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The first part of our interesting chat with Ross King looked past his authentic worshipper persona into his funny side. Part 2 takes it a bit deeper.
Anyone as busy as Ross King must deal with time challenges. How do you balance ministry and music career?I'm not sure what kinds of definitions and distinctions you're thinking about when you use those two words, so I'll just go with what makes sense to me. Balance? I really just do whatever feels right and important in the moment. When I sense that something musical/artistic is brewing in me, I go to the guitar or the piano or the page and I work with that until I'm done. When I sense that somebody needs something that the Lord is calling me to address, I work with that until I'm done. It's mainly about making yourself available to the Lord and His Spirit and His people. That probably sounds hokey, but there you go. I'm doing my best to de-compartmentalize my life, so it kind of all runs together for me. Which comes easiest to you?Oh, writing songs is a whole lot easier than doing "ministry." It's amazing to me that we make celebrities of people just because they can sing and play and write. It's a terribly self-serving thing, really. Doing ministry involves sacrifice and selflessness and inconvenience and anonymity. Performers hate stuff like that. They prefer fame and coolness and applause. Jesus talked about a Kingdom where things are a trade-off; where things are the opposite of what they seem. I think ministry - where people give in order to receive and lead by way of serving - is a lot more normal and notable in that kind of Kingdom than the music business. Ministers live in middle-class houses and touch messy people and get difficult phone calls at all hours of the day and night. Musicians hang out in buses and green rooms and on stages and have contracts guaranteeing a certain caliber of hotel room and a certain brand of bottled water. I'm not just talking about "secular" musicians, either. But I better quit talking now, lest I get myself into trouble. So yeah, music is easier. What is it you do, Ross, in your busy ministry life to keep your focus on the Lord?I have a firm belief in the power of biblical, faith community. It might be the most important tool we have in trying to really hear and follow the Lord, in the day-to-day. If you surround yourself with true believers who really know you (the real you, not just the "you" that sings and performs and appears on CD covers), it's much easier to determine what's real and eternal and important. I have a great, great church community, and they keep me in line. In addition, I have the rich blessing of having been raised to know and love the Bible, which is obviously a source of knowledge and comfort and stability for me. What one song do you most wish you had written?If we're speaking financially, anything by Sting, during The Police years, or Paul McCartney, during The Beatles era, would be nice to have a hand in. But in terms of artistry and power and meaning, I love "Days of Elijah" by Robin Mark. I'm very, very impressed with his ability to weave all the biblical themes and word-pictures into a sing-able, passionate worship song. That song blows me away, and I still get emotional when I sing it or hear it. The Suite staff considers themselves privileged to hear such strong words of truth from an authentic servant. To know more about Ross King, visit his website. And don't forget to read our review of his "Soulspeak."
The copyright of the article Ross King Interview, Part 2 in Christian Music is owned by Kevan Breitinger. Permission to republish Ross King Interview, Part 2 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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