I was sitting in my living room watching American Idol the other night enjoying the reactions of Simon when General Larry Platt comes on the stage singing a new hit song, “Pants on the Ground.”  I knew immediately that this song would catch on and people would be singing it for a long time to come.  Within a few days, Brett Favre, Quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, was singing “pants on the ground” in the locker room after Minnesota realized they were heading to the NFC Championship game.

Each year there are many types of people who try out for American Idol.  There are people who can’t sing at all and know it but show up anyway.  There are people who can’t sing at all but their family and friends for some reason never told them and they think they are great singers.  There are people who try to add a wrinkle to the show by wearing outfits this year like, “Guitar Girl” and “Bikini boy.”  And each episode always has a touching story of someone who comes from a hard place and is looking for American Idol to take them out of their hardship.  Then there are people who can sing really well, and some who can sing great.  But being a pastor, the people who interest me the most are the ones who are great singers that come from churches, and worship leaders.  I always love to see God’s footprint and influence impact the music industry.

There were 2 key contestants this year (Tasha Layton and Jim Ranger) that were worship leaders taking the step into the American Idol world.   I will say I am always interested in how Simon, Kara, & Randy will react to people who are great singers but their life is about more than singing.  This year I saw Jim Ranger step up and sing with great passion and ability but had a guest judge, Avril Lavigne, say no!  She based this upon the fact he led worship in a church.  It is funny to me that he was boxed into a category of,  it may be too hard for you to do American Idol, based upon her idea of what she thought an American Idol contestant should be. This was even stranger, knowing Kris Allen, the winner of American Idol last year and Danny Gokey who finished 3^rd, were worship pastors.  It is a good thing that the other judges realized that they were there to get the best singer and it was up to the person to see if this was really what they wanted to do.

 I think too often we limit what God can do in the lives of people who step out in a world that often times is not accepting of Christians.  I had a chance to ask Tasha Layton, worship pastor from California, a few questions about what was her decision in deciding to try out for American Idol.  I believe God gives each one of us a platform to which we can share who God is in our lives.  Some people have a platform that can reach many and some have a platform that reaches a few.  However, neither one is less important.  Sometimes God stretches us and gives us more of an influence through opportunities and circumstances that comes our way.  Tasha in her obedience to follow God’s leading was giving this opportunity, here are her thoughts.

Tasha Layton in American Idol

Q:  What were some of the things that led to your decision to try out for American Idol? 

 A: Tasha, “My decision to try out for American Idol was somewhat spontaneous, but a long time coming. I am certainly a lover of all things creative, but especially music! Before Idol, I had never really auditioned for anything in my life, much less sang anything but church music! Simply put though, I felt God put it in my heart to audition while I was praying the week before the first round of the competition. I wasn’t sure what would come of it, I simply wanted to be obedient. It certainly tested me, as I wasn’t keen on the idea of being so vulnerable on national television. I wasn’t completely confident in my gifts either. Too often, I compared my talent to others’, instead of believing myself to be a unique creation of God’s. One by one, each of those insecurities were dealt with throughout the process. I always tell people in ministry, it’s more important what God is doing inside of you and how you are growing closer to Him than it is how “successful” your ministry seems—and you should model that to those you lead. Throughout this American Idol experience, I am getting to know myself in a deeper way and that is valuable to me as a minister and a musician. For years, many people held the opinion that a career in music and pastoral ministry were at odds, however I believe they infuse each other with life and perspective… and I am thankful for the opportunity for growth that American Idol has afforded me.”

Q: What do you hope to gain from your experience being in American idol?

A: Tasha, “To grow and grow others—I try to make that the goal for every experience in life.”

Q:  We would love to hear more about your story and what you have seen God do in your life.  What are some things in your life that has led you to a point where you are in your relationship with God?

 A: Tasha, “I’d like to share a bit of my testimony…

My spiritual journey began at a young age. Christianity was present in our family, yet I never fully had an encounter with God until I was a young teenager. I passionately pursued the things of God and continued to do so until my freshman year of college. Then my local congregation experienced a painful church split and I was embittered by the entire situation. At that time in my life, I had left home and friends to attend school, I had lost my church family, and I had lost confidence in much of what I knew had believed about Christianity. I decided to change my major, which was then music, to religion, and was then consumed by my studies. I searched out virtually every religion and in one week, I would attend mosque, synagogue and a Buddhist meditation camp. My own open-mindedness, coupled with some of the philosophies I was exposed, caused my faith to be tested in ways that were painful, yet necessary for what God had planned for my journey.

Brokenhearted from experiencing a church split, hurt by Christians and Christian leaders, and tormented by my own questions, I sank into depression and contemplated suicide. At the “lowest” point of my life, I realized God, as I knew Him through my Christian faith, was the only true faithfulness and love I had ever known. And He wasn’t the least bit intimidated by my questions or frustrations! I knew God had called me to not only believe in Him and His people again, but to champion the cause of true Christianity within the church and outside its walls (an overwhelming feat I certainly felt inadequate for!) In that moment, however, I was done searching for Him… in words reminiscent of “Amazing Grace”, I was found.

I then began attending a church that loved me into tremendous growth and healing. This eventually led to my decision to go to seminary, which was an incredible journey of learning and growth. When God spoke to my heart to go to a seminary in Los Angeles in 2004, it was on a Saturday night. The next day, I booked my ticket… Tuesday I was an official resident of California! I had never been to California, did not know anyone who lived there, and didn’t even have a way from the airport to where I was staying. I just knew I needed to give God a chance to move in my life. He couldn’t “steer a car that wasn’t moving!” I knew deep within myself that it was the beginning of an amazing journey… and it has been.”

We have seen over the last few years and especially last year God is raising up people to step into the world of American idol that can be a positive influence for others. With people this year like Jim Ranger and Tasha Layton they are impacting others in ways we haven’t even realized.  This amazing journey has led Tasha to American Idol where she is yet to see what else God has planned for her.   We look forward to what God is going to do next.

Kevin Deming, Youth Pastor, Triangle Community Church, Apex, NC