Two years ago, I attended a Youth Specialties Conference in Indianapolis with about six others from my church. At one point, they had a contest to see who, among the hundreds of people attending, had the most combination of tattoos and piercings. We may have been one of the smaller churches represented, but we know our youth culture. Tony, one of our college students, won. I think he had 13 total. I don’t remember how it breaks down between piercings and tattoos. Tony did us proud.
Tony heads up our concert ministry. Every month, 80-140 teens and young adults crowd into our downstairs fellowship hall for a concert with 3-5 bands of the hard-core variety. Lots of screaming, little comprehension of lyrics. If there, indeed, are lyrics. Pam and I attend most of the concerts. It’s a fascinating crowd. There is swearing and smoking and the F-word splattered on black T-shirts and adornments that smell occultish. A few months ago, someone peed on a children’s Bible in the church. I’m glad these types of people come to our church. And we have Tony to thank for that.
Tony grew up with no church background. None. He was exposed to Christians through Christian concerts like the ones we do. However, he became a Christian pretty much on his own. It was a case of God reaching down, directly to Tony, and grabbing hold of him. One night in the privacy of his own apartment (having had to leave home while still in high school, I believe), Tony accepted Christ. Nobody told him how to do it, what to pray, or anything else. Just him and God. How much purer can you get?
On New Year’s Day, Tony and Marcia were married. They met at Taylor University-Fort Wayne, and have been dating for the past year or so. A great match. Marcia’s upbringing was more traditional than Tony’s–a Christian family, and she did the cheerleader thing. Some might say Tony “corrupted” her, though it wouldn’t be her parents. Or me. They just fit well together.
The wedding was held at my church, Anchor. I was surprised that Tony and the four groomsmen wore tuxedos, that the gals wore regular wedding gowns, and that Marcia’s wedding dress was traditional and gorgeous. But they also, all of them, wore Converse tennis shoes. A nice touch.
At the reception afterwards, they served vegan cake and regular cake. Both Tony and Marcia are vegan. And they’re both skinny as can be. I suspect that, though God doesn’t disapprove of eating meat, their diet is more honoring to God and a better stewardship of his temple than the fatty intake of most of the rest of us. Pam likes chocolate cake, but the only chocolate was vegan. I brought her a piece, but didn’t tell her. She remarked that the icing was hard. Well, it was hard on my vanilla non-vegan cake, too.
For the dance–yes, people danced in our United Brethren church–Tony and Marcia chose disco music. Another nice touch. It lent a somewhat bizarre atmosphere to the reception.
Tony and Marcia love the Lord. I wish the best for their marriage. Many Christians would consider them (or at least Tony) a little “out there.” But I’m a huge fan. Tony is one of the most evangelistic persons in our congregation, and he’s made a difference in people’s lives. May that continue and thrive.
