Producer Charlie Peacock in surprise gesture
AMERICAN musician and record producer Charlie Peacock has surprised the American
CCM industry by pulling back from production work to pursue local
church ministry. He said, "While vacationing I heard the clear and
tender voice of Jesus calling me to feed his sheep as a
pastor/teacher. The how and when dimension of this calling is yet to
be fully fleshed out. What I do know is that I will no longer be
producing and that the massive time hole left by the absence of
production will be filled by discipling and caring for others. I'll be
seeking ordination from the denomination that I'm affiliated with
(PCA). And as a member and elder of Christ Community Church in
Franklin, Tennessee, I'll be requesting that CCC recognise this call
and send me before the ordination committee.
"In the last two
weeks I've travelled to both Creation and Cornerstone. At both
festivals I was privileged to visit with hundreds of people and to
tell my story. The response to my announcement of a new calling,
though overwhelmingly favourable, always included the question, 'But
what about the music? Well, I don't by any stretch of the imagination
think that I'm finished making music. On the contrary, I think the
best is yet to come! What I can say is that my time as an inside
contributor to what is commonly known as contemporary Christian music
is finished and that I will no longer be recording/producing for the
EMI Christian Music Group. Some well-meaning folks have already
misunderstood this announcement by saying things like, 'We'll miss you
Charlie.' The truth is, you'll only miss me if you define the
existence of my commitment to Jesus and musical artistry in CCM terms
alone."
Charlie
Peacock is currently writing a book with his wife Andi about the
work of loving and caring for people.