A Legacy of Worship

(This article published in the Summit Magazine - 20th Anniversary Celebration Issue)

Back in 2002, Summit’s worship culture looked pretty different. A twenty-something Andy Simonds (now Summit’s longtime Worship Pastor) would race from Northland Church to an apartment complex clubhouse where Summit’s first services met. Of course, making this trek was only possible if there was no closing song at Northland where Andy would’ve been wrapping up his fifth service of the day. If Andy couldn’t make it, we just didn’t have music that day! Summit was new, and exciting. For Andy and the saints taking care of kids in the apartment complex workout room, it was a labor of love.

While there are certainly more vocalists, instrumentalists, and technicians volunteering now than in those earliest days, the heart behind what we do is still the same: to serve God and his congregation well. It’s a phrase that’s been said in some form or fashion in every audition at every campus for two decades running. It’s safe to say our church has been blessed by the amount of talent to come through the doors, but when it comes down to it, the true mark of a Summit worship volunteer is the understanding that what they do serves a unique purpose in God’s kingdom.

Sometimes it’s looked like unloading heavy speakers on the beach in scorching heat or getting up extra early to run cables for an impromptu stage in a school cafeteria, sometimes it’s hurrying from Summit Lake Mary to be sure congregants at the 33rd Street Jail get to worship too, and sometimes it’s just a rusty drummer putting in the extra reps at home to get their chops back. Whatever the challenge, though, it’s been in our DNA to dream big and work diligently to create thoughtful environments where people can encounter the divine.

Worship volunteers at Summit aren't aiming to perform a concert or trying to blow audiences away with the invention of some groundbreaking new genre. They recognize the great privilege of joining God in his work and serving his church. They get to create a space where both believers and those still deciding can wrestle with hard truths and take in God’s boundless love for them—maybe even for the first time. What could be more exciting than that?

Brent Schmelzle

Other than Andy, Brent Schmelzle is our longest-running volunteer, and I believe he embodies this idea as well as anyone. He started back in 2005 when the church met in Winter Park High School. One very early morning, Brent awoke to an apologetic phone call from Andy saying the audio technician scheduled that day was ill and wasn’t going to make it in. Brent promptly stepped up and has basically served in our tech booth ever since: at the old Herndon Campus, Lawton Chiles Elementary, ten years at the Waterford Campus, now Summit Orlando, and for many, many beach baptisms.

Brent played a key role in coordinating our outdoor services during the pandemic. “These outdoor services were probably my favorite services to be a part of in 17 years of serving at Summit,” he said. “There’s just something very growing about having to set up and tear down, being reminded that the Church isn't the building. We say it from stage every week—Thank you for bringing the Church into this room this morning’—but when you actually see fellow believers show up early for each other, it does seem to make that sentiment even more real.”

Mary Hannah and Josh Butler

Mary Hannah and Josh Butler are a married couple who serve together. Josh has played drums for years in bands around Orlando as well as with nationally touring acts, and Mary Hannah sang all the sweetest female leads and backgrounds on Summit’s Light Society record back in 2013. They’ve both played big roles over the last decade shaping the sounds coming from stage at both the Lake Mary and Orlando locations. When asked what made them want to keep giving of their time and talents, Mary Hannah shared a sentiment similar to Brent’s: “What kept me coming back was the people. They weren't there because they wanted to be seen; they just wanted to use their talents to serve, and an added bonus was getting to play music with friends and scratch that creative itch with some stellar musicians.”

Heather Jenkins

Heather Jenkins is another longtime volunteer who has served for more than a decade. Her time here has been unique in that she’s been a vocalist, played the piano, organ, and percussion, run slides, and programmed lights. She’s served at reGROUP, Thursday services, and at Summit Lake Mary, the Waterford Campus, and Summit Orlando. She’s basically been everywhere and done everything. While telling her story she said, “Worship through music is a large part of what has defined my church experience, both growing up and as an adult. Coming to Summit and experiencing the excellence of the worship team, I was excited from the first time I stepped in the door to be a part of worship here. Serving with them and learning the hearts of the folks who give their time and talent to lead our congregation has truly been a highlight.”

When assessing how well we’ve done on a Sunday, we often remind each other that it’s not about hitting all the right notes, it’s more about whether we’re leading people toward becoming better worshipers—and that includes both the congregation and our worship volunteers! This can be hard to judge, but I think hearing words like Heather’s gives us a window. “One thing the Summit worship ministry does differently from any other church I've been a part of is making sure the same team isn't scheduled every week,” she said. “We are blessed with such an abundance of talent, which means the congregation gets to hear many instruments and voices, but also the musicians avoid the potential burnout of weekly service. Being able to worship in the congregation as well as serve our church is actually a luxury I'm very grateful for.”

One thing that can be said for certain, is that this church has mattered a whole lot to the worship leaders who have led here. It’s been a special place for many of us. We truly have had a unique privilege year after year of hearing from amazing musicians—it’s definitely not typical for there to be so many talented and creative people in one place for so long. 

The worship team, both staff and volunteers, have loved and served and cared for each other with steadfast, dedicated hearts, through hard times and good, culminating in 20 years of amazing teamwork and amazing worship experiences. Each volunteer with their respected gifts and talents has been a unique and magnificent expression of our Creator in Heaven, and their service has been a gift to our church. I pray this heart to serve would continue to be the legacy here for years to come.