Levi Johnson

'There are some individuals who if you preach your heart out, you will never reach. But if you just sing one song, you are able to reach them,' says Elder Johnson.

GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer
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Levi Johnson is currently an elder at the Cumberland Seventh-day Adventist Church in Clarendon. He has been walking with the Lord for 40 years and has been serving in that leadership position for more than 30 years.

"I grew up in a Christian home, but after leaving school, along with a close friend who was a Christian, I said to myself that since we were so close then may be I should follow him," said Elder Johnson.

He added that despite not having a full understanding about what Christianity was all about, he decided that it was the best way to go. Since he has made the move, Johnson said he has had no regrets

Johnson, who is a musician, pointed out that music for him as a Christian has been tremendous in his spiritual life. He noted that in the Bible, David used music to praise God.

"There are some individuals who if you preach your heart out, you will never reach. But if you just sing one song, you are able to reach them. So music enhances the whole ministry of soul winning," explained Elder Johnson.

He added that music ministry is very important in all churches as without it, there will not be a lively congregation. Johnson went on to say that if churches do not have a piano or an organ, they must have a leader of songs because preachers can no longer just simply preach as songs and music are like an appetiser to the message that they bring.

The veteran Adventist elder who said he plays music in two different churches on Sundays (New Beulah Moravian and Wesley Methodist in Mandeville), pointed out that when he first went to his church more than 30 years ago, he was the only member there who played the keyboard.

However, according to him, currently, there are at least six young persons who are playing the piano at his church, but that number is only a fraction of the many whom he has taught, but who have migrated.

Elder Johnson said, although he was a past student of the Jamaica School of Music, he received the playing of music as a gift. He explained that he attended that institution for certification, as he was fully involved in music and was doing well with his gift from God. Johnson also said that at his church at Cumberland there is a music day where all that is done is through singing.

"We have a music day every three months where the prayer is sung and everything is singing. The preaching of the Word and even the Scripture passage is singing. So I believe that just singing and music on a whole can create a greater power than the preaching of the word," said the church elder.

Johnson noted also that sometimes when preaching is going on, the congregation is looking at the preacher instead of concentrating on what he is saying; but when they are involved in singing they do not have time to look at anybody, but concentrate on the words being sung while focusing on the Lord.

Johnson is encouraging Christians who like music and who would like to learn how to play it to find someone who they believe is a good teacher and who they think they are comfortable with.

He lamented that although God has given Christians different gifts, all should still seek to learn music, as it enhances worship and will help their ministry. He said that if he should start over his Christian walk, he would do so by playing music for the Lord.