Some experiences don’t just shape a season — they shape a life. Living Sound was one of those experiences for me.
I joined Living Sound just three weeks before my 19th birthday in 1973. I was young, eager, and had no idea how deeply this journey would change me. Within weeks, I was on a plane headed around the world, and before long I was celebrating my 19th birthday in Korea — halfway across the globe from home — surrounded by teammates who would become family.
A World Opened to Me
That first tour took me to Alaska, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong (where we spent Christmas), Vietnam (just before the end of the war), Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Honolulu, Hawaii. For a young Canadian kid, the world suddenly became much bigger — and much more personal.
We performed everywhere imaginable: for Vietnamese troops, in the largest church in the world in Seoul, in schools, outdoors, in civic squares, and even in prisons. There were no “safe” or predictable venues — every day brought something new. I learned quickly how to adapt, how to serve wherever I was planted, and how to trust God when the situation felt beyond me.
Brotherhood, Trust, and Faith in Action
Living Sound taught me camaraderie in a way nothing else could. When you travel the world together, face pressure, fatigue, culture shock, and spiritual battles side by side, you either learn to love deeply or you fall apart. We learned to trust each other, to forgive quickly, to encourage often, and to rely fully on God.
I also learned what it meant to perform — not for applause, but for ministry. Whether it was a polished concert hall or a dusty outdoor square, the goal was the same: to serve people and point them to Jesus.
Across Continents and Behind the Iron Curtain
After that first tour with Living Sound Team 2 (the Asian tour), I went on to travel with Team 1 across the United States, Canada, Poland, England, Sweden, South Africa, and Rhodesia, and even on a cruise from Southampton to Cape Town. Later came Israel and ministry alongside some of the top leaders of the day — from Kathryn Kuhlman to Nicky Cruz.
One of the most unforgettable chapters was playing behind the Iron Curtain for three and a half weeks, ministering in major Catholic cathedrals. To stand in those historic spaces, in countries where the gospel had been restricted, and to see thousands of people make decisions for Jesus — that left an imprint on my soul that will never fade.
A Call to Go Deeper
After those first tours — a total of two and a half years — I knew I needed to grow musically. Living Sound had stirred something in me, so I went back and finished my music degree. Then, I returned to Living Sound, this time as Team 3’s music director, touring Canada, the US, and Europe.
What began as a teenager’s adventure had become a calling.
My Live-Action Bible School
In total, I spent four years with Living Sound. Those years were truly life-changing. We had Bible studies every night. We memorized Scripture. We prayed together. We ministered in 32 nations. We saw over 150,000 people make decisions to follow Jesus.
Living Sound was my live-action Bible school.
I didn’t just learn theology — I learned how faith works when you’re tired, far from home, under pressure, and responsible for carrying hope into broken places. I learned that God is faithful in every culture, every language, every nation. And I learned that obedience often leads you to places you never planned, but always needed.
Still Shaping My Life Today
Everything I’ve done since — in ministry, music, mentoring, worship leading, and leadership — has roots in those Living Sound years. The discipline, the teamwork, the heart for the nations, the confidence to step into unknown spaces, and the deep trust in God were all forged on those tours.
Living Sound didn’t just take me around the world. It helped me grow up, find my calling, and fall more deeply in love with Jesus and His mission.
And for that, I will always be grateful.
