Jonah picked up the guitar in college. And somewhere between learning his first chord and his last semester, he made a decision: if he was going to develop a skill, he might as well use it for something that mattered.
So he pursued a spot in Immanuel’s worship band. He now plays electric guitar and bass for both the Sunday morning team and Group 99, the student ministry’s midweek gathering, where he also leads worship. On Sunday mornings when he’s not on stage, he leads a 6th grade boys life group.
“I love the act of making a joyful noise to the Lord.”
It’s a full rhythm. And it’s one he keeps every single week.
What Showing Up Every Week Does
Jonah serves on Wednesdays and most Sundays. That kind of consistency, he says, does something you might not expect: it makes him better at his instrument.
“That rhythm helps me stay more disciplined with practicing and improving my skills outside of the church.” Serving regularly isn’t just a commitment to the team. It’s a built-in reason to keep growing.
Growth runs in both directions, though. He loves learning from the people he serves alongside, hearing their stories and the way they approach worship together. Making music in that kind of community, he says, is its own reward. “I love the act of making a joyful noise to the Lord.”
The Night That Stays With Him
Ask Jonah about a moment that has meant something, and he doesn’t hesitate: Lucid.
Lucid is a student event where middle and high schoolers gather for worship and Christ-centered community, often for the first time. Jonah gets to be in the room for those nights, guitar in hand, watching young people encounter worship not as something they’ve heard about but as something they’re actually living. Those are the moments that remind him why he said yes in the first place.
Humbled and Spurred On
Serving has grown Jonah’s faith, but not always in comfortable ways. Watching people take next steps is encouraging. But it’s the moments of feeling inadequate that have shaped him just as much, maybe more.
“I think the times when I feel inadequate are great reminders that I am only qualified for this area of service because the Lord has qualified me.” There’s a freedom in that. Showing up doesn’t require perfection. It requires willingness, and the trust that God does something with what we offer.
“I think the times when I feel inadequate are great reminders that I am only qualified for this area of service because the Lord has qualified me.”
For Anyone Still on the Fence
Jonah’s message to anyone thinking about serving is warm and direct: you don’t know what you’re missing.
No matter what you’re good at, we need your help, and the Lord is gonna reward that simple act of obedience in your life.”
“No matter what you’re good at, we need your help.” Every skill has a place. And the reward isn’t just the work itself. “One of the marks of a believer is how much of their time they are willing to sacrifice for the sake of the body of believers,” he says. “So join a team and get uncomfy for the sake of the gospel.”
Whatever you bring to the table, there’s a team that needs it!