Evan Fine ’20

Worship Arts

Biography

I grew up outside of St. Louis, Missouri, in a family that was constantly involved in church and worship. I accepted Christ at a young age and as my faith grew stronger I found myself getting involved in worship myself.
I started playing bass for the youth worship band at my church in eighth grade. As I went through high school I began playing drums and guitar in church and school and I even began getting opportunities to lead worship. In addition to worship, I was also involved in marching band (serving as drum major for my junior and senior year), jazz band, and the concert band at my school. It was during this time that I really grew as a musician, but I also grew in faith due to what I was learning at both church and school. During my senior year, I felt God put the call on my life to be involved in full time worship ministry, so I came to Taylor to study Worship Arts.
My time at Taylor was crucial for who I am now. Through my classes I was exposed to new, sometimes challenging ideas and there were always opportunities to discuss them with friends on my floor. My Bible and ministry class helped shape not only how I look at serving the church, but also my relationship with Christ, while my music classes helped push me to be the best musician I can be. By the time I graduated I had been involved in multiple different ensembles, a chapel band for all four years, and a variety of different productions for the music department. The experience I gained from that as well as the wisdom shared from my professors helped me to feel confident that I could go out and serve the Kingdom well.
After I left Taylor, it took a while to find a job at a church. With Covid-19 in full swing, by May 2020 there weren't many churches looking to hire and there weren't many opportunities to get connected with any either. I spent the first almost five months after graduation working at a grocery store. While the job itself was not the most fun or challenging, during my time there I did get to marry the love of my life (whom I met on a pick-a-date... it happens). Her love and support helped me to persevere through that tough time and keep looking for a church. Eventually, through a group called Leadership Pathway, I was connected with Greenford Christian Church in Greenford, Ohio. I began a two-year worship residency with them in late September 2020, and so far I have already learned a ton.
I am thankful for the ups and downs God has put in my life and I am excited for what he has in store for my family, whether that is here at Greenford, another church, or in a different field entirely.

What were some of your most valuable experiences at Taylor?

Some of the most valuable experiences for me while at Taylor were getting to play in a wide variety of ensembles and being able to try things outside of what I would typically expect for what my major was. Gaining experience not only in what I was studying (percussion and worship), but also through being able to try things I never thought I would do (choral, playing in the pit orchestra, figuring out how to play a show's upright bass part) provided me new challenges to keep me learning and growing, as well as helping me to learn more about what I can do and like to do musically.

How did your classes or interactions with professors at Taylor impact your growth?

These interactions had a major impact on my growth. Having professors that really care about you and are available to try and answer whatever questions you have is a big deal and I am thankful for all they have done for me. Also, many of the opportunities I had to be a part of different groups on campus came through them.

How can Taylor graduates use their unique Taylor education and its liberal arts foundational core as an asset in your discipline?

One of the main ways I have already seen the liberal arts education serve as an asset is that it helps me to relate to a wider variety of people. Even if I remember none of the information on a certain subject I took a class on, I can use what I do remember to ask questions and get to know what people around me are interested in.

What advice or encouragement could you provide for Taylor students in your vocational discipline?

My advice would be to take advantage of every opportunity you can, but don't be afraid to say "no." While it is a good experience to play for so many different ensembles as well as constantly playing for chapels and different events, it can be easy to burn yourself out doing it. If something comes up, definitely consider it, but don't be afraid to turn it down if it would push you beyond your limits.