the spotlight: james summers

When James Summers clocks in for work as a technical director, he recognizes the importance of his role behind the scenes. For him, he is able to exercise his faith by practicing servitude in a live performance setting: both with those he works with and the artist onstage, as well as the entire audience as a whole.

“What I have found is…when I am really doing my job for the Lord, the audience interacts differently,” Summers said. “The musicians are happier. If someone’s promoting the show, they’re happier. Everything runs smoother…that’s when I see God the most. When I have my eyes on the right thing and when He’s working through me, I’m able to see it out in the audience. So it really is just my heart posture in whatever I’m doing.”

His path in live audio points back to his upbringing in Nashville, Tennessee. Growing up in the city known most for its music influence, he has always found a fascination with the industry. This can also be seen in his journey as a musician in learning to play guitar at a young age.

Along with being deeply inspired by his roots in country music, he also developed a profound respect for jazz, as he has learned how the foundations of this genre can be seen in mainstream pop music today. Understanding the core of how music is structured has not only made him a better musician and technician, but also a Christian as he ponders the spiritual intricacy of music.

At the core of his work is the process of problem solving. To Summers, this aspect of the job caters to how his mind works best. Whenever he pursues creative problem solving, he reaps the benefits of that rewarding breakthrough as the Lord works through him.

“There’s not many careers that mimic that (sense of creative accomplishment) to an extent,” Summers said.

When he’s in the moment working on a live gig, Summers is reminded of the simplicity that exists when he does his role to the best of his ability. In creative spaces, when pride can sneak in at times, he has noticed that the most fruit is produced when he sticks to the basics of what makes his role so important to achieve a greater, common goal.

Although he experiences these breakthroughs often, he also recognizes the extremely competitive aspect of the industry. During the times when doubt and failure can take root, he finds himself relying on the abilities that the Lord has gifted  him time and time again in order to learn from these experiences and move through them. 

To him, the verse James 2:18 rings true in his work: “But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.”

This sentiment serves as an encouragement to him in a largely secular industry, knowing that all genres can be considered “Christian music” when the gospel worldview is instilled in it. As someone who loves many different genres of music, he believes this is an encouragement to his creative and technical process.

“Even as a Christian musician or as a Christian sound engineer, being able to look into the secular world and see that there is still art there,” Summers said. “The talent came from somebody — the talent came from God. There is still talent there, it just might not be used for the right thing.”

With this thought, Summers is able to rely on his beliefs and convictions to help him navigate his work in the industry. When God paves the way, he sees his faithfulness time and time again. Through studying all genres of music, Summers sees it as a gateway to spreading the Gospel. The more expansive his knowledge is, the more he is able to contribute to a creative space.

“It does not matter which side of the industry you are in,” Summers said. “Like, I have worked in the Christian side…and the secular side and it does not matter which side you are in, everyone is sinful. And understanding that and knowing that walking into something is important. It’s just, what situations do you want to find yourself in versus other situations?”

Having the intention of going into a secular creative space has given Summers a focused conviction to grow strong in his faith in order to impact the space that he is working in. In the same way that his creativity is a muscle that requires constant growth, his faith also receives the same exercise through his work.

Although there are many times when his technical skill is on display more than his creativity, he finds that faith displayed through art makes him better at his job. It also reminds him often of his deep love for what he does, even in the tedious moments that are less than glamorous.

In this season, learning from mistakes and humbly growing in his abilities while remaining confident in where God has him is representative of who he is as a creative. And as he continues down this creative path, he continues to seek the Lord’s face in each and every opportunity.