Our own Evan McKeel

Evan is now famous. He made Gwen Stefani cry. He made Pharrell Williams ask for a second song. He made them both fight Blake Shelton and Adam Levine for the privilege of coaching him. Evan’s on The Voice, and we will all be glued to our TVs for the season.

But those of us who know Evan have even bigger goals for him than winning The Voice. When you’ve been praying for a soul–for a kid’s integrity and future–you’ve got other concerns on your mind than who he’s met or where he’s been. And when the person you’ve affirmed lands on a world stage, that’s confirmation that your prayers have taken root.

Last night in a crowded restaurant, with its walls rimmed by big-screen TVs, I watched the beautiful mystery called “the church” unfold around me. Hundreds of us were crammed into chairs and booths or standing on every available square of flooring, holding in our breath while we waited. We screamed, hooted, chanted his name. From babies to boomers, all races, all walks of life, and from multiple churches–we who know Evan assembled to witness a triumph in the life of this 20-year-old.  A young adult we have all prayed for, all cheered for, all known since he was a little boy.

Over Evan’s life, we have watched him develop as a soloist, actor, guitarist, and worship leader.  And while we can’t take any credit for his accomplishments, we are still filled with pride and admiration to have been even a small part of affirming so gifted a kid, who–in a different environment–might well have given up on his dreams and his abilities. Hidden his talent. Cowered in a corner. (Well, maybe not cowered. Knowing Evan, that’s unlikely. But something terrible could have happened.)

No–instead Evan grew up in a church that celebrated the arts and invested in young people. This living organism gave us all opportunities to care about him. Not about his talent, but about him as a person. The teen years are hard for everyone. (Perhaps they are doubly hard for artistic souls?) Yet Evan had a church. He had love to fall back on.

The Christian community is an amazing blessing, when it works according to plan. When meals show up on doorsteps, when prayers are lifted, or when friends are given encouraging words, Jesus walks again on the earth. He places warm hands on the sick. He pulls forgotten children into his lap. He affirms the tentative and celebrates with the victorious. Sometimes, he even shows up on a sound stage and holds a microphone.

We are Jesus. We who love and serve him are the body of Christ. And we have been formed to give light to the world through normal, every day life and through an extraordinary events like the one we witnessed last night.

Whoot, whoot, Evan! We’re here for you, always. Keep being yourself, and keep being Jesus to the world. This time, you actually have a world watching you.

 

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    The Conversation

  1. Joe says:

    Sorry. 2017

  2. Joe says:

    The 2027 Voice season just ended and as an avid Voice watcher over the years I only remember those who have truly moved me by setting ego aside and letting their loving ‘Godself’ beautifully come through. After all the seasons that have passed Evan’s light still shines brightly through in my memory. I am not a Christian or a member of any organized religion. I simply believe God is pure love, grace, intelligence and beauty that beats all hearts and for this to come through to the surface in any of us we just have to let go of ego fear and doubt and trust that it knows exactly what to do. Evan brings forth that unfiltered and humble God light so beautifully. Just like we spell God with a capital ‘G’ I spell Voice with a capital ‘V’ and Evan McKeel is the Voice.

    • Sue Schlesman says:

      Joe, thanks for commenting. Evan is an authentically loving individual. He’s the real deal. Now he is the campus worship leader in a huge church in Texas. We miss him at our church. And I will say, that watching The Voice is not as much fun when you don’t know one of the contestants! I love what you said–“Evan McKeel is the Voice.” What a beautiful tribute. He has two CDs out. You can google him to find out where to buy them.

  3. Penny Taylor says:

    Beautifully said, Sue. Thank you for sharing your heart and reminding us how God can use his church to impact the lives of others!

  4. Billie Jo Darden says:

    I love this! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. What a blessing our church is.

  5. Rick McKeel says:

    Sue,

    This is outstanding. And the love that our church has poured into Evan has been poured into thousands of kids who are going to do amazing things. Our family is blessed, and our church is at the center of that blessing. Beautiful article.

    Rick

  6. Russ McDowell says:

    So true and well written Sue. Thank!