TALENT TO MINISTRY: Listening to a Testimony of Melodies Played for Him

A song contains musical notes, a rhythm and a melody which works together to create a satisfying and pleasing sound worth listening. In the same way, life consists of milestones, moments and struggles which an individual should go through and this makes life worth telling.

Eunice Buan who is a daughter of a Pastor, is a music lover and a 22-year-old musician whose music is played to bring praise to the Lord but her life wasn’t as smooth-sailing as you perceive and like a song her life as a musician has a beginning.

Buan imparting her knowledge on playing the piano to a kid in her church. (Photo by Irene Pe Benito)

THE FIRST NOTE: Discovering the Music Within

Like the first note of a song, Buan took her first step before becoming a pianist and worship leader in their church and glorifying the Lord through music.

Her discovery of the music in her could be traced back in her elementary years when her uncle bought her a toy keyboard which resulted to playing an actual piano.

“Nangyari ‘yon kasi ‘yong Tito ko binilhan niya ako ng laruan na keyboard tapos since then nagkaro’n ng idea si mama na maturuan ako ng piano and it turned out ‘yong Tita ko naman sa kabilang side music major siya. Nagpia-piano siya,” she shared.

Although her piano lessons stopped when she entered college, she continued to play the keyboard which later became her ministry and her avenue in serving the Lord.

“Nagtuluy-tuloy ako ng play kasi malaking factor do’n kasi na-involve ako sa music ministry ng church kasi after focusing sa notes ng maraming taon, no’ng nag-aral ako ng chords in a short while parang do’n din ako nag-involve sa worship team and ang gamit do’n chords,” she told.

Aside from playing the keyboard, she also discovered her talent in singing when her aunt gave her voice lessons and because of special numbers in church. Meanwhile her love for music started to manifest when she was around grade five. During this time, she also started to be fond of musicals.

“’Yong singing naman kasi madalas kasi ako dati na pinakapakanta, special number gano’n and then talagang nasimulan kong nahiligang kumanta no’ng nagkaro’n ng theater production sa school grade five ako no’n o grade six, nag-play kami ng Miss Saigon, do’n talagang nagustuhan ko lalo umawit. Nagustuhan ko ‘yong nga kanta sa musicals.” She added, “Nakita ko rin ‘yon na strength ko talaga kasi pag ‘di ko strength, ‘di ko gagawin ‘yan o ‘di ko susubukan.”

PUTTING THE MELODY: The Music for Him

Music is not just by playing a series of chords on a certain instrument. A song is born through musical notes played in harmony. It is created to deliver a message and give a distinct and pleasing melody. In the same way, Buan didn’t just play her keyboard but decided to offer her music to praise the Lord.

After several involvements, such as playing tambourine for special numbers and in taking drums lessons she became a one of her church’s pianist and worship leader.

“Parang na-involve din ako sa music ministry kasi na nag-open up din ng drums lessons no’n, first drums lesson sa church ako din ‘yong isa sa mga naturuan no’n. So, because of those involvements saka ako napasok sa music ministry ng church,” she said.

She is also sharing her gift through teaching piano to both children and teenagers in her church which started when one of the guitarist in her church initiates to have a summer workshop where kids and teenagers can learn to play the guitar or drums for free.

She was encouraged to give piano lessons which she accepted and is already teaching the keyboard a year now.

“Last year nagkaroon ng initiative ‘yong isang kasama ko sa worship team na mag-train. In-encourage din niya ako na ‘Baka gusto mo naman ikaw magturo sa keyboard,’ so ‘yon kaya do’n naman ako nag-start na magturo naman ng chords,” she told.

Photo by Irene Pe Benito

Aside from instilling skills in playing instruments, she and her fellow musicians from their church’s worship team are teaching their students how to worship and serve the Lord through music.

“Talagang ang gusto rin naman naming na ituro sa mga bata is how you will use your talent to glorify the Lord. It can be here in the church, after mo mag-aral, mag-join ka ng worship team so magagamit mo or even on your own you will play the piano or you will play the guitar or you will sing and you will sing songs for the Lord,” she said.

OFF-KEY: Encountering hardships

Like singers who have sung under the correct pitch, she encountered challenges which somehow affected the key which she keeps on the right pitch as she plays her music for the Lord.

When Buan was in high school, there was a time where she allowed her emotions to control her which affected her ministry.

“Kasi talagang pag time ng high shool ‘yong emotions mo is very, very high. Hindi mo ma-contain. Hindi mo ma-control. Gusto mong gawin because of your emotions. S’yempre I’m not special pinagdaanan ko rin ‘yong gano’ng stage but the Lord taught na hindi pa time, hindi ka pa ready and naglagay Siya ng situation para ipakita ‘yon sa akin. So, ‘yon nakaapekto ‘yon sa’kin sa ministry ko,” she shared.

She said, it resulted her to ask the Lord if she was still worthy of serving Him. “Dumadating ako sa point na parang ‘Lord, I’m not worthy na maglingkod sa’yo’ kasi s’yempre minsan kasi ikaw din kasi madadapa.”

Aside from personal struggles, she also encountered challenges along with the worship team.

“Ang isa sa mga malalaking challenges sa’min no’n kunwari sa team kasi we have to really improve kasi as part of our core values nga, excellence. There would really come a time kapag nagse-serve ka kay Lord, pag kailangan mag-improve so kaya kami ngayon talagang maraming kailangan improvements na pinakita si Lord s’yempre medyo overwhelming kasi madami,” she stated.

Redeeming the Harmony

Despite of facing challenges that cause her music to be out of its right key, Buan overcame them, redeemed the proper pitch and is remaining in the right rhythm of life as she plays the songs she offers for the Lord.

She shared that the Lord who helped her through the struggles she had, taught her to handle her feelings since a life of a Christian should not rest on emotions. “Tinuro Niya kung paano ko ha-handle-in ‘yong mga gano’n kong emotions kasi ang buhay, lalo ang buhay Kristiyano should not be based on emotions.”

She added that through the trials she faced before and she continually faces, she learned to praise the Lord either in good or bad times.

“It’s not about you, ‘yon ang natutunan ko. ‘Yong ang tinuro ni Lord sa’kin it’s not about me, it’s not about us but it’s about Him na whatever happens either good or bad, we still have to praise the Lord kasi He deserves it kasi Siya ang Diyos,” she said.

Though life is not as always smooth-sailing as we want it to be, a time will come that we would be under or over the right pitch. But what’s important is to return to its right rhythm and find the message of our music.