David J Vornhagen
Before you start reading my bio I want you to know that you are soooooo special to God and He has a plan specifically designed that only you can fulfill. He created you. He formed you and he loves you very much. I pray that each person that reads this will come to know God as I have and are able to realize that He is always waiting for them.
In the beginning... ... ...
I learned how to read music in 3rd grade from my grade school music teacher(She was really cool). Because I learned how to read music at age 8, I started my music career playing an old upright my mom got a good deal on. In fifth grade my music teacher(different teacher, kinda scary) asked me to sing a duet for our school Christmas program. I was sooooo afraid... but I did what she told me and I took great confidence from her, believing that she knew what she was doing with me.(She was an inspiration to me. Scary, but inspiring :D ) In junior High I was in choir and kinda liked it(Why are music teacher so CRAZY!) but she was not helpful. I dropped choir. In 8th grade I took 4 months of piano lessons and dropped out right before our recital(:P- GAGG!). Stuff like that always petrified me. I dropped all music after that and followed the path of the teen delinquent. Not really, I did try to concentrate on learning to read faster and academics(I loved math). I had a learning disability similar to dyslexia, you know when words don\'t look like words. FUN!! Anyways, I graduated and went to college in Casper WY. (Note to all: for graduation @ my church I was given a scripture, Isaiah 55:9) I was majoring in Mathematics and minoring in Computers when....HAHAHAHA!(Isaiah 55:9)
God had other plans for me! In my second semester God pushed me towards music and I started playing the piano... constantly... at any moment, if there was a piano in sight and I could touch it, I was on it.(I really was consumed LOL!) I joined our worship team singing and it turned into a singles ministry to the college(whole other story). Which in turn established a Friday night worship jam for the church. We(singles group/worship team), called it \"Friday Night Alive\" and we wrote a theme song for it as well, it was awesome. (I love you guys!!)
I eventually dropped out of college(AURGH!!! :P- I really never enjoyed school :D ) and moved to Olympia, Washington to help some friends with a church they started pastoring. My pastors family took over a church in Olympia, Wa and asked me to join them @ East Olympia 4 Square Church and help with worship and teaching kids classes. So, I did and it was fun! :D
After about 2 years there, God called me back to school. He guided me to International Bible College in San Antonio, TX. It was Awesome!!!
A quote from one of my teachers, \"What you learn here in 4 years would take more than a life time to learn, even if you went to church for Sunday school, morning service and pm service and Wednesday night.\"
During my time there, beside doing homework, I was assistant worship coordinator- which consisted of scheduling worship teams for chapel services and practices. After(4 years) graduating with a Bachelors of Theology I was asked to help at a kids camp in Eureka, California for Redwood Christian Center. Northern CA, Coastal Redwoods, a couple of moviestars(1- jeff goldbloom), hippies, yuppies, transients, second generation hippies, Thunder Woman(another story), and ya swimmin\' pools. (did ya catch the beverly hillbilly theme?) I became a youth leader, children SS teacher and muscian/singer on the worship team, eventually the youth pastor for a short time and I also lead worship, I loved to worship with the whole team. They were AWESOME!! It always seemed like practice would just turn out to be awesome God time. Which I believe is how it should happen. If you can practice ushering in the Spirit of worship during a practice session then the real thing will be so, much, more powerful.
After 2 years in CA, I felt God\'s hand on me to move to Idaho. So, with some help from my friends I stepped into another chapter of life.
I started attending Valley Pentecostal Church in Caldwell ID. I started working with the youth and was asked to join the worship team. These guys were awesome!!! I really miss working with them but God makes all things work out. My time there was very short yet I forged several life long friendships. He has his own plans for everything ...(that is Isaiah 55:9 the \"New Literal David Version\")
Oh, and I am in Indiana! ... ... ... hmmm... ... ... How did I get here? ... ... Only God?!... ... Isaiah 55:9.
Ok, some friends from Bible college asked me to come out and help them with a new church they were starting and I said, \"ok!\"
(God has got to have a sense of humor and Isaiah 55:9 highlighted - I say this because I did/do not like being here, of all the places I have lived this area seems the most oppressed but where better to shine a light but in the darkness.)
I started running sound for the worship team and then I started playing the keyboard/synth. I taught kids church for a while and was asked to start playing the bass for worship(and stop playing keyboard). I had been an active part of the worship team untill I was asked to take on another position, a singles type ministry for the Church. This decision being made meant I would no longer be burdened with the worship team responsibiliity. It\'s interesting how things work. Because of God. ;)
At the exact same time this occured Seeker\'s Coffee House opened here in Evansville, IN (all is in God\'s timing) and it opened up a venue for me to share the music God has given me, with their open mic night on monday nights. It was also at this time that I was approached to lead worship for special occasions. Which was an awesome opportunity for me, as I had not been able to get out and actually minister worship to a congregation for several years.
Ministry now consists of coleading a singles group(in the Evansville area), leading worship and singles group activities, playing at coffee shops or playing out with anyone else that might call. :D
My desire is to bring the knowledge of worship to anyone I can. So that they may be empowered to worship God the way he deserves to be worshipped.
I guess as far as artists that have inspired me I would have to say, King David, Bryan Duncan, Steve Camp, Don Moen, David Meece, and Geoffe Moore when I was younger. Now it would be Smitty, Third Day, Mercy Me, Casting Crowns and the like. These guys are AWESOME!! (Only because of God Himself is in them working to do His will thru them.)
As I am new to the scene I do alot of covers for Third Day, Jeremy Camp, Mercy Me, Casting Crowns in other words alot of radio tunes with my own music.
I can\'t even begin to explain all the things God has done to get me here as we would need a much larger internet. LOL!
Seriously tho, He has guided me thru so much and I am so thankful for all of it, the good and everything that looked bad. Is 55:9
With a lot of help from Keith, God allowed my band to attend the CIA Summit and WOW, was I blown away. All the info was so good to know. It was so wonderful to hear from all of the speakers. I am astounded at how many times the speaker would say, \"if this is God\'s calling then it WILL happen\" (which spurred, in my head the verse that says, a man\'s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. Prvbs 18:16).
I recently attended CIA Summit III(3) and again I was taken back by the emphasis on the \"Calling\" and that it WILL work out. Debts will be paid. Money will be provided. People will want your ministry. Have Faith and it Will happen.
Here I am God, all I want is to be used by you, guide me and use me...