ANCHORED IN FAITH - OUR LIVES AND OUR MUSIC | KAIROS GLOBAL | DECEMBER 2019

Author: Hector Lewis and Rani

Intro: Hector Lewis and Rani, vibrant worship leaders, open up about their lives, ministering, God encounters and life changing convictions to a Jesus Youth High School group.

Hector and Rani rooted in the Jesus Youth life style, along with their three wonderful Children - Dann, Giovanni and Clare - live in Houston, Texas. Medical professionals by career, this couple is actively involved in the Jesus Youth formation programs and in every mission and ministry of the church and JY Movement. From singing in our local church choir to the WYD stage, from mentoring kids` groups to family units, from parenting a preschooler to guiding a college going son, this couple is orchestrating their life with Jesus at the center. Their life is a testimony to witnessing to the grace of our living lord. 

Tell us something about your journey as a musician?

Hector:  Music has always been my passion. I started my career as a musician at a very young age, starting as a drummer in my dad’s band. I grew up performing on various stages. By the age of 16, I had started off as a session guitarist for the local recording studios. It was around that time that I was blessed to have the opportunity to record and release my first instrumental album. Within a couple of years, I began to record and perform with many other prominent musicians and bands of the time as a drummer, bass guitarist, lead guitarist, vocalist, keyboard programmer, orchestrator, and songwriter

Tell us something about your entry into Christian music.

Rani: Having been brought up in a musical family, I was nurtured from a young age with a love for music, dance and the arts. As an active participant in fine art events all throughout school and college, I won the title “Kalathilakam” for two consecutive years. I wanted to do justice to the talent I had been blessed with, but my only exposure to the success in the arts were limited to the pursuit of acceptance and applause. 

During my collegiate years, I was blessed to be introduced to the JY movement at the Kottayam Medical College. It was through them that I discovered that my talents could be used for the glory of God. At the encouragement of my JY mentors, I attended a gospel concert by the “Celebrant Singers”, where I saw the power of music in bringing people closer to God. During that experience, I felt an earnest desire to truly “sing solely for Jesus”. Following the concert, I was introduced to Manoj Sunny, who invited me to the Rexband. That was like an instant answer to my prayers. Ever since, music has been an expression of love and gratitude for my “ Dear Jesus”. 

I was also blessed to sing in few Malayalam Christian devotional albums composed by Sunny Stephan, Fr Antony Urulianikal, Br Thomas Paul, Binu KP, and Hector Lewis.

What was your conversion point?

Hector: I had a very difficult childhood. It wasn't easy at all. My parents worked very hard to make ends meet. Even the little income that I earned at that young age to support my family was so crucial.  Those difficult times led me to doubt God and his presence. I wondered “Why did my family have to go through all these sufferings and trials if there was truly a caring God?” I shared my thoughts with my mom that God was not real and that prayers had no effect. All her efforts to convince me and help me out of those thoughts, failed. I have seen her secretly interceding for me, often in tears

In the midst of all this, even without faith or conviction, I was still an active member in my church choir. It was a place for me to try out all my new compositions. My sole consolation was music. It was around this time that I composed a good number of songs with the intention of becoming a music director. In spite of all my efforts and hard work (which lasted about 7 years), I could not find the means to bring them to fruition.  By then, I had completely given up on this dream. In fact, those were the most disappointing days of my life. However, looking back, this time had been a great blessing in disguise and a handiwork of the lord. It became for me a time of deep introspection and reflection upon the true meaning of life. God sent a few people into my life as his angels to help me. Finding no hope in anything else, I half-heartedly agreed to attend a 5-day retreat at a major retreat center in Kerala.

The conversion point, I would say, was on my way back from the retreat. I was filled with “awe” and wonder about the things I had heard and I had seen the joy of a crowd of around 5000 men and women. Am I missing something that they had experienced? Is God real? If so, I didn't want to miss him! What should I do? 

Just as the psalmist says “taste and see that the Lord is good”, I decided to taste and see by putting into practice a scripture verse that had rung so loud in my heart at the retreat. “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and everything shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). The methodology I used to taste and experience his existence was by resolving an issue of forgiveness, long pending.

 To my surprise there was an outpouring of wondrous happenings in my life from the very same day on. The lord proved his love by sending home his messenger to finance and distribute my work. A long-awaited dream now began to see the light of day. I restarted my journey of composing and preparing for the recordings and in the following month as I walked into the studios, the Lord had added 2 more messengers to the project. It was the culmination of not just one - but 3 albums and all released on the same day. Amen! 

Many things that had fallen apart, now started to fall in place. What else should I have said to the Lord? O Lord! I surrender! I am yours! Thank you, God for revealing yourself very powerfully and to be able to see your wondrous strong right hand even to this very day! Thank you for being there for me even in those darkest days when I did not know you.

“Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you” (Psalm 139:12). 

Rani: I was born and raised with fluctuating beliefs, following my father’s pursuits in finding the one true faith. After many trials with Hinduism, Atheism, Communism and facing countless financial struggles, I gave up on the hope of a “greater being” who could really hear my prayers or answer my desires. As a last resort to support my family, I took the State Medical Entrance Exam for BSC Nursing, for which I was waitlisted.  When the window to be called was closed with no response, I descended into an emotional slump. Around this time, my father had a conversion experience, and encouraged me to attend a retreat at Divine Retreat Center. 

With pent up resentment to fruitless endeavors of the past, I challenged the authenticity of God, and set a condition to my faith.  I said, “If you get me accepted into the Nursing Program, I will believe” (which was impossible as the course had commenced 3 months ago). After a rather powerful experience during an adoration at the retreat, I withdrew my selfish condition and asked God to just take care of my career by any means. Upon returning home from the retreat, I was shocked to find the acceptance letter to the Nursing Program waiting for me. That was the beginning of a journey with a real and loving God, who was alive and cared for me. I was blessed to be accepted into a college, where the JY movement was active, and helped me to take my baby steps into the Catholic faith. 

Hector ! What Does Music itself mean to you?

Before knowing the lord, I was made to understand by popular culture and friends from the industry that “music” was God, and I went with the flow. However, now, “music” is a beautiful gift from God which helps me experience and glorify him and is a medium to spread his message and peace.

Hector! How did you become part of the movement?

After this God encounter, a desire welled up from deep within me. “Delight in the lord and he will give you your heart's desires” (Psalm 37:4).  I wanted to devote myself and my talent for the glory of God. To let everyone in darkness know that he had hope! That we have a loving father who is powerful to bring light into our darkness. I was willing to shout it out loud, even if it was just on the streets. It was at this time that my close friends in the Rexband invited me to join them and be part of this blessed movement. A visible sign of the Lord's promise “everything shall be added unto you”. Today as I look back on my journey in the band ministering in various countries and glorifying God before millions in 6 World Youth Days (WYD) consecutively; this is much beyond that which I could ever ask for. Thank you Lord!  

What are the day to day challenges you faced in your faith/ ministry. How do you deal with them?

Journeying in the mission has been very challenging at times. Each time we trusted in God´s providence and took major decisions for the sake of the mission, like quitting jobs or relocating to other countries, we have experienced the comfort of his mighty right hand. He has always proved his providence like springs in the desert.  

“I will go before you and level the mountains. I will breakdown gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. I will give you treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel who summons you by name” (Isaiah 45: 2-4).

How does the God experience influence your compositions?

Scripture, being God himself, has immense power. Music rooted in scripture brings me peace and healing and gives me direction. When I write a song, this is what I would keep in mind - my desire that everyone should be able to experience the presence of God through music.

How do you manage in a busy schedule with mission, ministry, job and family responsibilities?

“As for me and my house we will serve the lord” (Joshua 24 :15). This scripture has always been our motivation. We, as a family, believe that the mission is possible only by His grace.  “For we are His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them”. (Ephesians 2:10).  Lord help us! This is our prayer.

Advice to young music ministers?

Ministering must be an extension of our prayer life. Evangelization is the desire to share the love experienced from your personal relationship with God. Pray and surrender yourself to the Will of God because your music will only make sense when it is God centered.