound Recording.

     Some of the Christian artists who have really molded me include Hillsong, Charlie Hall, Phil Wickham, Wes Butler and the Robby Seay Band.  And oh yeah, anything electronica.  I got started playing here at Colleyville when Wes Butler asked me to play bass with the guys.  It is a pleasure and a privilege for me to serve God through live music and music production.

     In my other life, I'm a full time employee for Coach America in Dallas...I'm an IT System Administrator and Support Specialist.   I'm also a songwriter and record producer/engineer.  Outside of music, I'm into photography, fishing, hiking, off-roading and travel.  I got married in 2008, and look forward to being a great husband, traveling, and playing as I do now.   

 

GABE GUEVARA  

    Yeah, I’m Gabe, and I’m into keyboards and guitar.  I’ve been playing keys for 15 years and guitar for 4 years.  I started taking piano lessons when I was four years old (crazy, right?).  In college I got somewhat bored playing keys so I gave guitar a try and now it’s my second instrument.  Some of my Christian music faves (in no particular order) are Phil Wickham, Mute Math, and Derek Webb.

   How did I find my way to Epic?  I had a friend who asked me to fill in the youth band for a week.  About 2 months later I got plugged into the ministry, and it really makes a great fit.  Anytime anyone is plugged into a ministry they should be able to grow spiritually so that is definitely a priority for me right now.  In addition to this I hope to be a helpful hand to the ministry as it grows.

   Away from the stage, I love to run, especially cross country races, and I’ve recently been getting into photography.  I have a cool dog named Bandit, she’s a husky, and you know they’re the best-looking dogs on the planet.  Something you probably didn’t know about me:  I can dislocate my left should and put it back into place.  It’s pretty sick.  In a few years I see myself living in Austin and tubing down the Guadalupe river.  If you haven’t ever tubed you should, it’s so great.

    Thanks for letting me play here, and keep on worshipping God with everything you’ve got, since He gave it all to you in the first place.  See ya next Wednesday.

 

RYAN JONES 

 

   I’m Ryan Jones, and I play electric guitar…been playing for ten years.  I got started when a guy at church taught me a few chords, and I stuck with it.  Do I look like a creative-type person to you?  I should, since I graduated from SMU a few years ago with a degree in creative advertising.  What’s that??  It means I know how to make you want to buy stuff, in ways you never imagined.

   Groups like Mute Math, Charlie Hall, Derek Webb and Phil Wickham have really influenced my music.  They’re awesome – check ‘em out.   I was praying for more opportunities to play, and then out of the blue Brendon (drummer dude) called me and said the guys up here were looking for someone.  I really like being here at Epic with you guys.  God is doing great things with me and with this ministry, including giving me a deeper relationship with Him through leading others in worship.

   When I’m not up here, I like hanging out with my wife and making art (not surprising for a creative-type person, eh?)  In the future – hopefully adding a few kids to the scene and still making music.